Lemongrass Chicken Pad Thai

Submitted by Elmotoo

"I'm not sure how this recipe found me. It arrived in my inbox last week. It's a Ming Tsai recipe which states: Everyone loves chicken pad thai, Thailand's deliciously spicy noodle dish. The noodles used are rice sticks, which, besides being delightfully chewy, are gluten-free (for those allergic to it) and "cooked" simply by soaking. My version is easier to make than many others — I've eliminated the traditional tamarind, which is hard to find and fussy to prepare — but nothing is lost in the flavor department, I promise. I include the traditional scrambled eggs, but you can omit them, if you like. You'll still have a wonderfully satisfying dish. **I did some looking around because I wanted to add the tamarind back in! I have a jar of tamarind concentrate that I found at a Middle Eastern store,**"

 

• Ready In: 40mins
• Ingredients: 12
• Serves: 4

ingredients

• 8 ounces rice sticks
• 1 lb chicken thigh, boneless, skinless, cut into 1/3-inch-thick strips salt, Kosher
• black pepper, freshly ground, to taste
• 4 tablespoons canola oil, divided
• 4 lemongrass, stalks white parts only, minced
• 1 large red onion, sliced thinly
• 1 jalapeno, cut into thin rings
• 3 large eggs, beaten lightly
• 1 large red bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
• 2 tablespoons tamarind paste
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 2 lemons, zest and juice of

directions

1. Place the noodles in a medium-sized bowl and fill it with hot water to cover. Soak until pliable but not completely soft, 10-15 minutes.** Drain and set aside. You're aiming for noodles that are soft but not mushy, as the noodles will continue to cook when heated through before serving.
2. Season the chicken with salt and black pepper, to taste. Heat a wok over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of the oil and swirl to coat the pan. When the oil is hot, add the chicken and stir-fry until brown and cooked through, about 3 minutes. Set aside.
3. Return the wok to medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the oil and swirl to coat. When the oil is hot, add the lemongrass, onion, and jalapeño. Stir-fry until the onion is soft, about 1 minute. Push the mixture to one side of the wok, drizzle in the remaining 1 TB oil, and add the eggs. Stir-fry, breaking up the eggs, until cooked through, about 30 seconds. When the eggs are set, stir to incorporate the onion mixture.
4. Return the chicken to the pan, add the bell pepper, and stir. Add the tamarind concentrate, fish sauce, lemon zest and juice, and noodles. Stir and cook until heated through, about 2 minutes. Season with additional salt and pepper, to taste, transfer to a serving platter or plates, and serve.