Ingredients

  • 1 cup Chile-Vinegar Sauce
  • Cayenne pepper
  • Sugar (optional)
  • 1/2 to 1 European cucumber, thinly sliced
  • 1 small head leaf lettuce, washed, dried, and separated into leaves (optional)
  • 1 lime, cut into small wedges
  • 2 ounces boneless pork thinly sliced, and cut into narrow strips about 1 1/2 inches long
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 heaping tablespoon tamarind pulp, dissolved in 2 to 3 tablespoons warm water, and pressed through a sieve, or substitute 1 tablespoon rice vinegar plus 1 tablespoon water
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Thai fish sauce
  • 3 large eggs
  • Pinch of salt
  • 3 tablespoons peanut or vegetable oil
  • 2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cube (2 to 3 ounces) pressed tofu, cut into narrow 1 1/2-inch-long strips
  • 1/2 pound narrow dried rice noodles, soaked in warm water for 20 minutes and drained
  • 1/2 pound (scant 4 cups) bean sprouts, rinsed and drained
  • 3 scallions, trimmed, smashed flat with the side of a cleaver, and cut into 1 1/2-inch lengths
  • 1 tablespoon dried shrimp
  • 1 tablespoon salted radish (optional)
  • 1 cup Dry-Roasted Peanuts (see Notes) , coarsely chopped
  • 2 to 4 tablespoons coriander leaves (optional)

Method

  • Before you begin cooking, place the chile-vinegar sauce in a bowl on the table as a condiment, along with a small condiment plate of cayenne and another small bowl of sugar if you wish.
  • Arrange the cucumber slices around the edge of your serving platter or individual plates, together with the lettuce leaves, if using, and lime wedges.
  • (If you wish, arrange extras of all three on a serving plate.)
  • Place the pork in a small bowl, add the sugar, and toss to mix.
  • In a medium bowl, mix together the tamarind water (or rice vinegar and water), soy sauce, and fish sauce.
  • In a small bowl, lightly beat the eggs with the salt.
  • Place all the ingredients by your stovetop.
  • Place a large wok over high heat.
  • Add about 1 1/2 tablespoons of the oil and, when it is hot, add the garlic and stir-fry briefly until it begins to change color, about 15 seconds.
  • Toss in the pork and stirfry until it has all changed color, 1 minute or less.
  • Add the tofu and press it against the hot sides of the wok to scorch it a little, 10 to 20 seconds.
  • Pour in the egg mixture and let cook until it starts to set around the pork and tofu slices, less than a minute.
  • Use your spatula to cut it into large pieces, then transfer all onto a plate and set aside.
  • Place the wok back over high heat, add remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons or so oil, and swirl to coat.
  • Toss in the drained noodles and stir-fry vigorously, pressing them against the hot wok to sear and heat them, then turn and press them again.
  • They will seem dry and unwieldy, but dont worry, just keep folding them over and pressing them onto the wokafter about 1 minute, they will all have softened more and be warm.
  • Move the noodles up the sides of the wok and toss in 2 to 2 1/2 cups of the bean sprouts and the scallions.
  • Stir-fry vigorously for about 20 seconds, pressing and turning to wilt them against the hot wok.
  • Add the dried shrimp and salted radish and toss briefly with your spatula, then add the soy sauce mixture.
  • Stir-fry for about another 30 seconds, gradually incorporating noodles into the bean sprout mixture.
  • Add the reserved egg-meat mixture and toss gently to mix everything together.
  • Turn out onto the platter or onto individual plates.
  • Place the remaining bean sprouts on a plate on the table.
  • Sprinkle some of the chopped peanuts onto the noodles, and place the rest in a bowl as a condiment so guests can add extra as they wish.
  • Sprinkle on the coriander leaves, if using, and serve.
  • If serving from a central platter, serve guests (chopsticks or tongs are easiest for the job) or invite everyone to use their chopsticks to serve themselves.
  • As they eat, guests can flavor their portions as they wish, with a sprinkling of cayenne, a squeeze of lime juice, a sprinkling of sugar (traditional in Thailand, but usually not loved by foreigners), a little more chopped peanuts, some bean sprouts, and a drizzle of chile-vinegar sauce.