My Favorite Pad Thai Recipes

PAD THAI

Steps:

• Soak rice noodles in cold water 30 to 50 minutes, or until soft. Drain, and set aside.
• Heat butter in a wok or large heavy skillet. Saute chicken until browned. Remove, and set aside. Heat oil in wok over medium-high heat. Crack eggs into hot oil, and cook until firm. Stir in chicken, and cook for 5 minutes. Add softened noodles, and vinegar, fish sauce, sugar and red pepper. Adjust seasonings to taste. Mix while cooking, until noodles are tender. Add bean sprouts, and mix for 3 minutes.

CHICKEN PAD THAI

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Make the sauce by combining the tamarind paste mixture, chicken stock, fish sauce, brown sugar, and chili sauce. Stir well to dissolve. Taste-test for a tangy balance between sweet and sour. Add more sugar if too sour or more tamarind if too sweet.
• Bring a large pot of water to boil and dunk in rice noodles. Stir to separate. Only cook until they are limp but still firm and slightly crunchy (they will finish cooking later in the pan).
• Drain the noodles and rinse well with cold water to prevent sticking. Set aside.
• Place the chicken in a small bowl. Stir together the soy sauce and cornstarch and pour over the chicken. Stir well and set aside.
• Preheat a wok or large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of oil followed by the garlic and minced chili, if using. Stir-fry until fragrant (30 seconds).
• Add the marinated chicken. When the wok or pan becomes dry, add the chicken stock. Stir-fry 5 to 7 minutes, until the chicken is cooked.
• Add the drained noodles and pour the prepared sauce over. Using two utensils or chopsticks, use a gentle "lift and turn" method to fry the noodles (like tossing a salad). Stir-fry in this way 5 minutes, or until the noodles are chewy. If you find your pan too dry, add a little more oil.
• Add the bean sprouts and continue frying for 1 more minute, or until the noodles are cooked. The noodles are done when they taste chewy and a little sticky. Taste-test for seasoning, adding more fish sauce until your desired flavor is reached (you can add up to 1 tablespoon fish sauce).
• Top with generous sprinklings of fresh cilantro, green onion, and crushed/chopped nuts. Serve with fresh lime wedges on the side.

EASY PAD THAI

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add the noodles and cook for 7 to 10 minutes or until tender. Drain the noodles and set aside.
• In a large skillet, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until tender.
• Whisk the eggs lightly with a fork. Pour them into the skillet and cook just until they solidify, but are still moist, moving the eggs around the skillet slightly as they cook so that they lightly scramble. When the eggs are cooked, remove the skillet from the heat and set aside.
• In a small bowl, stir together the soy sauce, lime juice, sugar, fish sauce, and red pepper flakes. Pour the sauce into the skillet with the scrambled eggs. Add the noodles and toss to coat in the sauce.
• Sprinkle the green onions, cilantro, and peanuts over the noodles. Toss lightly to combine. Serve warm.
• Budget Byte:
• Pad thai noodles have a unique flavor and texture, but if you can't find them in your area, try substituting another flat pasta like linguine.

MY FAVORITE PAD THAI

Steps:

• Set out condiments: chile-vinegar sauce recipe#425009, 1/2 cucumber - sliced, lettuce leaves, 1 lime cut into wedges, salted radish (just dice radish and lightly sprinkle with salt), a small bowl of sugar, and a small bowl of cayenne pepper.
• Place the pork in a bowl and add the sugar (if using chicken or beef, add the sugar to the soy sauce mix instead).
• In a small bowl, mix the tamarind (feel free to strain it if you don't like the chunks. I like the pieces in it though), soy sauce, and fish sauce.
• In another bowl, lightly beat the eggs.
• Place all the bowls within reach. Place a large wok over high heat. Add about 1 1/2 T of the oil. Once hot, add the garlic and fry until the color changes (about 15 seconds). Toss in the pork and fry until it has all changed color. About 1 minute if it is cut thin.
• Add the tofu and press it against the hot sides of the wok to scorch it a little. 10-20 seconds.
• Pour in the egg mixture and let it cook until it starts to set (about a minute). Break up the egg with your spatula and set it all onto a plate and set it aside.
• Add the other 1 1/2 T oil to the wok and toss in the drained noodles and stir fry, pressing them against the side of the wok to slightly sear them. After about a minute they soften quite a bit.
• Move the noodles to the side of the wok and toss in most of the bean sprouts (leave some as garnish) and scallions. Stir fry until heated (about 20 seconds) but not wilted. Add the dried shrimp and salted radish (optional). Add the soy sauce mixture.
• Stir for about another half minute and then add the meat-egg mixture back inches Once it is gently mixed, turn it onto a platter or individual plates.
• Sprinkle some of the chopped peanuts onto the noodles and leave teh rest as a condiment.
• Add the coriander leaves.
• Everyone makes little portions with the various condiments. You can wrap bits in the lettuce leaves or just eat it from your plate. It's fun to play with the condiments as they change the flavor so much.
• I enjoy this with a side of cucumbers, quick pickled in mint and lime and rice vinegar.

THAI NOODLES (PAD THAI)

Steps:

• Soak rice noodles in warm water for 20 - 25 minutes - they should be soft but not mushy; they will soften when they are cooked in the liquid.
• (prepare accordingly depending on your choice)Peel and deveign the shrimp, leave the tails intact - cut the chicken and/or pork into 1/8 inch x 1 inch pieces.
• Mix together fish sauce, sugar, vinegar and tomato puree until sugar is dissolved, set aside.
• Slice the scallions on the diagonal 1/4 inch thick, set aside.
• Heat a wok and add the oil, then stirfry the meat and garlic - when meat is cooked (no longer pink) add the drained noodles and quickly stir to coat with oil - quickly add the sauce and stir carefully to avoid breaking the noodles.
• Move the noodles to the side and add eggs - let them set a bit then break them up and continue to stir fry - add additional oil if necessary to keep noodles from sticking- continue to toss until eggs are nicely distributed.
• Add 3/4 Cup peanuts, bean sprouts and scallions - toss.
• Remove to serving platter, garnish with 1/4 Cup ground peanuts, sprinkle with the chili flakes and serve with lime wedges to squeeze over the top.