Big Johns Pad Thai Noodles Recipes

PAD THAI (SHIRATAKI NOODLES)

Steps:

• Slice the chicken breasts into very thin slivers. Drain the Shirataki noodles and make sure they're dry (don't want to retain the smell of the water they're packaged in).
• Add 1 tablespoon oil to pan and heat. Add the garlic and ginger and heat until fragrant. Stir in the meat and cook until browned. Stir in the noodles until separated and coated.
• Separately, combine the soy sauce, peanut butter, water and red pepper paste. Pour the sauce over the noodles and meat.
• Add the vinegar and brown sugar and toss it all together. Allow the sauce to heat through. Remove from the heat.
• Top with peanuts and serve.

CHEF JOHN'S DRUNKEN NOODLES

Steps:

• Soak rice noodles in hot water until flexible, 10 to 15 minutes. Occasionally move the noodles around to separate them. Drain the water and cover with a wet paper towel.
• Combine oyster sauce, soy sauce, Asian fish sauce, maple syrup, sugar, and water in a small bowl.
• Heat vegetable oil and sesame oil in a wok, or large frying pan, over medium-high heat. Stir-fry shallots, chile peppers, and garlic until shallots are soft, about 2 minutes. Move the mixture around the outside of the pan to create a space and add chicken. Sear for 1 minute, then combine with shallot mixture. Add Chinese broccoli stems and stir-fry until tender, about 2 minutes. Add Chinese broccoli leaves and stir-fry until wilted.
• Add drunken noodle sauce and sliced green onions and mix. Cook until sauce begins to simmer. Add soaked rice noodles and toss to coat until noodles have absorbed the sauce and are cooked through, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Stir in Thai basil leaves until wilted. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve.

BIG BOWL'S CHICKEN PAD THAI (FOR TWO)

Steps:

• Pour very hot tap water to cover the noodles and let sit for 30 minutes. Drain thoroughly, rinse with cold water, and set aside.
• Mix the chicken with the cornstarch, salt, and sesame oil.
• Mix together the lime juice, brown sugar, ground chiles, paprika, Thai chili sauce, and fish sauce, and set aside.
• In a wok or skillet, heat 1 cup peanut oil. When hot but not smoking, add the chicken. Stir to separate the pieces. When they change color, remove to drain on colander. Reserve the oil.
• Heat a clean wok or skillet to very hot. Add 3 tablespoons of the reserved oil. When hot, add the gee, and stir quickly to set (do not brown). Push to one side of the pan and add the scallion greens. Stir briefly just to coat with the oil, then add the noodles. Toss the noodles in the pan 15 seconds or so and re-add the chicken. Toss continually until the noodles soften and are well coated with the oil and the chicken, egg, and scallion greens are mixed inches
• When the pan is piping hot, drizzle in the lime juice-brown sugar mixture. After 5 seconds, pull the pan from the heat a toss vigorously. Add most of the basil and cilantro leaves (reserving a pinch for a final garnish), the dried shrimp, and the peanuts, and toss. Add the bean sprouts and keep tossing. Transfer to a serving plate and serve with two lime wedges on the side to be used by diners at their discretion. A few drips of lime juice before one digs in are, in fact, recommended.