Pad Thai
One of my all-time favourite dishes, made at home!
INGREDIENTS
Serves 1
FOR THE SAUCE
1tbsp sugar
2tbsp water
1tbsp tamarind paste
2tsp soy sauce (or fish sauce)
FOR THE STIR FRY
Vegetable oil
5 raw, peeled king prawns (I like to use frozen ones - defrost them in a bowl of cold water for about 20 minutes)
1 spring onion, finely sliced
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1/4 fresh chilli, finely chopped
Handful of mixed stir fry vegetables (such as shredded carrot, peppers, cabbage, beansprouts)
150g pack straight to wok noodles (see note)
1 egg
Small handful of salted peanuts, crushed in a pestle and mortar or roughly chopped
Chilli flakes, to serve (optional)
White pepper, to serve (optional)
Lime wedge, to serve
RECIPE
1
Mix together all of the sauce ingredients and set aside.
2
Preheat some oil in a large wok over a high heat. Once hot, go in with your prawns, and cook for about a minute a side or until they are pink all over. Set them aside to a plate.
3
Add some more oil to the pan if need be, and fry the spring onion, garlic and chilli for about 30 seconds.
4
Add in your mixed vegetables, and fry for another 2 minutes until they are slightly wilted, then go in with your sauce and noodles.
Continue to stir fry over a high heat. You want all the water in the sauce to evaporate and for everything to cling to the noodles before you continue.
5
Push everything to one side of the pan, then crack in the egg. As it starts to set, break up the yolk slightly, and push everything on top of the half-set egg. Leave for 30 seconds or so, then begin to stir everything around. You should get bits of egg running through the noodles this way.
6
Switch off the heat, and stir in half of the crushed peanuts, and squeeze in some fresh lime juice to taste (roll and press on the lime on the counter before slicing into it to help get the juice out).
7
Tip onto a serving plate. Top with some white pepper and chilli flakes, the cooked prawns, crushed peanuts, and a lime wedge. Enjoy!
NOTES:
If you do not have access to straight to wok noodles (they come in vacuum packs and can be found in most UK supermarkets), you can use 1-2 dried noodle nests soaked according to the packet instructions. Flat wide rice noodles are best for this, though use whatever kind you like!
TIP #1
Customise this dish to however you like! If you are vegetarian or vegan, sub the prawns for more vegetables. If you want this with chicken, sub the prawns with chicken, or even have both!
