Drunken Noodles (or Pad Kee Mao) is a spicy Thai stir-fry with rice noodles, Thai basil, and fragrant spices. Regardless of the identify, there isn’t any alcohol on this flavorful dish. It’s a scrumptious mix of spicy, candy, and savory flavors, making it a beloved Thai avenue meals.

Pad Kee Mao

What are Thai Drunken Noodles?

Drunken Noodles, or Pad Kee Mao (ผัดขี้เมา) in Thai, are a preferred avenue meals identified for his or her daring and spicy flavors. The identify itself actually means “drunkard’s stir-fry” in English. “Pad” means stir-fry, and “Kee Mao” interprets to drunkard or drunken. The dish is particularly common amongst those that have had a couple of drinks, as its spicy and flavorful profile is claimed to be good for a post-drinking meal.

Curiously, in accordance with She Simmers, a Thai cookbook creator, Pad Kee Mao initially referred to a meat-based stir-fry with out noodles. Over time, flat rice noodles, or kuay tiaw, have been added to the dish, resulting in its present, extra common model. Technically, Kuay Tiaw Pad Kee Mao advanced into the Drunken Noodles or Pad Kee Mao we all know right now.

Love Thai recipes? Try my Tom Yum, Thai Purple Curry, and Thai Cucumber Salad subsequent. They’re all wonderful and style identical to those in Bangkok!

Drunken Noodles Recipe

The Drunken Noodles recipe is actually Pad Krapao or Thai basil hen stir-fried with flat rice noodles.

On this dish, rice noodles are cooked in a sizzling wok with hen and/or shrimp, together with greens like gailan (Chinese language kale or mustard greens), Thai basil, child corn, straw mushrooms, and younger inexperienced peppercorns. Garlic and chili peppers are the primary aromatics. The noodles are stir-fried over intense wok warmth with a sauce created from fish sauce, oyster sauce, and different flavorful seasonings.

Pad Kee Mao has a savory style with a slight sweetness and a spicy kick, whereas the basil provides a contemporary, peppery taste. Belief me, it’s a dish you received’t overlook!

Recipe Substitutions

Dry large rice stick noodles and contemporary kuay tiaw are each common in Thai delicacies however differ considerably.

Dry rice stick noodles are pre-cooked, then dried, requiring soaking earlier than use. They’ve a chewy texture and are generally utilized in stir-fries and soups.

In distinction, contemporary rice noodles or kuay tiaw are delicate and pliable straight from the bundle, providing a extra tender texture and sometimes utilized in dishes like Pad See Ew, Pad Thai and Rad Na.

Buying Information: In the USA, you could find dry rice stick noodles at Chinese language and Asian meals shops or on-line. Contemporary rice noodles may also be bought at Complete Meals; search for the Nona Lim model’s contemporary Pad See Ew noodles in your recipes.

Holy Basil vs. Thai Purple Basil

For genuine Pad Kee Mao, it’s best to use Thai holy basil. Nonetheless, it may be fairly scarce exterior of Thailand. In the event you stay in the USA, you should utilize the purple-stem Thai basil obtainable at Asian supermarkets.

In the event you’re lucky sufficient to be in Thailand, you could find the “actual” Thai holy basil at native moist markets or grocery shops. In your comfort, I’ve included a photograph above for straightforward reference!

Buying Information: In the event you stay in central or northern California, you could be in luck in the case of discovering Thai holy basil. Try Hmong farmers’ markets within the space, as they usually carry quite a lot of contemporary herbs, together with Thai holy basil. These markets is usually a nice useful resource for genuine substances and may supply a extra in depth choice than conventional grocery shops. It’s price visiting these markets in case you’re seeking to make an genuine Pad Kee Mao with the real taste of Thai holy basil.

Drunken Noodles Elements

I developed this recipe after making an attempt numerous Pad Kee Mao dishes in Bangkok, together with the famend Michelin-starred Raan Jay Fai. I’ll present you how you can prepare dinner drunken noodles like a professional, with flavors that transport you straight to Thailand!

