Janets Pad Thai Food

SPICY BEEF PAD THAI

Steps:

• 1. Bring a pot of water big enough to cook the noodles to a boil. Once the water is boiling, drop in the noodles and cook until al dente (slightly firm). Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking. Shake off the excess water and set aside the noodles to drain. Once they are drained, lay them out on a plate to minimize clumping. The noodles will be cold when added to the pot.
• 2. In a small bowl, mix together the oyster sauce, soy sauce, chicken stock, and egg. This is your sauce.
• 3. In a wok or large saute pan over high heat, add 1 tablespoon of the peanut oil. Once you see a haze coming off the oil, add the steak, chile, and shallots. Stir frequently until slightly colored, about 30 seconds, and remove to a plate or bowl.
• 4. Add the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons peanut oil to the wok, then add the broccoli. Cook for 30 seconds and remove to the plate with the steak. Add the peanuts and toast briefly. Add the noodles to the wok and mix with the peanuts. Spread the noodles out thin and cook, without stirring, for 20 seconds.
• 5. Add the sauce and half of the green onions to the wok and stir. Add the steak and broccoli and 3/4 cup of the bean sprouts. Stir and divide evenly among three or four plates. Garnish each plate with some of the remaining bean sprouts and green onions. Serve immediately.

PAD THAI

Steps:

• For the Pad Thai Sauce: In a small bowl, stir together the fish sauce, sugar, tamarind paste, lime juice, vinegar, paprika and chili sauce. Set aside.
• For the Pad Thai: Soak the noodles in enough warm water to cover for 1 hour.
• If using, cut the banana leaf into round shapes using an overturned bowl. Place on the serving platter and hold for plating.
• Heat a large cast-iron skillet over high heat. Add the oil and coat the skillet completely. When the skillet starts to smoke, add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 5 seconds. Add the tofu and dried shrimp and cook, stirring, until they begin to soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the chicken pieces and cook, stirring, until no longer pink, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Push ingredients in the skillet to one side and let the oil settle in the center of skillet. Crack the eggs into the oil and let set until half-cooked, about 30 seconds, then lightly scramble. Combine with the remaining cooked ingredients in the skillet, scraping the bits from the bottom before they burn. Add 3 cups of the drained noodles and cook, stirring, until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Reserve the noodle soaking water.
• Add the salted turnip and shrimp. Cook until both the chicken and shrimp are at medium doneness, about 1 minute. Add the sauce and fold together until all the liquid is absorbed, about 2 minutes.
• Place half of the bean sprouts, half of the crushed peanuts and the garlic chives (or scallions) in the center of noodles, and then spoon some noodles over them to cover and let steam for 30 seconds. If the skillet seems dry, add a small amount of the noodle soaking water. Transfer to a serving plate with the banana leaf circle, and garnish with the remaining bean sprouts, peanuts and lime.