Spicy Pad Thai with Zucchini and Carrot Noodles

I felt a bit sorry for Danny yesterday. He drove the long drive back from Freycinet and then headed straight back out again to meet a friend to go and see Neil Gaiman. This worked out well for me because I was keen to try a recipe from the The Happy Herbivore Cookbook that I was pretty sure he'd hate because it had peanut butter in it... How did I marry a man that can't stand peanut butter!?!

 

The recipe was Cheater's Pad Thai. I absolutely adored the food in Thailand - Spicy, flavourful, fresh... While Danny sought out dishes that closely replicated his eating back home, McDonalds, KFC and even Bangers 'n' Mash in a Bangkok pub (we were still meat eaters back then) I reveled in all of the delicious authentic Thai dishes available. Street vendors, pokey little restaurants almost hidden from view and spaces that looked more like storage sheds than eateries - seemingly nothing was off limits for me! It's certainly a cuisine I sorely miss and, because of Danny's weak constitution when it comes to spice, it's one I usually only try to replicate when he is out for dinner.

Pad Thai, according to Wikipedia, is
'a dish of stir-fried Pho noodles, a type of rice noodle, with eggs, fish sauce, tamarind juice, red chili pepper, plus any combination of bean sprouts, shrimp, chicken, hot dogs or tofu, garnished with crushed peanuts, coriander and lime, the juice of which can be added along with Thai condiments (crushed peanuts, garlic, tomato, chives, pickled turnip, coriander, lime, spicy chili oil, chili powder, vinegar, fish sauce, sugar).'
With that in mind, the version from the Happy Herbivore cookbook is called 'Cheater's Pad Thai' for good reason - It's not authentic but it is fast, easy and calls for everyday ingredients.

That said, I took some liberties with it and turned it into my own little version. It was still fast, still easy, still delicious but it bumped up the vegetable content and used what I had on hand. Plus, I got to use my Gefu Spirelli which always makes for a good time (you could also use a potato peeler to get the job done)!!
 

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Spicy Pad Thai with Zucchini and Carrot Noodles

by Kristin V

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Keywords: main course vegan Carrot Zucchini Thai

6040606

Ingredients (Serves 2)

• 75g thick rice noodles
• 1 carrot, peeled and spiralized or peeled into strips
• 1 zucchini, spiralized or peeled into strips
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp peanut butter (100% peanut is best)
• 1/2 - 1 tsbp ground chilli and garlic in oil (see note)
• 1 tsp minced ginger (fresh or jarred)
• Juice of half a lime
• Bean sprouts, for garnish
• Fresh coriander, for garnish
• Chopped raw peanuts, for garnish

Instructions

- Cook the rice noodles as per directions. Rinse and drain well. Add back to the pot along with the carrot and zucchini over low heat to gently warm the vegetables.

- Combine the soy sauce, peanut butter, chilli and garlic in oil, ginger and lime juice in a small bowl. Whisk with a fork to combine.

- Pour the sauce over the noodles and vegetables stirring gently to coat the noodles well. Serve garnished with bean sprouts, coriander and/or peanuts. And more chilli... If you like your spice level turned right up to inferno!

NOTES

- Ground chilli and garlic in oil can be found in Asian grocers and well stocked supermarkets. If you can't find it substitute with 1-2 tsp sambal oelek (raw chilli paste) and 2-3tsp crushed garlic.

- This dish has spicy in the title for a reason! I made mine using the full tablespoon of ground chilli and garlic in oil and it was hot-hot-hot, just the way I like it! I suggest starting out with a small amount of chilli (maybe 1tsp?) and taste the sauce. Add more heat from there if desired.+

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I'd Like To Know...

What's your favourite kind of cuisine?
It's a tie between Thai and Indian for me, both of which I prefer to go out for because I really haven't mastered the art of authentic at-home versions!

Is there a particular food/type of food that causes disharmony in your house?
Any kind of intensely spicy food is always received with a little less enthusiasm... Along with anything in 'meatloaf' form... If I make the same mixture of ingredients and shape it into patties I get no complaints but as soon as it's a 'loaf' I get complaints!!