My kids always order the same dish when we go to a Thai restaurant — the stir-fried noodle dish known as pad thai.
Made with rice noodles, scrambled egg, bean sprouts and a protein like chicken, tofu or shrimp tossed in a flavorful sweet-and-sour sauce, it hits all the right notes. It’s slurpy, tangy, a little bit funky (it includes fish sauce) and thanks to a garnish of chopped peanuts, a little bit crunchy.
This might seem like a difficult recipe because it has a longish list of ingredients. But if you get everything prepped and ready to go before you heat up the wok or saucepan, it actually comes together fairly quickly.
You can find tamarind paste in the Asian section of most larger grocery stores, as well as in Asian and Middle Eastern markets. Or, make this substitute: Mix 1 tablespoon vinegar with 1 tablespoon brown sugar for every tablespoon of paste.
I used both chicken and shrimp in this recipe, but you could opt for just one of them. Don’t forget the mint — it adds color and zip.
Chicken and Shrimp Pad Thai
Serves 4.
Adapted from “Wagamama Feed Your Soul” by Steve Mangleshot
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Sea salt and white pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons vegetable or peanut oil, divided
10 ounces rice noodles
6 ounces peeled and cooked shrimp, in bite-sized pieces
1 red onion, finely sliced
2 scallions, finely sliced
¾ cup mung bean sprouts
1-inch piece of ginger, peeled and grated
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 red chili, deseeded and finely sliced
Red pepper flakes, divided
1 tablespoon tamarind paste
2 tablespoons fish sauce
⅓ cup honey
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
n For garnish
Chopped cilantro leaves
Finely sliced fresh mint
Chopped peanuts
Crispy fried onions
Lime wedges
Season chicken and heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned all over.
Cook noodles according to packet instructions, drain and set aside. Place chicken, shrimp, vegetables, ginger, garlic, chili, a pinch of red pepper flakes and noodles in a large bowl and mix.
Make sauce: Add 1 tablespoon tamarind paste, fish sauce, honey and vinegar in a small saucepan over medium-low heat and bring to a simmer. Taste and add more tamarind paste, if desired; it should be piquant, but not too sour. Stir in a pinch or two of red pepper flakes and set aside.
Heat remaining oil in large wok or skillet over high heat. Add noodle mixture and stir-fry.
Tip in the eggs and continue to stir-fry until the vegetables start to caramelize and the eggs cook, about 3 to 4 minutes.
Add tamarind sauce to pan and toss ingredients, making sure the sauce does not stick to the pan. Stir-fry for a further 2 minutes and then remove from heat.
Divide between 4 serving plates and scatter with fresh herbs. Garnish and serve.
