One-Pot Wonders

Pad Thai Redux

by:
February 21, 2013
4.7
9 Ratings
Pad Thai Redux
Photo by James Ransom
  • Serves 4
Author Notes

We may have found ourselves devouring a very indulgent version of this dish at Andy Ricker’s (of famed Pok Pok) Phat Thai the other day. Andy’s pad thai is very traditional and contains a lot of oil and probably some sugar. So because we couldn’t get it out of our minds we decided that we would make our own version – lots of vegetables, minimal oil and no sugar. We have to say this dish might be less traditional but it is still high on the delicious scale. And if you’re not too concerned with being vegan this works stupendously well with fish sauce and a scrambled egg or two. —Weird & Ravenous

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 4 ounces rice noodles
  • 2 tablespoons neutral oil (like grapeseed or canola)
  • 1 large garlic clove, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 2 bell peppers (whatever color you like), seeded, stemmed and thinly sliced
  • 2 baby bok choy, thinly sliced
  • 1 handful snow peas, ends trimmed, thinly sliced lengthwise
  • Coarse salt
  • 2 handfuls watercress, roughly chopped
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
  • 1 lime, halved
  • 1 handful mint leaves, roughly chopped
  • 1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced (white and light green parts only)
  • 1 handful peanuts, roughly chopped
  • 1/2 green jalapeño, thinly sliced (optional)
  • Fish sauce for serving (optional)
Directions
  1. Place the rice noodles in a large bowl and cover with nearly-boiling water. Let them sit until just softened, about 10 minutes. Drain them, cut them up a bit with scissors if they’re very long and set them aside.
  2. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet set over high heat. Add the garlic and cook until it’s just fragrant, only about 30 seconds. Add the peppers and cook, stirring a bit, until beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the bok choy and the snow peas and cook until they begin to soften a bit too, just another minute or 2. Season the vegetables with a large pinch of salt and then stir in the reserved noodles and then fold in the watercress.
  3. Turn off the heat and stir in the toasted sesame oil and another pinch of salt while you’re at it. Squeeze all the juice from the lime over the pad thai and stir to combine. Serve immediately with the herbs, scallions, peanuts and jalapeño. If you’re not totally vegan, serve with a splash of fish sauce too.
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Weird & Ravenous
Cleo Brock-Abraham and Julia Turshen are the two best friends behind Weird & Ravenous, a production company that makes fresh content about food and the relationships it inspires. With a careful understanding of the many factors that go into preparing a meaningful meal, Weird & Ravenous is stirring the pot.

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34 Reviews

Andrea
Andrea December 6, 2021
Simple, fast, healthy. Will become one of my go to recipes.
 
jencordes
jencordes April 2, 2021
I made this as written except I subbed asparagus for snap peas and only had about a cup of watercress. Everything else was measured or weighed and the result was fantastic. Healthy and easy. I did use the fish sauce and at the very end, added a little maple syrup. This will go in regular rotation.
 
Ann W.
Ann W. May 5, 2019
I was doubtful about this recipe, but it is definitely a keeper. Would have used fish sauce if I could have found it in my overcrowded pantry, but it was wonderful without. Only thing I think I might change is to add a bit more peanuts (roasted but unsalted). A bit of a chore to do all that chopping, but it comes together beautifully. Well worth it!
 
Elle
Elle April 16, 2019
I loved the simplicity of this recipe and use of healthy fresh ingredients. This is a great week day meal. I substituted leeks for the watercress and added them to the pan the same time as the bell peppers. Next time, I’d like to also add tofu or pork. I would definitely do this again.
 
Elena M.
Elena M. April 3, 2019
Absolutely loved this! My flatmate is allergic to peanuts, so I added three tablespoons of tahini and it totally made the dish!
 
Elle
Elle April 16, 2019
Tahini is a great idea! My husband is allergic to peanuts as well so I used cashews. Next time I will do tahini!
 
Renee B.
Renee B. October 10, 2018
I hosted book club last night and made this as one of two entrees. It was a huge success. Vegetarians, gluten-free, vegans and omnivores all loved it and had seconds. It was so pretty too. I used red and orange bell peppers which contrasted beautifully with the greens. Great dish. Thanks so much for sharing.
 
olivia
olivia August 23, 2018
This may be perhaps the ultimate weeknight dinner. Cheap, quick, delicious, healthy, and easy clean up. Praise be, Weird & Ravenous.
 
Lisa Y.
Lisa Y. July 9, 2018
This is fantastic, quick, and adaptable. I used mustard greens instead of watercress, cashews for peanuts, and basil instead of mint. I love pad thai but have to forgo it due to various sensitivities. Noe I can have it--thank you!!!
 
Catrin
Catrin April 24, 2015
Surprisingly flavorful for such a fast and simple dish, with lots of room for veg substitutes. Added diagonally cut asparagus with peppers. Recommend that you do not add garlic until a bit later (with peppers). It does not need the longer cooking time and you only risk burning and acrid garlic over that higher heat. Flash cooked, rolled and slivered Asian-style scrambled egg makes perfect protein addition.
 
victoria S.
victoria S. October 27, 2014
This would be wonderful with shrimp or chicken cubes
 
Ken W.
Ken W. September 8, 2013
emcsull: Duh?
 
emcsull
emcsull September 8, 2013
edifying, thanks
 
emcsull
emcsull August 14, 2013
what kind of peanuts, just ordinary common peanuts ?
 
Weird &.
Weird &. September 9, 2013
Hey there! Yes, ordinary peanuts! We prefer salty, roasted ones.
 
susan G.
susan G. July 30, 2013
...and it was delicious. I added browned tofu cubes to make a meal of it.
 
ChezUs
ChezUs July 30, 2013
Isn't it? Must make again, soon.
 
Margie K.
Margie K. July 29, 2013
Doesn't sound or look like ANY Pad Thai I have ever enjoyed anywhere , It does look delicious, though, and I shall try it !! :)
 
ChezUs
ChezUs July 30, 2013
I thought the same but LOVED this recipe.
 
Weird &.
Weird &. September 9, 2013
Glad you enjoyed!
 
Gerald5001
Gerald5001 May 2, 2013
You didn't say what kind of rice noodles. There are a lot of different kinds of rice noodles
 
Weird &.
Weird &. May 6, 2013
This works with all different types. As you can see in the video, we used thin (but not-too-thin) rice noodles that look almost like fettucini.
 
Vegan F.
Vegan F. May 1, 2013
This shouldn't be labeled as vegan since it calls for fish sauce!
 
Weird &.
Weird &. May 6, 2013
Very true, but as we noted in the introduction and in the recipe itself, the non-vegan addition of fish sauce is optional. Hope you enjoy!
 
susan G.
susan G. July 29, 2013
I have a vegan 'fish' sauce that I found at a large Asian market. I've never had the real thing, but this is very tasty and distinctive.
 
Stacy A.
Stacy A. March 21, 2013
This looks like an excellent make-at-home version of pad thai. I can't wait to try it this weekend!
 
Gerald5001
Gerald5001 March 19, 2013
The only thing I don't like about it is the onions (you call them scallions but they are still onions)
 
Lemongrass&Lime
Lemongrass&Lime March 17, 2013
Mmmm. Looks delicious. Noting for summer.
 
DEFFY
DEFFY February 26, 2013
this sounds AMAZINGGGGGGGG