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Ingredients

To serve

  • roasted and ground peanuts, optional
  • lime wedges, optional
  • coriander leaves, optional

Method

  • STEP 1

    First, soak the noodles. If they are long, break them into 15cm-long pieces. Place in a large bowl and cover with warm water. Leave for 10 mins so they start to soften, but no longer. You want them to be firm when you cook them, otherwise they'll go soggy.

  • STEP 2

    Next, make the sauce. Put 1 tbsp of the oil in a wok. Keep the heat low and add the garlic and chilli. Stir for 2-3 mins, then add the palm sugar, tamarind, fish sauce and soy sauce. Keep stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Pour into a bowl and clean the wok.

  • STEP 3

    You will need to make the pad Thai in 2 batches so that the wok cooks everything quickly and at a high heat. Have all your ingredients ready to go. Pour a little more oil into the clean wok and heat until hot. Add half the prawns, cook for 1 min, then push to the side. Add half the beaten eggs, leave to set for 1 min, then scramble. Add half the noodles, beansprouts and pickled turnip, if using. Stir constantly, using 2 long spoons, heating the noodles through. Pour in half the sauce and keep stir-frying until absorbed, then stir in half the chives. Tip onto 2 plates and top with half the peanuts, lime wedges and coriander.

  • STEP 4

    Clean out the wok and pour in the remaining oil. Repeat the process with the remaining ingredients and serve.

RECIPE TIPS
PRESERVED AND PICKLED TURNIPS

Preserved turnips are dried, pickled, daikon radishes, and they add flavour to stir-fries, especially pad Thai. You can find them online at souschef.co.uk or from specialist shops. Pickled turnips have a brilliant purple hue as beetroot is added to the pickling liquid. Buy them from specialist Asian shops.

COOKING TIPS

Pad Thai can sometimes go mushy, so the key is to soak the noodles until bendy but not soft. The wok will do the rest of the cooking for you. The dish is also best made in two separate batches, so the high heat of the wok can bring it together without being weighed down by too many noodles.

Goes well with

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