⏳ Yield & Time

Yield: 2 servings

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

🍽 Ingredients

• 1 block (14 oz) Firm or extra-firm tofu
• 8 oz Rice noodles
• 2 tablespoons Soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons Lime juice
• 1 tablespoon Brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon Rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Peanut butter (smooth)
• 2 cloves, minced Garlic
• 1 inch piece, minced Ginger
• 1 tablespoon Vegetable oil
• 2, chopped Scallions
• 1/4 cup, chopped Cilantro
• to taste Optional: sriracha or chili garlic sauce

📖 Instructions

1. First, prep your tofu. Press it to remove excess water. This step is super important; otherwise, your Pad Thai will be watery. Wrap it in a clean kitchen towel and place a heavy object (like a couple of cookbooks – who doesn't have a few of those?) on top for about 15-20 minutes. Let's be honest, we've all lost a few minutes to a good cookbook!
2. Once your tofu is pressed and ready to go, cut it into bite-sized pieces. Then, cube it up. Aim for roughly 1/2-inch cubes. Now, you're ready for the wok-ing good times!
3. Heat up your wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add a tablespoon of your favorite oil (I love using peanut oil for Pad Thai, for that extra nutty flavor). Swirl it around to make sure the entire surface is coated. Don't forget to vent your kitchen hood; this is essential when cooking stir fries or anything that could potentially splatter oil!
4. Add the tofu to the hot wok and let it sizzle for a few minutes, stirring occasionally until nicely browned and crispy on the edges. This is such a satisfying part of the process! The sound is amazing!
5. While the tofu is getting happy, whisk together your Pad Thai sauce in a small bowl. This is where you can really let your creativity shine! Don't worry about being perfect, just have fun!
6. Next, add the cooked rice noodles to the wok along with your Pad Thai sauce. Toss everything together to ensure the noodles are fully coated. Be careful not to break the noodles; use gentle yet effective movements.
7. Stir in any veggies you’ve chopped. Toss to combine. Remember, the goal is to coat everything evenly in the amazing sauce you just made. The more evenly distributed, the better it tastes!
8. Cook for another 2-3 minutes, or until the noodles are heated through and the sauce has thickened slightly. At this point, you can use your taste buds to adjust the sauce – add more lime juice for tartness, or more soy sauce for saltiness.
9. Garnish your Vegan Pad Thai with chopped scallions, lime wedges, and some fresh cilantro, if you're fancy. And you should be fancy - you're creating culinary magic, right?
10. Serve immediately and enjoy! Honestly, there’s nothing like a perfectly cooked vegan Pad Thai. You might need extra napkins... and maybe another bowl!

📝 Notes

• For extra flavor, add a teaspoon of fish sauce (vegetarian-friendly versions available).
• Adjust the amount of sugar or lime juice to your preference.
• If using silken tofu, reduce the cooking time slightly to prevent it from breaking apart.
• Feel free to add other vegetables like shredded carrots, bean sprouts, or mushrooms!