This is for the lovely Cindy, who I miss knitting with.
Melissa's Pad Thai
The "secret" ingredient in this is jarred Pad Thai sauce - it's the only way this recipe can be made on a school night. You're welcome to make your own, though it's not easy to find tamarind powder.
The p.t. sauce is also hard to come by - when you find it, buy a couple jars. You also need to get rice sticks (noodles) - it really doesn't work with wheat noodles.
Ingredients
package of rice noodles
sesame oil
peanut or other oil (not olive)
3 eggs
4 skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
(You could also use shrimp, beef or pork, or none of these)
package of firm or extra firm tofu
bunch of scallions, chopped
chopped garlic
pad thai sauce, 8 oz jar
bunch of cilantro, chopped
cup of alfalfa sprouts
1/2 cup peanuts, chopped
lime wedges
Thai chili sauce (or similar hot stuff)
Soak the noodles in hot water for at least 1/2 hour (while you're prepping everything else). Chop the cilantro and peanuts while everything else is cooking.
Heat a tablespoon of each oil in a large wok or frying pan. Crack in the eggs and scramble into small pieces. Remove the eggs to a plate and throw in the chicken or other meat. Stir-fry til cooked through, remove to the egg plate or a separate one (this is a dish-intensive recipe).
Add the scallions and tofu, cut into bite-sized pieces. Stir-fry til slightly browned, adding more oil if necessary. Add the garlic toward the end so it doesn't burn. Remove all to another bowl.
Drain the noodles - they should be softened but still firm. Throw them into the pan and stir in the pad thai sauce and a half of cup of hot water. Cover the pan and let them cook for awhile, til they're al dente.
Throw the egg, chicken/meat, tofu/scallion mixture, cilantro and sprouts into the noodles and incorporate as much as possible. (If the noodles are too sticky, I add a little rice vinegar, sesame oil or water.)
Serve immediately, garnished with the peanuts, lime juice and chili sauce. I like to use chopsticks for authenticity and offer Thai beer.
Get someone else to do the dishes.
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