Pad Thai

Ingredients

Sauce

  • 6-8 tablespoons tamarind
  • 4-6 tablespoons fish sauce
  • 2 tablespoons sugar (We use grated palm sugar)
  • 1-2 ground dried chilli (buy whole dried chilli and grind in magic/fantastic/amazing/whatever bullet)

Not sauce

  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 large shallot or small red onion, minced
  • 1 block of wide flat rice noodles
  • 1-2 eggs
  • 1-2 cups bean sprouts
  • 1 bunch of garlic chives or spring onions, cut into 5cm pieces
  • 1 large carrot, julliened
  • 1 block of tofu cut into matchsticks
  • 1 cup of prawns, shelled and deveined
  • 1/4 - 1/2 cup blanched peanuts
  • 2-3 limes
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Method

Soak the rice noodles in lukewarm water for around 5 minutes. Drain when they are felxible but still somewhat solid. They shouldn't be expanded and soft. Set aside.

Prepare the sauce by mixing all ingredients and seasoning with plenty of black pepper

Dry roast the peanuts in a large wok or frying pan set to a medium-high heat. Pulse breifly in magic bullet until crumbled by not powdered. Alternatively use a motar and pestle. Set aside.

Heat 1 tsp oil in wok/frypan and cook prawns for 1-2 min until just cooked and set aside

Heat remaining oil and add onion and garlic and stirfry for 1 min. Add tofu and cook until browned (5-10min). Add noodles, stiring continously to avoid sticking and then add sauce. If there is juice present the wok should be hotter. Stir for 1-2min. Push noodles to one side and add egg/s. Scramble and mix in to noodles. Keep stirring contstantly to make sure tofu doesn't burn.

Taste noodles at this stage. If they are too hard add a tablespoon of water and stir. Continue until water is evaporated and noodles cooked.

Add carrot and chives and cook for 2 mins. Add juice of one lime and cook until evaporated. Add beansprouts. At this stage the dish should be dry and all ingredients incorporated. Stir in peanuts and season to taste with black pepper.

Serve with lime wedges, fresh bean sprouts, black pepper and more grated palm sugar

Notes

Use kind of tamarind that comes in a jar Most of these ingredients can be found in asian groceries