This publish could comprise affiliate hyperlinks. Please learn my disclosure coverage.
You understand these dishes that make you’re feeling like a complete rockstar within the kitchen? That’s precisely what these Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao) are for me. The daring flavors, the tender hen, the peerlessly cooked noodles—all of it simply works so fantastically collectively. And let’s be actual, any dish that’s prepared in 35 minutes however appears like restaurant-quality is a win in my ebook.
Earlier than You Begin
- Soak Your Noodles Proper: Use heat water to soak the rice noodles. Keep away from boiling them, as they will simply develop into too mushy and break when stir-frying.
- Prep Every thing First: This dish cooks shortly, so have all of your elements chopped, measured, and able to go. Stir-frying waits for nobody!
- Use Excessive Warmth for Stir-Frying: A sizzling wok or skillet is essential to attaining that barely charred, smoky taste. Don’t overcrowd the pan—prepare dinner in batches if wanted.
- Regulate the Warmth Degree: Thai chilies carry critical spice, so add them primarily based in your warmth tolerance. You’ll be able to at all times begin small and add extra later.
- Preserve It Shifting: Stir consistently when cooking the noodles with the sauce to make sure even coating and to stop sticking.
- Style as You Go: The sauce has daring flavors, however be happy to tweak it—add extra lime for tang or a contact of sugar should you like a little bit of sweetness.
Components You’ll Want
- Huge rice noodles: For those who can’t discover broad ones, any stir-fry-friendly rice noodle works—simply regulate the cooking time so that they don’t overcook.
- Greens: I used a mixture of broccoli, bell peppers, onion, and carrots. Be at liberty to swap in what you’ve obtained—zucchini, mushrooms, or snow peas all work properly.
- Rooster thighs: Juicy, flavorful, and excellent for stir-frying. You’ll be able to substitute with hen breast, shrimp, and even tofu for a plant-based model.
- Garlic and Thai crimson chilies: These two are your aromatics, constructing the bottom flavors. Regulate the chilies primarily based on how spicy you need it—begin with much less and add extra should you love the warmth.
- Inexperienced onions and Thai basil leaves: These recent herbs brighten up the dish on the finish. Attempt to get Thai basil should you can—it provides a barely anise-like taste you received’t get with common basil.
- Lime wedges: A squeeze of lime earlier than serving provides freshness and ties all of the flavors collectively. Don’t skip it—it’s the proper of completion.
- Oyster sauce: Provides a wealthy, savory depth to the sauce. For those who want a vegetarian possibility, use mushroom oyster sauce.
- Soy sauce and darkish soy sauce: Collectively, these carry saltiness and a contact of sweetness. The darkish soy provides a deep shade, making the noodles look further appetizing.
- Fish sauce: Brings that signature umami taste. For those who’re not into fish sauce, you’ll be able to substitute with extra soy sauce, nevertheless it received’t have fairly the identical depth.
- Brown sugar: Balances out the saltiness with a touch of sweetness. You’ll be able to swap this for honey and even white sugar if wanted.
- Lime juice: Provides brightness and a little bit of acidity to steadiness the wealthy flavors.
Begin by soaking the rice noodles in heat water. You need them mushy however nonetheless with a little bit of firmness as a result of they’ll end cooking within the pan. Whereas they soak, get all of your different elements prepped.
Presently I additionally prefer to whisk collectively the oyster sauce, soy sauces, fish sauce, brown sugar, lime juice, and water till all the things’s blended. Preserve this bowl inside arm’s attain since you’ll want it within the thick of cooking.
Warmth your wok or a big skillet till it’s good and sizzling, then add the oil. Toss within the garlic and chilies, and provides them a fast stir till your kitchen smells unimaginable. Don’t stroll away—they’ll burn quick. Subsequent, add the hen and let it sizzle. Unfold it out so it browns properly earlier than stirring it round. You need golden, juicy bites of hen, not pale, steamed items.
As soon as the hen is cooked, toss in your veggies. I like beginning with the onion and bell pepper since they take barely longer, then add the broccoli and carrots. Stir-fry till the veggies are crisp-tender—nonetheless vibrant and a bit crunchy. Overcooked veggies are against the law on this dish!
Now, drain your softened noodles and toss them into the wok together with that wonderful sauce. Use tongs or chopsticks to softly toss all the things collectively. Make sure that these noodles take in each little bit of that savory-sweet sauce. Don’t fear if the noodles look too dry at first; they may soak up that sauce as they end cooking.
