Pad Kee Mao

This recipe is courtesy of Alison Singer:

Pad Kee Mao, from the kitchen of Alison Singer

Pad Kee Mao (Drunken Noodles)

  • 1 14-ounce package wide rice stick noodles
  • 6 garlic cloves, chopped (or, you know, more. Because it’s garlic).
  • 1/8 cup chopped fresh Thai chiles (or not, depending on your spice desire)
  • Some meat. Or tofu. Like a couple chopped chicken breasts, or a half package of drained, chopped extra-firm tofu (my preference, and I’m not a vegetarian).
  • 1/4 cup fish sauce
  • 1/8 cup black soy sauce (if you don’t have this available, just toss in a tablespoon of molasses).
  • 1/8 cup Golden Mountain sauce (can use regular soy sauce)
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 2 large plum tomatoes, each cut into 6 wedges (or diced – you know, however big you want them)
  • 1 green bell peppers, cut into strips (or red pepper, if you’re like me and don’t like green)
  • 1/4 cup fresh Thai basil leaves (or regular fresh basil)

A note on ingredients: My best advice as a wannabe chef is to not limit yourself to what the recipe says. You think mushrooms sound good in this? Hell yeah they do! And shiitake are awesome in it. And you think garnishing with scallions sounds good? It is.

Directions:

Cook noodles in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring frequently. (Or follow directions on the package.) Drain.

Meanwhile, heat oil in a wok (if you don’t have a wok you can use a sauté pan with almost as good results) over medium-high heat.

Add garlic and Thai chiles; saute 30 seconds.

Add chicken and next 4 ingredients and saute until chicken is cooked through, about 4 minutes. If you use tofu, you might want to fry tofu before and add it at this phase. Add noodles, tomatoes, and bell peppers; toss to coat. Transfer to large platter, sprinkle with basil leaves, and serve.”

Alison Singer hates writing things about herself. Like biographies. But in the spirit of things, she lives in the mountains of North Carolina, where she spends most of her time thinking about food, cooking food, and eating food. And drinking. And playing with dogs. And playing outside. And occasionally going to school. And she loves it all. Especially the eating.

Related Articles