Drunken Noodles

The summer garden is just coming to the end as Fall is arriving. Everything is so vibrant and happy in my garden. We have harvested a few cucumbers and a few tomatoes.

Thai basil took off this year. It's so healthy and beautiful I just want to dance around it. I picked some to make my favorite fried rice. Back home, we use holy basil for this dish or Bai Ka Prow. A lot of time here in the US, restaurant has to substitute Sweet Thai Basil for this dish because it is much easier to find. Every summer, I am always looking forward to be able to use holy basil from my garden for this dish. Holy basil is a little spicier and more pungent. They intensify the heat of the chilies. The picture below is holy basil and the sweet Thai basil is the last picture on this page.

I like my food spicy and this noodle dish always does the trick. If you don't have Thai chilies, you can substitute Serrano peppers for them. Jalapenos might also do the trick but you might need more of those since they are less spicy. Thai chilies also grows well here in the summer. They do freeze very well. So, you can grow your own and freeze some to use for the whole year.

This recipe can also be modified for fried rice. A very well done fried eggs compliment this dish perfectly. This is the way I like my eggs. Of course, if you prefer your eggs sunny side up or a little less done, go for it. There will be a lot coming out of our garden this year and I am so excited.

Drunken Noodles

3 cups flat rice noodles (dried, soaked for 30 minutes in hot water, or fresh cut rice noodles)

2 tablespoon vegetable oil

5 oz shrimp, chicken, beef, pork or tofu (I prefer to use ground meat)

1-2 tablespoons fish sauce

2 tablespoons dark soy sauce

2 teaspoons white sugar

2 handfuls Thai Holy Basil or Sweet Thai Basil

paste mix

3 Thai Chilies

1 shallot

3 cloves garlic

Mix all the ingredients of the paste with pestle and mortar or in food processor or mince it well and mix all of the ingredients together

Heat the large pan until very hot. Turn down the heat and add oil. Put the paste in and stir for 10 seconds or until fragrant. Mix in your choice of meat or seafood. Sauté until the meat is all the way done to the outside. Add noodles and season with fish sauce, soy sauce and sugar. Stir fry until the noodles absorb all of the sauce and the noodles are done, about 3 minutes. Add basil at the very end and stir for another 30 second. You can add vegetables to the noodles if you would like. If adding vegetables, add them when the noodles are half way done.