Take-out at home gets HEALTHY – this vegetarian pad Thai with peppers and Chinese broccoli is veggie-stuffed and just as tasty what you can get from your local take-out joint.
vegetarian pad thai

So……………………………………………………should I send your local takeout joint a condolence card? Flowers? A box of #sorrynotsorry chocolates?

Scratch that, I’m keeping the chocolates. But you can alert every Thai restaurant within a 50 mile radius that I am on a mission to TAKE.THEM.DOWN.

No hard feelings?

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It’s nothing personal, really.

But we need to take control of our lives!

We can’t be sitting at home, twiddling our thumbs, waiting for the delivery guy to show up.

We have to grab the bull by the horns! Seize the day! Learn how to make our own pad thai!!

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Yup, this is happening.

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Apparently the secret to good pad Thai is the PEANUTS. Really. I always thought they were just garnish, but as I was making the sauce for this I kept adding a little of this and a tablespoon of that, but no matter what I did, it still didn’t taste right.

And then I added the peanuts. Game changer.

Because I’m all about bulking up my noodle dishes with veggies whenever I can, I stuffed this with every color of bell pepper under the sun (with the exclusion of green – blech) and gai lan, or Chinese broccoli, which adds the perfect amount of bitterness to this sweet and tangy dish. It’s takeout done right. At home. For a fraction of the calories.

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Takeout menu collection –> right in the trash. Don’t think I didn’t see that.

Vegetarian Pad Thai
 
Take-out at home gets HEALTHY - this vegetarian pad Thai with peppers and Chinese broccoli is veggie-stuffed and just as tasty what you can get from your local take-out joint.
Yield: 4-6 servings
Ingredients
  • 1 lb dried flat rice noodles
  • 5 tbsp peanut oil, divided
  • 3 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 bell peppers, seeded and thinly sliced
  • 1 lb gai lan (Chinese broccoli), coarsely chopped
  • 6 tbsp soy sauce
  • 4 tbsp tamarind paste
  • 6 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp sriracha
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • ½ cup salted peanuts, chopped
Instructions
  1. Put the noodles in a bowl and pour boiling water over them. Soak for at least 15 minutes, or until softened. Drain and fill the bowl with cold water. Set aside.
  2. In a large skillet, heat 2 tbsp peanut oil over medium heat. Add the eggs to the pan in as thin a layer as possible. Scramble quickly for the first minute, using a fork to almost flatten the eggs against the bottom of the pan, making as small curds as possible. Cook until just set and then transfer to a cutting board. Cut into ¼-inch strips and set aside.
  3. Raise the heat to high and add the remaining oil. Add the garlic, bell peppers, and gai lan to the pan. Saute, stirring occasionally, until the peppers and broccoli are softened, about 5- 6 minutes. Stir in the soy sauce, tamarind paste, sugar, sriracha, and sesame oil. Add the noodles to the pan and toss to coat. Serve topped with the peanuts.
Notes
An Eats Well With Others Original
Nutrition Information
Serving size: 1 bowl

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vegetarian pad thai
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47 Responses to Vegetarian Pad Thai

  1. Kathryn says:

    I love pad thai but never ever make it home – I have to change that asap because this looks so delicious!

  2. I adore Pad Thai and have learned to make it at home as well and LOVE it! This looks delicious! I just posted one of my favorite take-out dishes made at home, too. I really enjoy trying to recreate these dishes at home.

  3. Ooo – I’m sharing this with my peeps. I LOOOOVE Pad Thai. To make it completely plant based they can just leave out the eggs!

  4. Sune Moolman says:

    I am all over this! Bring on the peanuts! 😀

  5. Oh heck yeah, it’s all about the peanuts!! And can I say, please move in and cook for me?

  6. Zainab says:

    You really are my hero! I had pad Thai at a lunch meeting yesterday and was thinking I shud learn how to make this. And BAM, you answered my prayers. U rock!

  7. I almost died for pad thai when I visited Bangkok. There were street food stalls selling it freshly cooked from the biggest pans you’ve ever seen!
    I love that your version isn’t too complicated. I always get a bit put off by reams and reams of ingredients in these kinds of things, usually!

  8. Yep. Peanuts are so key in, well, really all Asian cooking. Which is my favorite cuisine, as you know. So not being able to use peanuts has been sad. BUT wouldn’t you know – cashews are a great substitute! WHEW. Love this!

  9. I am obsessed with this bowlful of pad thai perfection. I mean seriously, those take-out menus are goin’ STRAIGHT in the garbage can like you said. They just won’t be needed anymore with amazing-ness like this only a few minutes of prep away. 😀

  10. I make pad thai quite often! I love your vegetarian version. I’m going to have to try it soon! Pinning!

  11. Who would’ve thought that pad thai can ever be healthy? Buh-bye take out thai!

  12. I love pad thai! It’s definitely all about the peanuts. Can’t wait to try this!

  13. Trisha says:

    The timing of this recipe is perfect for me! I’m planning to have friends over this weekend for a pad thai party!! Excited to try your variation, and LOVE all the peppers!

