Pad Thai

Ingredients:

1/2 lime
1 egg
4 tsp fish sauce
3 cloves minced garlic
1/2 tsp ground dried chilli pepper
Ground pepper
1 shallot, minced
2 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp tamarind
1/2 package Thai rice noodles
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1/2-1/4 lb shrimp (Optional)
1/2 banana flower (Optional)
1/3 cup tofu extra firm (Optional)
1-1/2 cup Chinese chives - green (Optional)
2 tbsp peanuts (Optional)
1-1/3 cup bean sprouts (optional)
1 tbsp preserved turnip



Method:

For 5-10 minutes soak the dry noodles in lukewarm water while preparing the other ingredients. Julienne tofu and cut into 1 inch long matchsticks. Cut up 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 the shallot and garlic together.

Use a wok and heat it up on high heat and pour oil in the wok. Fry the peanuts until toasted and remove them from the wok. Add shallot, garlic and tofu and stir all these ingredients until they turn brown.

Drain the noodles and add to the wok. Stir quickly to avoid sticking. Now add tamarind, sugar, fish sauce, chilli pepper and preserved turnip into the noodles and stir on high flame.

If your wok is not hot enough, turn up the heat. Crack the egg onto the wok and scramble it until it is almost all cooked. Fold the egg into the noodles. Add shrimp and stir. Also add bean sprouts, chives. Stir a few more times. The noodles should be soft and tangled.

Pour onto the serving plate and sprinkle with peanuts. Serve hot with the banana flower slice and a wedge of lime on the side and raw Chinese chives and raw bean sprouts as topping.