Shrimp Pad Thai

Pad Thai is one of the simple pleasures of life. A bright, kinda healthy meal. And for some reason I’ve never written it up. So for a Friday night dinner, I decided to go Pad Thai on this chilly Colonial Beach evening and to share it with you, in case you’ve never tried to make it. It’s really a simple meal to prepare and the flavor is incredible. I did 1/4 of the amount since I was cooking for myself, and I used 10 shrimp. For the sauce, I actually did the full amount. Greedy greedy makes a hungry puppy. It’s so good!

8 ounces rice noodles

1 tablespoon tamarind paste

1 ½tablespoons fish sauce

1 ½tablespoons sugar (I use agave)

1 tablespoon lime juice

4 cups broccoli florets

1 carrot, thinly sliced

½ cup canola oil

2 teaspoons minced garlic

1 teaspoon minced ginger

16 large shrimp, peeled and deveined

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

3 scallions, thinly sliced

1 cup bean sprouts

⅓ cup chopped salted peanuts

3 tablespoons chopped cilantro

1 lime, cut into wedges

Directions:

Step 1

Place the noodles in a bowl and cover with cold water. Let sit for 1 hour. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together the tamarind paste, fish sauce, sugar, lime juice and ¼ cup water; set aside. Lightly steam the broccoli and carrot; set aside.

Step 2

Drain the noodles. Set a wok over high heat for 1 minute, then add the oil and heat until almost smoking. Add the garlic and ginger; sauté for 30 seconds. Add the shrimp and sauté until almost cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the shrimp to a plate, leaving the oil in the pan.

Step 3

Add the noodles and stir-fry for 1 minute. Pour in three-quarters of the tamarind sauce and toss to coat the noodles. Add more sauce if needed. Cook until the noodles are al dente, then push them to one side of the wok and scramble the eggs in the remaining space. Add the shrimp, broccoli, carrot, scallions, bean sprouts and half the peanuts. Toss to mix. Divide among 4 plates and garnish with the remaining peanuts, the cilantro, lime wedges, sesame seeds and if you like heat, red pepper flakes.

Wonderful meal.