Recipe #281: Pad Thai #2

This is my second Pad Thai recipe, but this one is different enough that I had to post it.  I'm really happy with how closely it tasted like the version at my favorite Thai restaurant, although this recipe does not use chicken (which, I found out, is not authentic).  I found this on www.thaitable.com, and my changes are in red.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 package Thai rice noodles
1-1/3 cup bean sprouts
1-1/2 cup Chinese chives (I used the same amount of scallions)
2 tablespoon cooking oil  (I used peanut oil)
2 tablespoons tamarind paste (I used the same amount of white vinegar)
2 tablespoon sugar (I only used 1 tbsp)
1 minced shallots
1/3 cup extra firm tofu
1/2 lime
2 tablespoons peanuts (I used more)
1/2-1/4 lb shrimp
ground pepper (White is recommended)
1/2 teaspoon ground dried chili pepper
3 cloves minced garlic
4 teaspoons fish sauce
1 egg

DIRECTIONS

Prepping

Start with soaking the dry noodles in lukewarm or room temperature water while preparing the other ingredients (8-10 minutes). Make sure that the noodles are submerged in plenty of water. By the time you are ready to put ingredients in the pan, the noodles should be flexible but not mushy. Julienne tofu and cut into 1 inch long matchsticks. When cut, the super firm tofu/pressed tofu should have a mozzarella cheese consistency. You can fry the tofu separately until golden brown and hard, or you can fry with other ingredients below.

Cut the Chinese chives into 1 inch long pieces. Set aside a few fresh chives for a garnish. Rinse the bean sprouts and save half for serving fresh. Mince shallot and garlic together.

Cooking

Use a wok. If you do not have a wok, any big pot will do. Heat it up on high heat and pour oil in the wok. Fry the peanuts until toasted and remove them from the wok. The peanuts can be toasted in the pan without oil as well. Add shallot, garlic and tofu and stir them until they start to brown. The noodles should be flexible but not expanded at this point.

Drain the noodles and add to the wok. Stir quickly to keep things from sticking. Add tamarind, sugar, fish sauce and chili pepper. Stir. The heat should remain high. If your wok is not hot enough, you will see a lot of juice in the wok at this point. Turn up the heat, if it is the case.

Make room for the egg by pushing all noodles to the side of the wok. Crack the egg onto the wok and scramble it until it is almost all cooked. Fold the egg into the noodles. The noodles should soft and chewy. Pull a strand out and taste. If the noodles are too hard (not cooked), add a little bit of water. When you get the right taste, add shrimp and stir. Sprinkle white pepper around. Add bean sprouts and chives. Stir a few more times. The noodles should be soft, dry and very tangled.

Pour onto the serving plate and sprinkle with ground pepper and peanuts. Serve hot with a wedge of lime on the side, raw Chinese chives and raw bean sprouts on top.