Thai Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao)

 


 Ingredients:

**For the sauce:**

- 2 tablespoons soy sauce

- 2 tablespoons oyster sauce

- 1 tablespoon fish sauce

- 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce (or substitute with regular soy sauce if unavailable)

- 1 tablespoon sugar (preferably palm sugar, but granulated sugar works)

- 1 tablespoon water


**For the noodles:**

- 200 grams wide rice noodles (fresh or dried)

- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (or any neutral oil)

- 2 cloves garlic, minced

- 2-3 Thai bird’s eye chilies, sliced (adjust to taste)

- 200 grams chicken breast or thighs, thinly sliced (you can also use beef, pork, shrimp, or tofu)

- 1 bell pepper, thinly sliced (any color)

- 1 small onion, thinly sliced

- 1 cup Thai basil leaves (sweet basil can be substituted, but Thai basil is preferred)

- 1/2 cup baby corn, sliced (optional)

- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)

- 1/2 cup sliced carrots (optional)


#### Instructions:


1. **Prepare the Noodles:**

   - If using dried rice noodles, soak them in warm water for 30 minutes until they are soft, then drain. If using fresh rice noodles, separate them gently.

   

2. **Make the Sauce:**

   - In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, dark soy sauce, sugar, and water. Stir until the sugar is dissolved. Set aside.


3. **Stir-fry:**

   - Heat the vegetable oil in a large pan or wok over medium-high heat.

   - Add the minced garlic and sliced chilies to the pan, stirring frequently until fragrant (about 30 seconds).

   - Add the sliced chicken (or your choice of protein) to the pan and stir-fry until it is mostly cooked through.

   - Add the bell pepper, onion, baby corn, cherry tomatoes, and carrots to the pan. Stir-fry for another 2-3 minutes until the vegetables start to soften.

   

4. **Combine:**

   - Push the contents of the pan to one side and add the noodles to the other side. Pour the prepared sauce over the noodles.

   - Toss everything together until the noodles are well-coated with the sauce and everything is heated through. This should take about 2-3 minutes.

   

5. **Finish:**

   - Add the Thai basil leaves to the pan and give everything a final toss. Cook for another minute until the basil is wilted and fragrant.


6. **Serve:**

   - Transfer the Drunken Noodles to a serving dish and enjoy hot.


#### Tips:

- Adjust the level of spiciness by adding more or fewer chilies according to your taste preference.

- Thai basil has a distinct flavor that is key to this dish, but if you can’t find it, sweet basil is a good substitute.

- You can add other vegetables like broccoli, snap peas, or mushrooms according to your preference.


Enjoy your delicious Thai Drunken Noodles!

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