Tofu Pad Thai

Pad Thai, also called kway teow pad Thai (meaning "Thai-style stir-fried rice noodles"), is customized in endless ways by street food vendors, restaurateurs, and home cooks all over the world. But at the heart of this beloved Thai noodle dish is a delectably sweet, salty, and sour sauce that's seasoned with fish sauce, sugar, tamarind, and lime juice. Lara Lee's meatless pad thai heroes hearty, savory fresh oyster and shiitake mushrooms, which suffuse the dish with earthy flavor and combine beautifully with chewy noodles, golden-fried tofu, fresh, crisp bean sprouts, lightly spicy long red chiles, and crunchy peanuts. Tamarind sits firmly at this pad thai's center, balancing the dish and holding it all together with its delightfully sour high note. When you prepare the dish, be sure to wash and dry the skillet after browning the mushrooms to prevent the fond from burning while cooking the tofu and peanuts. To make it vegetarian, use a vegan fish sauce, such as Ocean's Halo, and swap mushroom sauce for the oyster sauce.

By Lara Lee
May 2022

Gallery

Credit: Photo by Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Melissa Grey / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell

Recipe Summary

active:
20 mins
total:
40 mins
Servings:
2
Advertisement

Ingredients

Sauce
Pad Thai

Directions

Make the sauce:

  • Stir together superfine sugar, fish sauce, oyster sauce, tamarind water, lime juice, chile, and garlic in a small bowl. Set aside.

    Advertisement
Make the pad thai:

  • Soak noodles in boiling water according to package directions. Drain. Transfer to a medium bowl. Add 1 tablespoon oil, and toss to coat. Set aside.

  • Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large stainless steel skillet over high. Add mushrooms and 1/2 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are tender and golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl; set aside. Wash and dry skillet. 

  • Return skillet to heat over medium-high, and add 2 tablespoons oil. Add tofu slices to hot oil in a single layer; sprinkle evenly with 1/8 teaspoon salt. Cook, undisturbed, until golden on bottom, 1 minute and 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Carefully flip using a thin metal spatula. Sprinkle evenly with remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt. Cook until golden brown on other side, 1 minute and 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels. Set aside. Wipe skillet clean.

  • Return skillet to heat over medium-low, and add 1 1/2 teaspoons oil. Add peanuts, and sprinkle with salt to taste. Cook, stirring constantly, until peanuts are fragrant and toasted, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a mortar, and coarsely grind using a pestle. (Alternatively, transfer to a cutting board, and finely chop.) Set peanuts aside, and wipe skillet clean.

  • Return skillet to heat over high, and add remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oil. Add eggs; cook, undisturbed, until bubbly and mostly set, about 15 seconds. Scramble eggs, and break into large pieces; push scrambled eggs to back edge of skillet. Add Chinese chives and 2/3 cup bean sprouts to center of skillet. Cook, stirring constantly, until softened, about 30 seconds. Add noodles and half of the sauce (about 1/4 cup). Cook, stirring constantly, until ingredients in skillet are well incorporated and noodles have separated into individual strands, about 30 seconds. Stir in cooked mushrooms, tofu, and remaining sauce (about 1/4 cup). Cook, stirring constantly, until well combined and noodles are shiny and well coated, about 20 seconds. Immediately divide noodle mixture between 2 bowls. Top evenly with ground peanuts, cilantro, and remaining 1/3 cup bean sprouts.

Note

Associated Recipe: Tamarind Water

Suggested Pairing

Crisp Côtes de Provence rosé: Château Miraval

Advertisement
© Copyright 2022 Food & Wine. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.foodandwine.com 08/16/2022