  14. Monica says:

    The thai restaurants are screwed. ; ) This looks amazing! We love gai lan here too but I’ve never put it in pad thai! Well, I didn’t even learn to make it at home til a year or two ago and boy, is it a game changer. We hardly ever get take out anymore. Pad thai and Singapore noodles are two Asian noodle dishes I crave the most. I’m staring at this and wishing I had some – that coating of sauce looks so thick and wonderful! Will make soon and load up on the peanuts – definitely a huge must!

  15. Much better than take out and who needs the meat w all the veggies going on in here! Thanks! Love Pad Thai!!

  16. How did you know that I just bought some flat noodles? Can’t wait to try it! This looks mouthwatering!

  17. Ah, there is so much to love about this. I am too lazy for take out because waiting on someone to bring me my dinner just isn’t fun. So on those nights I’m feeling uninspired, dinner looks…similarly uninspired. This is so fresh and easy it could just be possible on the evenings I have little energy but still really want a great meal!

  18. This looks awesome, solo good in fact I pinned it! YUM!

  19. I loooooove Pad Thai! Your version looks delicious 🙂

  20. Beth says:

    This looks amazing! Can’t wait to try it.

  21. I love how you beefed up your pad that with peanuts! Now I need to find me some Chinese broccoli …

  22. Katie says:

    Looks lovely joanne – definitely beats waiting for a delivery!

  23. Christina says:

    Um want now. I have never made pad thai at home. And you don’t like green peppers?!

  24. That broccoli is so small and adorable!! I don’t think I’ve ever heard of Chinese broccoli before but I’m sure I would love it! I totally agree, the secret to good Pad Thai is lots of peanuts!

  25. mira says:

    I love all ingredients you’ve chosen for this pad thai! Looks delicious!

  26. Mary says:

    This looks AMAZING!! So up my alley! I’ve had a hard time trying to find tamarind paste – any ideas where to get it?
    Mary

    • joanne says:

      Do you have a Whole Foods near you? I know they carry it. If not, any Indian or Middle Eastern or even Chinese supermarket should have it! I know Amazon also carries a few varieties as well. Let me know if you have any other questions or can’t find it!

  27. sandra says:

    I’m definitely making this this weekend!! we don’t have any Asian restaurants in our hood… and I’ve been going without for too long!

  28. Betty says:

    I definitely don’t miss the meat in this- love all of the peppers! 🙂

  29. Stunning – Joanne – so much better when made at home, rather than takeout!

  30. This Pad Thai looks awesome and thanks for the note on the peanuts. Honestly, I think peanuts are the most under-appreciated nut – they’re delicious, healthy and cheap. win win win

  31. CakePants says:

    This looks *ridiculously* delicious!! I’ve never made my own pad Thai, but I think it’s about time to start. Yum!

  32. cheri says:

    Love pad Thai, this version looks and sounds delicious!!!

  33. I’m with you on the green peppers. We don’t eat take out ever. Hope you had a super birthday 🙂

  34. Kate says:

    This is one of my favorite Thai dishes!

  35. Teffy says:

    Pad thai is one of my favourite things to eat, but I’ve actually never tried to make it at home. Mmnnm now I’m definitely craving it!

    {Teffy’s Perks} X

  36. Could I agree more with you on this? NO. I COULDN’T! Take out menus absolutely need to be done away with! Fresh, home cooked Pad Thai is the real deal! It’s funny, I’ve actually condemned take out menus in my this week’s post as well! Telepathy? You don’t say! Loving the flavors here and peanuts practically taste good in nearly every savory dish! Pinning! <3

  37. We ordered thai last weekend (and had to pick it up! no delivery here) and it was SO INCREDIBLY SPICY that I hardly even ate any of it. This sounds incredible A. because everything you make sounds incredible and B. because I can adjust the spice level so it’s actually Kelly-edible.

  38. Lynn says:

    That looks wonderful.

  39. Eileen says:

    This looks far better than what we can get at any of our immediately local Thai places! And there definitely isn’t any delivery that can measure up (since, sadly California is not NYC and there are basically two delivery options total). So many vegetables!!

  40. Honestly, this is one of the best homemade pad thais I have seen. This just looks simply delicious.

    Kay of Pure & Complex
    http://www.purecomplex.com

  41. Definitely need to try this! Your pad thai recipe looks so scrumptious!

  42. Big fan of pad thai and I am so wanting to have it right away.

  43. Sarah says:

    Mmmmmm I need this in my belly! These noodles look super good, AMD I like that you incorporated gai lan 🙂 yum yum yummmmmm.

  44. […] Ma passion pour les plats d’origine asiatique ne se dément pas: ce pad-thai végétarien me f… […]

  45. Looks like I will have to try these, especially since my favorite Thai is in NY anyway…

  46. Johanna GGG says:

    oh no not peanuts – I try to avoid them because of sylvia’s allergy but this does make me want to buy some because I love pad thai and it is more likely I will make it than find myself going out for dinner somewhere they sell it

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