Pad Thai With Banana Flower Recipes

PAD THAI WITH BANANA FLOWER

Steps:

• By far, the trickiest part is the soaked noodles. Noodles should be somewhat flexible and solid, not completely expanded and soft. When in doubt, undersoak. You can always add more water in the pan, but you can't take it out.
• In this recipe, pre-ground pepper, particularly pre-ground white pepper is better than fresh ground pepper.
• Tamarind adds some flavor and acidity, but you can substitute white vinegar.
• If you decided to include banana flower, cut lengthwise into sections (like orange sections). Rub any open cut with lime or lemon juice to prevent it from turning dark.
• The original Pad Thai recipe calls for crushed roasted peanuts. Many people in Thailand avoid eating peanuts because of its link to cancer.
• Soak the dry noodles in lukewarm water while preparing the other ingredients, for 5-10 minutes.
• Julienne tofu and cut into 1 inch long matchsticks. When cut, the extra firm tofu should have a mozzarella cheese consistency.
• Cut up Chinese chives into 1 inch long pieces. Set aside a few fresh chives for a garnish.
• Rinse the bean sprouts and save half for serving fresh. Mince shallot and garlic together.
• Use a wok. If you do not have a wok, any big pot will do. Heat it up on high heat and pour oil in the wok. Fry the peanuts until toasted and remove them from the wok.
• Add shallot, garlic and tofu and stir them until they start to brown.
• The noodles should be flexible but not expanded at this point. Drain the noodles and add to the wok. Stir quickly to keep things from sticking.
• Add tamarind, sugar, fish sauce, chili pepper and preserved turnip. Stir. The heat should remain high.
• If your wok is not hot enough, you will see a lot of juice in the wok at this point. Turn up the heat, if it is the case.
• Make room for the egg by pushing all noodles to the side of the wok. Crack the egg onto the wok and scramble it until it is almost all cooked. Fold the egg into the noodles.
• Add shrimp and stir.
• Add bean sprouts, chives. Stir a few more times.
• The noodles should be soft and very tangled.
• Pour onto the serving plate and sprinkle with peanuts. Serve hot with the banana flower slice and a wedge of lime on the side and raw Chinese chives and raw bean sprouts on top.
• In Thailand, condiments such as sugar, chili pepper, vinegar and fish sauce are available at your table for your personal taste. Some people add more pepper or sugar at this point.

AUTHENTIC PAD THAI NOODLES

Steps:

• Soak rice vermicelli noodles in a bowl filled with hot water until softened, 30 minutes to 1 hour. Drain and set aside.
• Heat peanut oil over medium heat in a large wok.
• Cook and stir tofu in the wok, turning the pieces until they are golden on all sides.
• Remove tofu with a slotted spoon and drain on plate lined with paper towels.
• Pour all but 1 tablespoon of used oil from the wok into a small bowl; it will be used again in a later step.
• Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil in the wok over medium heat until it starts to sizzle.
• Pour in beaten egg and lightly toss in the hot oil to scramble the egg.
• Remove egg from the wok and set aside.
• Pour reserved peanut oil in the small bowl back into the wok.
• Toss garlic and drained noodles in wok until they are coated with oil.
• Stir in vegetable broth, lime juice, soy sauce, and sugar. Toss and gently push noodles around the pan to coat with sauce.
• Gently mix in tofu, scrambled egg, salt, chili flakes, and 3 tablespoons peanuts; toss to mix all ingredients.
• Mix in bean sprouts and green onions, reserving about 1 tablespoon of each for garnish. Cook and stir until bean sprouts have softened slightly, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Arrange noodles on a warm serving platter and garnish with 3 tablespoons peanuts and reserved bean sprouts and green onions. Place lime wedges around the edges of the platter.

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.

AUTHENTIC PAD THAI

Steps:

• Soak the dry noodles in lukewarm water while preparing the other ingredients, for 10-15 minutes.
• Julienne tofu and cut into pieces 1 inch long.
• Cut up Chinese chives into 1 inch long pieces. Set aside a few fresh chives for a garnish.
• Rinse the bean sprouts and save half for serving fresh.
• Mince shallot and garlic together.
• Heat the oil in a wok on high.
• Fry the peanuts until toasted and remove them from the wok.
• Add shallot, garlic and tofu and stir them until they start to brown.
• The noodles should be flexible but not expanded at this point. Drain the noodles and add to the wok. Stir quickly to keep things from sticking.
• Add tamarind, sugar, fish sauce, chili pepper and preserved turnip. Stir. The heat should remain high. If your wok is not hot enough, you will see a lot of juice in the wok at this point. Turn up the heat, if it is the case.
• Make room for the egg by pushing all noodles to the side of the wok. Crack the egg onto the wok and scramble it until it is almost all cooked. Fold the egg into the noodles.
• Add shrimp and stir for a minute.
• Add bean sprouts, chives. Stir a few more times. The noodles should be soft and very tangled.
• Pour onto the serving plate and sprinkle with the fried peanuts. Serve hot with banana flower, a wedge of lime, raw Chinese chives and raw bean sprouts.