Ah, Drunken Noodles 🍜🔥 —also known as Pad Kee Mao—a classic Thai stir-fry dish that’s bold, spicy, and packed with flavor! Despite the name, it doesn’t actually contain alcohol; the “drunken” part comes from its intense flavors that pair well with drinks.
Drunken Noodles (Pad Kee Mao)
Serves: 2–3
Ingredients
- 8 oz wide rice noodles (fresh or dried, soaked if dried)
- 2–3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2–3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2–3 Thai chilies, sliced (adjust for spice)
- 1 small onion, sliced
- 1 bell pepper, sliced
- 1 cup baby corn, sliced mushrooms, or other veggies (optional)
- 1/2 lb protein: chicken, beef, pork, or tofu, sliced thin
Sauce:
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp dark soy sauce (optional, for color)
Finishing touch:
- 1 cup fresh Thai basil leaves
Instructions
- Prepare noodles:
- If dried, soak noodles in warm water until pliable, then drain.
- Cook protein:
- Heat oil in a large pan or wok over medium-high heat.
- Stir-fry your protein until mostly cooked. Remove and set aside.
- Stir-fry aromatics & veggies:
- Add garlic and chilies to the pan, sauté 30 seconds.
- Add onions, bell pepper, and other vegetables. Cook 2–3 minutes until slightly tender.
- Add noodles & sauce:
- Return protein to the pan.
- Toss in noodles. Mix soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, sugar, and dark soy sauce; pour over noodles.
- Stir-fry everything 2–3 minutes until noodles are coated and heated through.
- Finish with basil:
- Turn off heat, add Thai basil, and toss gently.
- Serve hot:
- Plate immediately, maybe with lime wedges or extra chilies for spice lovers.
Tips & Variations
- Spicy level: Adjust Thai chilies to taste; add chili paste for more heat.
- Protein options: Chicken, beef, shrimp, tofu, or a mix.
- Vegetables: Bell peppers, carrots, baby corn, broccoli, or mushrooms all work well.
- Quick shortcut: Use pre-cooked noodles and pre-cut vegetables to cut prep time to 15–20 minutes.
If you want, I can give a restaurant-style Drunken Noodles recipe that’s extra saucy and spicy, perfect for home cooking that tastes like a Thai street stall.
Do you want me to do that?
