Spaghetti Pad Kee Mao

Ingredients

• 350 g spaghetti
• 300 g Chinese broccoli, bias sliced
• 300 g shrimp, shelled and deveined
• 2 tbs canola oil
• 1 can baby corn, bias sliced
• 2 spur chili, bias sliced
• 20 g Thai chili
• 20 g garlic cloves
• 1 tbs fingerroot (Rhizome)
• 2 tbs oyster sauce
• 1 tbs soy sauce
• 2 tbs fish sauce
• 2 tsp palm sugar
• 1 tbs dark soy sauce
• 150 g C basil

Directions

1. Cook Pasta: Cook spaghetti until just shy of al dente. Drain and reserve about 1 cup pasta water.
2. Marinate Shrimp (Optional): If using shrimp, toss with soy sauce, rice wine, and sugar; set aside.
3. Make Paste: Pound garlic, chili, and fingerroot into a rough paste; set aside.
4. Prep Protein: If using ground beef, brown first and drain thoroughly.
5. Build Stir-Fry: Heat wok until very hot. Add garlic-chili paste and fry until fragrant. Add vegetables, protein, and ½ of the sauce. Add pasta water if dry.
6. Add Pasta: Add spaghetti, remaining sauce, sugar, and dark soy sauce.
7. Reduce: Toss and cook until the pasta absorbs most of the sauce.
8. Finish: Turn off heat, add basil, and toss just to wilt. Finish with white pepper.
9. Serve: Serve immediately.

Chef's Notes

• Cane sugar will substitute for palm sugar if it is unavailable
• Thai holy basil is always preferred if you can find it. Otherwise, Italian or American basil will work
• Italian Sweet Pepper, Mild Anaheim, or Poblano are good substitutes for the spur chili
• Vegetable and protein quantities are approximate - when in doubt, use a little more.
• Substitute duck, chicken, squid, mussels, mixed seafood, or tofu. If using tofu, cube and fry first to preserve texture during cooking.
• If using broccoli, steam for 5 minutes before adding - it shortens cook time and helps the florets absorb more flavor.

Mise en Place

Step	Direction	Notes
1	Prep Shrimp	Defrost and peel shrimp. Marinate with MSG, white pepper, sugar, and rice wine; set aside.
2	Par-Cook Pasta	Bring water to a boil and cook spaghetti to about 60% doneness. Drain and reserve 1 C pasta water
3	Steam Broccoli	Bring water to a boil and steam broccoli 5 minutes; set aside
4	Prep Veg	Slice baby corn and banana pepper. Pick basil leaves from stems
5	Make Paste	Peel garlic and add garlic, Thai chilies (3 + 3), and fingerroot to a food processor; process to a paste
6	Heat Wok	Heat wok until very hot
7	Mix Sauce	Combine sauce ingredients (including 1 tsp sugar and 1 tsp dark soy)
8	Start Stir-Fry	Fry garlic paste until fragrant
9	Add Protein & Veg	Add broccoli and shrimp with some of the sauce; toss to coat
10	Add Pasta	Add spaghetti, banana pepper, and remaining sauce; toss to heat through and season pasta and vegetables
11	Finish	Remove from heat, stir in basil, finish with white pepper, adjust seasoning, and serve immediately

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