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Here in Baltimore we are lucky enough to enjoy a Thai restaurant with a fully vegetarian menu. They deliver, too! All of the dishes are also vegan unless they contain eggs, which they’ll leave out on request. They offer a variety of vegan faux meats as well as several types of tofu, and veggies galore. I am a sucker for their tofu larb, pineapple cashew fried rice, vegan sweet chili fried chicken, and veggie pad thai. But the dish I order more than anything else is the spicy basil noodles. I love spicy, I love basil, I love noodles. I have probably mentioned this before, but I kind of have a tradition of getting Thai food for dinner after my races. And sometimes after my long training runs, too.So that’s been a lot of noodles lately. =]
I learned that“spicy basil noodles” is a name the restaurant gave to their vegetarian drunken noodles. (I stuck with that name for this recipe because it sums things quite nicely). The dishconsists of stir-fried, flat noodles with veggies, holy basil, and a sweet and savory sauce. The version at this Thai place isseriously delicious but it’s also very, veryrich. Think food coma – not quite somethingI could eat every day.
So I decided to recreate a spicy basil noodles dish at home. I bulked it up with lots of veggies to make it more balanced for everyday eating. I had to make a few changes due to ingredient availability, which actually resulted in a dish that’s even more simple to make. The first big change is the type of basil. As I mentioned above, drunken noodles call specifically for holy basil, which I have never seen here, even at the Asian market. I can get Thai basil, so I used that instead. Italian basil will also work (see the recipe notes).
We wanted an easiersauce that used ingredients we already have on hand, so I made a simple mixture ofsoy sauce and coconut sugar, plus a hint of lime and tamarindfor a bit of sourness. We went withthese Thai stir-fry noodles, which don’t need to be pre-boiled. They just go straight into the pan. I wouldn’t recommend buying them on Amazon, as they are way way cheaper in the store.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that this spicy basil noodles recipe is not very authentic. Let’s just call it “distantly inspired” by drunken noodles. But it tastes great, it’s healthier than takeout, and it’s pretty easy to make. 🙂
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Spicy Basil Noodles (Vegan Drunken Noodles)
Spicy basil noodles, inspired by Thai drunken noodles but made vegan and with more easily-found ingredients.
Course Main Course
Cuisine gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian
Keyword spicy basil noodles
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 3 servings
Calories 252kcal
Author Yup, it's Vegan
Ingredients
- 2 shallots diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 red chili peppers diced (plus more to taste)
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 and 1/2 tsp coconut sugar (plus more to taste)
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1/2 tsp tamarind extract (optional but recommended)
- 1/4 tsp ground white pepper (to taste; or black pepper)
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil (I used grapeseed oil)
- ½ white or yellow onion quartered
- 8 cherry tomatoes quartered
- 2 cups trimmed snap peas halved
- 1 bell pepper cut into small strips
- 1 zucchini sliced into quarter moons
- 14 oz. stir-fry noodles cooked (unless packaging directs otherwise)
- 1 cup Thai basil leaves loosely-packed (see notes for substitution), roughly chopped (measure before chopping)
Instructions
Use a blender or a mortar and pestle to blend or mash the shallots, garlic, and chilis into a paste.
Whisk together the soy sauce, coconut sugar, lime juice, tamarind paste, and white pepper, and set aside.
In a large frying pan, heat some oil over medium-high heat. Add the paste from step 1, and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently, until the mixture has softened and thickened slightly.
Add the pieces of onion and tomato and cook for another 2-3 minutes, until the onion is slightly soft.
Add the sauce ingredients, green beans, bell pepper, and zucchini, and stir. Partially cover the pan and cook for about 5 minutes, or until the vegetables are crisp-tender. Stir occasionally.
Add the noodles, stir, and cook for about 2 more minutes, still over medium-high heat, until the noodles are hot and coated in sauce.
Turn off the heat and stir in the basil leaves. Partially cover the pan and let the basil wilt, about 1 minute.
Serve immediately.
Notes
If you can't get Thai basil, you can use Italian basil. Reduce to only 3/4 cup instead of a full cup. (Optional) Add 1/4 cup of chopped green onion, cilantro, or a mixture.
Note the package instructions on your noodles to determine whether they need to be boiled first.
Nutrition
Serving: 1fourth recipe | Calories: 252kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 785mg | Potassium: 777mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 2500IU | Vitamin C: 100.7mg | Calcium: 90mg | Iron: 2.9mg
FAQs
There's more than one story about their name.
One explanation is that because the dish is so spicy, you would have to drink a lot to handle the spice. Another is that the extreme spice of the noodles is the only thing strong enough for inebriated people to taste.
What is the difference between Pad Kee Mao and Pad Thai? ›
Whereas Pad Thai is nutty and sweet, Pad Kee Mao is spicy and savoury. Compared to Pad See Ew, the sauce of Drunken Noodles is lighter in colour and not as sweet. Also, neither Pad Thai nor Pad See Ew does not have Thai Basil in it, and it is not as spicy.
