Healthy Pad Thai

Pad thai is a stir-fried rice noodle dish from Thailand. It's common street food and usually has a lot of oil, eggs and fish sauce. Veggie versions include tofu.
This pad thai is a little different because I used peanut butter and also tamari (instead of soy sauce). Also, I used tofu instead of shrimp or chicken but if you want, you can just substitute the shrimp or chicken for the tofu easily.
I absolutely love pad thai and hope you enjoy this recipe!

You'll need:

• 1 package rice noodles
• 1 package tofu (extra firm)
• 1 red bell pepper (shredded/julienned)
• 2 carrots (shredded)
• 1/4 head of green cabbage (shredded)
• 1 big shallot or 1/4 white onion
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 1/2 cups vegetable stock
• 1 lime
• 2 tbsp peanut butter (unsalted)
• 1/4 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1 1/2 tsp tamari or soy sauce
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp coriander
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (start easy because its very spicy)
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
• chopped peanuts/cashews to taste
• salt and pepper to taste

1. Drain tofu and pat dry with paper towels. Press to get water out of tofu. Cut into cubes.

2. Heat a big pan or skillet on medium high heat and add 1 tbsp olive oil.

3. Pan fry tofu for 10 minutes flipping sides. Set aside.

4.  In same pan, add more oil if needed and sauté garlic and onion (chopped). Sauté until translucent.

5. Add carrots and bell pepper to the pan with 1 1/2 tsp tamari or soy sauce.

6. Add chili powder and ginger. sauté and then add 1 cup of the vegetable stock to loosen up the sauce.

7. Saute until vegetables look cooked (simmer for a couple of minutes).

8. Add cabbage and remaining spices (paprika, coriander, cayenne pepper). Add more stock (1 cup) and simmer.

9.  Prepare noodles according to package direction.

10. Then add the peanut butter and brown sugar and mix well.

11. Then, add tofu cubes and simmer until sauce thickens. If the sauce needs more liquid just add more vegetable stock.

12. Add the rice noodles to the pan.

13. Adjust seasoning: add more sugar, soy sauce or stock (if too salty, too sweet or too thick).

14. Turn off pan and serve with chopped peanuts, chopped cilantro and lime wedges.

15. You have to squeeze some lime on this dish - it does make a huge difference before eating. 

That's it. Enjoy!!

Pam & Oscar