Pad Thai

  • 4
  • 40 mins
  • 60 mins

Ingredients

  • 12 oz pkg rice stick noodles
  • 2 tbsp tamarind paste
  • 3/4 cup boiling water
  • 4 tbsp peanut oil
  • 1 lb chicken breast or shrimp, diced
  • 1/8 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 2 tbsp fish sauce
  • 3 tbsp sugar
  • 3/4 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 3 cups bean sprouts
  • 1/4 cup peanuts, crushed
  • 3 green onions, chopped
  • 1 lime, cut into wedges
  • 1 tsp soy sauce
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup loosely packed cilantro

Preparation

Step 1

Rehydrate tamarind paste in boiling water. Stir in fish sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, cayenne pepper @ 2 tbsp oil into tamarind liquid and set aside.

Cover the rice sticks with hot water in a large bowl; soak until softened, pliable & limp but not fully tender; about 20 minutes. Drain the noodles and set aside. Beat the eggs & 1/8 tsp of the salt in a small bowl; set aside.

Heat 1 tsp oil in a 12" skillet over high heat until just beginning to smoke. Add the shrimp and sprinkle with the remaining 1/8 tsp salt; cook, tossing occasionally until the shrimp are opaque & browned around the edges; about 3 minutes. Transfer the shrimp to a plate.

Off heat, add the remaining tbsp oil to the skillet and swirl to coat; add garlic & green onion. Set the skillet over medium heat and cook, stirring constantly until golden brown; add eggs to skilled and stir vigorously with wooden spoon until scrambled & barely moist. Add the noodles. Toss with 2 wooden spoons to combine. Pour the fish sauce mixture over the noodles, increase the heat to high and cook, tossing constantly until coated. Scatter 1/4 cup peanuts, bean sprouts, cooked shrimp; toss constantly.