Pad Thai

I felt like switching things up from our normal meat and potatoes meal, so I found this Thai-inspired recipe using shrimp.  I was excited to find an individual packet of tamarind paste at Sendik's for only $2 since it's unlikely I'll use it for anything else.  The cookbook said you could substitute 1/3 cup lime juice and 1/3 cup water and use brown sugar instead of white, but I wanted to keep the recipe as authentic as possible.  It tasted great--just enough heat to make my lips and tongue tingle a bit.

Pad Thai  (2013 Cookbook Challenge)
Recipe from America's Test Kitchen: The New Best Recipe
Serves 4

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons tamarind paste
3/4 cup boiling water
3 tablespoons fish sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
3 tablespoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 tablespoons peanut or vegetable oil
8 ounces dried stick noodles, about 1/4" wide
2 large eggs
salt
12 oz medium(40-50/lb) shrimp, peeled and deveined
3 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
1 medium shallot, minced
2 tablespoons dried shrimp, chopped fine (optional) - I couldn't find
2 tablespoons chopped Thai salted preserved radish (optional) - I couldn't find
6 tablespoons chopped unsalted roasted peanuts
3 cups (6 oz) bean sprouts
5 medium scallions, green parts only, sliced thin on sharp diagonal
1/4 cup loosely packed cilantro leaves (optional)
lime wedges for serving (optional)

Directions:
Rehydrate the tamarind paste in the boiling water for about 10 minutes, and push through a mesh strainer to remove any seeds or fibers and extract as much pulp as possible.  Stir the fish sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, cayenne, and 2 tablespoons of the oil into the tamarind liquid; set aside.

Cover the rice sticks with hot tap water in a large bowl; soak until softened and pliable, but not fully tender, about 20 minutes.  Drain noodles and set aside.   Beat eggs and 1/8 teaspoon salt in a small bowl; set aside.

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over high heat until just beginning to smoke.  Add the shrimp and sprinkle with a pinch of salt.  Cook, tossing occasionally, until the shrimp are opaque and browned around the edges, about 3 minutes.  Transfer shrimp to a plate; set aside.

Off the heat, add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the skillet and swirl to coat.  Add the garlic and shallot and cook over medium heat for a minute or two, stirring constantly, until light golden brown.  Add the beaten eggs to the skillet and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until scrambled and barely moist, about 20 seconds.  Add the rice noodles, dried shrimp (if using), and salted radish (if using) to the eggs.  Toss with two wooden spoons to combine.  Pour the fish sauce mixture over the noodles, increase the heat to high, and cook, tossing constantly, until the noodles are evenly coated. 

Scatter 1/4 cup of the peanuts, the bean sprouts, all but 1/4 cup of the scallions, and the cooked shrimp over the noodles.  Continue to cook, tossing constantly, until the noodles are tender, about 2-3 minutes.  Transfer to a serving platter and sprinkle with the remaining scallions, peanuts, and cilantro (if using).  Serve immediately and garnish with lime wedges if desired.