MasterChef Pad Thai recipe: A taste of the Far East

MasterChef presents a recipe for Pad Thai, the celebrated street food dish from Thailand, promising to banish the day's fatigue with its vibrant flavors. The secret, according to the recipe, lies in the sauce's subtle tanginess and the satisfying crunch of freshly roasted peanuts.

While traditionally made with tamarind paste and fish sauce, this recipe offers adaptations for home cooks using readily available ingredients. The core components include flat rice noodles, chicken breast or shrimp, eggs, bean sprouts, green onions, garlic, and crushed peanuts. A key instruction is to rehydrate the rice noodles in hot water rather than boiling them to prevent a mushy texture.

The signature Pad Thai sauce is a blend of tamarind paste (or a lemon juice and apple cider vinegar substitute), fish sauce (or soy sauce), brown sugar, and chili flakes or Sriracha for a touch of heat. This mixture is prepared separately to ensure the flavors meld perfectly.

Cooking involves stir-frying garlic and protein in a hot wok, then pushing the ingredients aside to scramble eggs. The rehydrated noodles are added and tossed with the prepared sauce until they absorb the flavors and caramelize slightly. Finally, bean sprouts and green onions are added just before serving to maintain their crispness. The dish is finished with a generous sprinkle of crushed peanuts and a wedge of lime for a final burst of freshness.