Drunken Noodles

Drunken Noodles, also known as Pad Kee Mao, is a popular Thai dish that features wide rice noodles stir-fried with a savory sauce, vegetables, and your choice of protein. It's a flavorful and spicy dish that can be customized to suit your taste preferences. Here's a recipe to make Drunken Noodles at home:

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces wide rice noodles
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 Thai chili or bird's eye chili, minced (adjust to your preferred level of spiciness)
• 8 ounces protein of your choice (such as chicken, shrimp, beef, or tofu), sliced or diced
• 1 cup sliced bell peppers
• 1 cup sliced onions
• 1 cup sliced carrots
• 1 cup sliced broccoli florets
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon sweet soy sauce (or substitute with dark soy sauce and a pinch of sugar)
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• Fresh basil leaves, for garnish

Instructions:

1. Cook the wide rice noodles according to the package instructions until they are al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. In a wok or large skillet, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat.
3. Add the minced garlic and chili to the hot oil and stir-fry for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
4. Add the protein of your choice (chicken, shrimp, beef, or tofu) to the wok and cook until it is almost cooked through. If using shrimp, cook until pink and opaque.
5. Add the sliced bell peppers, onions, carrots, and broccoli to the wok. Stir-fry for a few minutes until the vegetables are crisp-tender.
6. In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce, sweet soy sauce (or substitute), and sugar to make the sauce.
7. Pour the sauce over the stir-fried ingredients in the wok and mix well to coat everything evenly. Cook for another minute or two until the sauce thickens slightly and coats the noodles and vegetables.
8. Add the cooked rice noodles to the wok and toss gently to combine with the sauce and vegetables. Continue to stir-fry for a few more minutes until the noodles are heated through.
9. Remove the wok from the heat and garnish the Drunken Noodles with fresh basil leaves.
10. Serve the Drunken Noodles hot as a main dish.

Drunken Noodles can be adjusted to your preference by adding more or less chili for spiciness or adding other vegetables and herbs such as mushrooms, bean sprouts, or cilantro. Enjoy this flavorful and satisfying Thai dish!