Easy Vegan Pad Thai

A healthy make-over for this highly popular Thai dish.

Vegan. Hands-on time: 14 mins. Total time: 14 mins.

Contributed by Moira Adams (August 2011).

This vegan version of pad Thai is not only healthier than the usual chicken or fish variety, but also tastes good and is easy to prepare (the whole things takes less than quarter of an hour).

You don't need to follow the recipe exactly. Pad Thai is a versatile dish, and can be prepared with almost any combination of vegetables, so feel free to use whatever you have to hand. Tamarind paste can be hard to find in some areas, so I've marked it as optional; it won't greatly detract from the dish if you leave it out.

The quantities given here will make a filling main course for two people.

Ingredients

• 4 oz (110 g) rice noodles
• 1 tbsp. peanut oil
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 2 - 3 scallions (spring onions), trimmed and chopped; or a small onion, peeled and diced
• ½ - 1 tsp. curry powder or paste (the quantity will depend on the strength)
• 2 tbsp. lime juice
• 3 - 4 oz. (75 - 110 g) prepared vegetables, cut into small slices or chunks (I've successfully used bell peppers, baby corns, tenderstem broccoli, carrots, snow peas and mushrooms, but feel free to use whatever veggies you prefer.)
• ½ cup (2 - 2½ oz, 50 - 60 g) peanuts (whole or chopped)
• 1 tbsp. peanut butter
• ½ tbsp. tamarind paste (optional)
• ½ cup (2 oz, 50 g) bean sprouts

Method

Place the noodles in a pan or bowl and cover with boiling water. Leave to soak for five or six minutes, or until they are just beginning soften. Don't worry if they still have a bite; they'll finish softening up in the stir fry.

While the noodles are soaking, heat the oil in a frying pan or wok. Add the garlic and scallions or onions. Fry for a minute or so.

Stir in the curry and lime juice, then add the vegetables. Stir fry on a high heat for a couple more minutes.

When the noodles are ready, drain them, then add them to the stir fry along with the remaining ingredients. Cover with a lid. Turn down the heat and let everything steam for another four or five minutes, stirring occasionally. If the mixture starts to dry out, add a little water or some more lime juice.

Serve immediately.

Note on quantities and temperatures:
Quantities are given in American (cups), imperial (oz, fl oz) and metric (g, ml) units. Do not mix the units - use one or other system throughout the recipe.
See also How much does a cup weigh?
oz = ounces, fl oz = fluid ounces, g = grams, ml = milliliters, tsp = teaspoons, tbsp = tablespoons.
Oven temperatures are given in degrees F (Fahrenheit) and C (Celsius).
For fan-assisted ovens, reduce the temperature by 20F or 10C.