Can you put basil in ramen noodles? ›
Homemade basil garlic oil with Thai red curry and frizzled scallions. All tossed with quick-cooking (and delicious) ramen noodles and ready in just about 20 minutes. Not only is this a healthy (vegan) noodle bowl, it's delicious for nights you're craving saucy noodles, but need them to be homemade – and quick.
Are Drunken Noodles really spicy? ›
The main difference between Pad See Ew and Drunken Noodles is the fact that Drunken Noodles are spicy whereas Pad See Ew has a sweeter meets salty profile. There are some other differences too; for example, Pad See Ew is heavily based on Chinese Broccoli whereas Pad Kee Mao invites other vegetables into the mix too.
Is drunken noodle healthier than Pad Thai? ›
Pad Thai and Drunken Noodles both have a moderate calorie count, making them a good choice at a restaurant. On top of that, they're packed with veggies and protein. Pad Thai has roughly 357 calories in one cup. Drunk Noodles contain about 323 calories per cup.
What is Drunken Noodles sauce made of? ›
While the noodles are boiling, make the sauce. It's a mix of soy sauce (you can also use coconut aminos as well), oyster sauce, and fish sauce.
Which is healthier Pad Thai or Pad See Ew? ›
While both these recipes are carb happy, Pad See Ew has fewer calories than Pad Thai. As it's also the less sweet of the two, Pad See Ew is considered slightly healthier.
Why does Pad Thai taste so good? ›
There is a scientific reason why Pad Thai is so delicious. It follows a Thai culinary tradition of using all five tastes which are salty, sour, sweet, spicy and bitter. That is why the dish is so tantalizingly tasty!… It hits all five flavor profiles in the mouth!
What's the difference between Pad See Ew and Drunken Noodles? ›
For one, drunken noodles are spicier while pad see ew is on the sweeter and saltier side. Drunken noodles also tend to have a wider variety of vegetables rather than pad see ew's reliance on Chinese broccoli and mushrooms.
Why not cook ramen in broth? ›
Here's why: Ramen noodles are made with an ingredient like sodium carbonate, which is partly responsible for their springy, chewy texture. If you don't want this ramen noodle component altering the clarity of your broth, cooking fresh noodles wholly in broth is not a shortcut to take.
Naruto's favorite ramen is miso based with extra chasu, or pork. Ramen broth comes served in one of three ways- miso, salt, or soy sauce based.
What do Japanese add to ramen? ›
Traditional Ramen Toppings
- Tamago. “Tamago” is Japanese for “egg.” In ramen, they're usually either hard- or soft-boiled, but a chef might add a raw one to the soup while it cooks. ...
- Chashu. Chashu is thinly sliced cuts of roasted or braised pork. ...
- Menma. Menma is fermented bamboo shoots. ...
- Negi. ...
- Seaweed. ...
- Kamaboko. ...
- Butter. ...
- Rayu.
Drunken noodles or drunkard noodles is a Thai stir-fried noodle dish similar to phat si-io but spicier.
Is chow fun the same as Drunken Noodles? ›
Pad Kee Mao, also known as Drunken Noodles, is the supercharged aromatic and herbaceous Thai version of Chow fun using the same wide flat rice noodles. I can eat Pad Kee Mao anytime and definitely do not need to be drunk to enjoy it.
What does pad mean in Thai? ›
Pad (ผัด) – means fried. There are however, countless Thai dishes with the word Pad in it. The main ingredient in Pad Thai is rice noodles which are stir-fried.
Are Drunken Noodles actually Thai? ›
Drunken Noodles, also known as Pad Kee Mao (ผัดขี้เมา), is a stir fry noodle dish that is very popular in Thailand and found in most Thai restaurants.
Does Drunken Noodles make you drunk? ›
In reality, there's no alcohol used at all in making drunken noodles, but there are several theories on where the catchy name for this popular Thai dish came from. It all stems from the fact that drunken noodles are spicy. Some think that the spiciness of the noodles is so intense that it makes you feel drunk.
What's the difference between pad see ew and Drunken Noodles? ›
The main differences between Drunken Noodles and Pad See Ew are that Drunken Noodles has some spice, while Pad See Ew has a sweeter taste. There are also some differences in the components used, which alter the taste of the meal. If you're a Thai food fan, you may have seen Drunken Noodles or Pad See Ew on a menu.
What is closest to Drunken Noodles? ›
Pad See Ew looks similar to drunken noodles because of the wide rice noodles found in both dishes. But it's sauce is mostly made up of a combination of dark and light soy sauce and it's not spicy. Pad Thai is made with a thinner rice noodle and it's sauce is sweeter and nuttier, with a little bit of spice.
