Toronto Pad Thai

When you're dying for some restaurant-style pad thai, here's a spicy vegetarian one. You can substitute chicken, shrimp, or pork for the tofu.

• Preparation Time: 25 mins
• Cooking Time: 10 mins
• Total Time: 35 mins
• Calories: 450 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• ¼ cup vegetable oil
• ⅓ cup boiling water
• 4 eggs, beaten
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 limes, juiced
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• ¼ cup ketchup
• 5 green onions, thinly sliced
• 3 cups bean sprouts
• ¼ cup tamarind paste
• 1 (8 ounce) package pad thai rice noodles
• 1 tablespoon chili paste (sambal oelek)
• ½ pound firm tofu, drained and cubed
• ½ cup coarsely ground peanuts

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Place the rice noodles in a large bowl, pour in enough very hot tap water to cover, and let them soak for 30 minutes. Drain the noodles, and set aside.

Step 2

Stir together the tamarind paste with boiling water in a bowl until well mixed, and let the mixture stand for 15 minutes. Press the paste mixture through a fine-mesh sieve to strain, and discard any fibers or seeds. Combine the strained tamarind paste with the ketchup, lime juice, soy sauce, sugar, and chili paste in a bowl.

Step 3

Heat the vegetable oil in a wok over medium-high heat until the oil shimmers. Cook and stir the garlic and tofu until the tofu begins to show brown edges, 3 to 4 minutes. Pour in the eggs, and scramble for 30 seconds, then add the noodles, tamarind mixture, and bean sprouts. Cook and stir until the noodles are separated, heated through, and covered with sauce, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with peanuts and sliced green onions.