Pad Thai
- 3/4 pound dried flat rice noodles, 1/4 inch wide
- 5 tablespoons corn, grapeseed, or other neutral oil
- 3 eggs, lightly beaten
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 pound small shrimp, peeled
- 1/4 pound pressed tofu (page 491) or extra-firm tofu, sliced
- 2 scallions, trimmed and cut into 1-inch lengths
- 1 cup bean sprouts, trimmed
- 2 tablespoons nam pla
- 2 teaspoons tamarind paste (page 585) or ketchup
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1/4 cup chopped peanuts
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
- 2 small fresh chiles, preferably Thai, stemmed, seeded, and sliced, optional
- 1 lime, cut into wedges
- Put the noodles in a bowl and pour boiling water over them to cover.
- Allow to soak until softened, at least 15 minutes, or until youre ready to use them (dont soak for longer than an hour or they may start to fall apart).
- Put 2 tablespoons of the oil in a wok or large skillet, preferably nonstick, over medium heat.
- Add the eggs and scramble quickly for the first minute or so with a fork almost flat against the bottom of the pan; youre aiming for a thin egg crepe of sorts, one with the smallest curd you can achieve.
- Cook just until set and transfer the crepe to a cutting board.
- Cut into 1/4-inch strips and set aside.
- Raise the heat to high and add the remaining oil.
- When the oil is hot, add the garlic and shrimp and cook, stirring occasionally, until the shrimp lose their raw gray color.
- Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon and transfer to a plate next to the stove.
- Add the tofu, scallions, and half the bean sprouts to the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes.
- Transfer the tofu mixture to the plate with the shrimp.
- Combine the drained noodles, egg crepe, nam pla, tamarind, and sugar in the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until the noodles are heated through, then add the stir-fried shrimp and tofu mixture.
- Toss once or twice and transfer the contents of the pan to a serving platter.
- Top with the peanuts, cilantro, chiles if desired, and remaining bean sprouts.
- Serve with the lime wedges on the side.
rice noodles, corn, eggs, garlic, shrimp, pressed, scallions, bean sprouts, tamarind paste, sugar, peanuts, cilantro, fresh chiles, lime
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/pad-thai-385902 (may not work)