Proper earlier than you’re able to serve, toss within the inexperienced onions and Thai basil. Stir them by means of for only a minute so the basil wilts and the inexperienced onions keep crisp. That recent basil aroma? Completely next-level.
Incessantly Requested Questions
Why are they referred to as Drunken Noodles?
The identify “Drunken Noodles” comes from the dish’s repute for being an ideal remedy after an evening of ingesting, because of its daring flavors and spicy kick. Regardless of the identify, there’s no alcohol within the recipe!
Can I make this forward of time?
Sure, however these noodles style finest recent. For those who make them forward, retailer them in an hermetic container and reheat in a sizzling skillet or wok with a splash of water or soy sauce to loosen them up.
How do I retailer leftovers?
Retailer leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or within the microwave, including just a little water if wanted to refresh the sauce.
Can I freeze Drunken Noodles?
I don’t advocate freezing this dish as a result of the noodles can develop into mushy when thawed.
Are these noodles gluten-free?
They are often should you use gluten-free soy sauce and fish sauce. Examine all of your sauce labels to verify there’s no hidden gluten.
Extra Scrumptious Thai Recipes
Earlier than You Start! For those who make this, please go away a assessment and score letting us know the way you favored this recipe! This helps our enterprise thrive & proceed offering free recipes.
Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao)
Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao) is a daring, flavorful Thai stir-fry that includes broad rice noodles, tender hen, recent veggies, and Thai basil. Coated in a savory-sweet sauce with a spicy kick, it’s a fast and satisfying dish good for any evening of the week.
Forestall your display from going darkish
Earlier than You Start! For those who make this, please go away a assessment and score letting us know the way you favored this recipe! This helps our enterprise thrive & proceed offering free recipes.
Directions
-
Soak the 8 ounces of broad rice noodles in heat water for 15–20 minutes till they soften. Drain and put aside.
-
In a bowl, whisk collectively 3 tablespoons oyster sauce, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon darkish soy sauce, 1 tablespoon fish sauce, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 2 teaspoons lime juice, and 1 tablespoon water till the sugar dissolves. Put aside.
-
Warmth 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a big wok or skillet over medium-high warmth. Add the 4 minced garlic cloves and a couple of–3 sliced Thai crimson chilies. Stir-fry for about 30 seconds till aromatic. Add the 1 pound of hen items to the wok. Stir-fry for five–6 minutes till the hen is cooked by means of and calmly browned.
-
Toss within the sliced onion, bell peppers, broccoli florets, and julienned carrot. Stir-fry for 3–4 minutes till the greens are crisp-tender.
-
Add the softened noodles and stir-fry sauce to the wok. Gently toss all the things collectively, guaranteeing the noodles are properly coated with the sauce. Prepare dinner for an additional 2–3 minutes till the noodles are tender and the sauce has been absorbed.
-
Stir within the inexperienced onions and 1 cup of Thai basil leaves. Prepare dinner for an extra 1 minute till the basil is wilted.
-
Garnish with further basil leaves and serve with lime wedges on the aspect. Get pleasure from instantly!
Notes
- Use Thai basil for its genuine peppery taste, however should you can’t discover it, candy basil will work.
- Regulate the warmth degree by including or decreasing the variety of Thai chilies to match your spice tolerance.
- Stir gently when including the noodles to keep away from breaking them, particularly in the event that they’re freshly soaked.
- For further depth of taste, strive including a splash of sesame oil when stir-frying the noodles.
Vitamin Info
Serving: 1servingEnergy: 473kcal (24%)Carbohydrates: 62g (21%)Protein: 27g (54%)Fats: 12g (18%)Saturated Fats: 2g (13%)Polyunsaturated Fats: 5gMonounsaturated Fats: 3gTrans Fats: 0.1gLdl cholesterol: 108mg (36%)Sodium: 1490mg (65%)Potassium: 670mg (19%)Fiber: 4g (17%)Sugar: 8g (9%)Vitamin A: 3925IU (79%)Vitamin C: 96mg (116%)Calcium: 68mg (7%)Iron: 2mg (11%)
Discover: Vitamin is auto-calculated to your comfort. The place related, we advocate utilizing your personal vitamin calculations.