• Rice Noodles (Kuay Tiaw): These flat noodles created from rice flour are the primary ingredient within the drunken noodles dish. For this recipe, I used contemporary rice noodles.
• Rooster and Shrimp: I used each in my recipe. In the event you favor Pad Kee Mao Talay, or the seafood model, you should utilize a mixture of shrimp, squid, and cuttlefish.
• Thai Chilies and Purple Chilies: These chilies add depth and vibrant warmth to the dish. Modify the quantity of Thai chilies based mostly in your most popular spice stage.
• Holy Basil or Thai Basil: These fragrant herbs present a barely candy and peppery taste, giving the noodles a contemporary and aromatic kick.
• Gailan: Also referred to as Chinese language kale, gailan is a leafy inexperienced vegetable with a barely bitter style and tender texture.
• Child Corn
• Egg: Elective, for extra richness and texture.

Drunken Noodles Sauce

Listed here are the substances for the sauce:

• Soy sauce
• Oyster sauce
• Fish sauce
• Candy soy sauce
• Maggi sauce or Golden Mountain Seasoning Sauce
• Sugar
• Water

How one can Make The Finest Pad Kee Mao

Step 1: In a mortar and pestle, pound the garlic and Thai chilies till they kind a rough paste.

Step 2: Gently loosen the contemporary rice noodles by hand, making certain they continue to be separate and don’t clump collectively. In the event you’re utilizing dry rice stick noodles, prepare dinner them in accordance with the bundle directions. Drain them in a colander and set them apart.

Step 3: Mix all of the substances for the sauce in a bowl and stir to combine properly. Set it apart.

Step 4: Warmth a wok or skillet with the oil. Add half of the pounded garlic and Thai chilies, together with half of the pink chili, stir-fry till fragrant. Add the shrimp and prepare dinner till the floor turns white. Then add the child corn and gai lan, stir to mix properly.

Step 5: Add a portion of the rice noodles and stir to mix them properly with the substances within the wok. Pour in half of the sauce and stir to evenly coat the noodles, making certain they’re well-colored.

Step 6: If utilizing eggs, push the noodles to 1 facet of the wok. Add half of the overwhelmed egg to the empty facet, and as quickly because the egg begins to set, stir it repeatedly with the rice noodles.

Step 7: Add the basil leaves and stir rapidly to mix them properly with the noodles.

Step 8: Flip off the warmth, and serve instantly.

Useful Cooking Suggestions

• To realize that good stability of textures and flavors, it’s essential to make sure all our substances are evenly heated for correct browning and stir-frying. Preserve an in depth eye on every little thing because it cooks to forestall something from turning into overcooked or undercooked. With a little bit consideration to element, you’ll have a batch of mouthwatering drunken noodles very quickly!
• Jay Fai’s Pad Kee Mao Talay (seafood Pad Kee Mao) is next-level wonderful. The wok hei—often known as the “breath of the wok”—provides a smoky taste and ideal sear to the dish. Right here’s the key: get your pan or wok tremendous sizzling earlier than including the substances. That intense warmth makes the flavors pop and provides you the mouthwatering texture you crave.

Professional Tip: Put together all of your substances prematurely and have them prepared earlier than you begin cooking. This helps you add every ingredient rapidly, making certain even cooking and the very best taste and texture. It additionally helps keep the wok hei, or smoky taste, by stopping overcrowding within the pan.

Ceaselessly Requested Questions

What To Serve With Drunken Noodles

Drunken Noodles are an entire meal on their very own, however they pair properly with a facet of steamed rice, a contemporary salad, or different Thai dishes. To impress your loved ones and mates together with your newfound aptitude in Thai cooking, I like to recommend the next recipes to enrich the noodles.

I hope you get pleasure from this publish as a lot as I do. In the event you attempt my recipe, please depart a remark and think about giving it a 5-star score. For less difficult and scrumptious recipes, discover my Recipe Index, and keep up to date by subscribing to my publication and following me on Fb, Pinterest, and Instagram for brand spanking new updates.

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