Start by preparing the rice noodles according to the package directions, ensuring they remain slightly crunchy or al dente. This is crucial as they will continue to cook in the sauce. Once cooked, rinse them under cold water, drain well, and toss with 1 teaspoon of toasted sesame oil to keep them from sticking together. Set them aside.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine all the sauce ingredients—the brown sugar, low sodium soy sauce, fish sauce, lime juice, rice vinegar, and smooth peanut butter. Whisk everything until well blended and set this mixture aside. This sauce is key to infusing flavor into the noodles and veggies.
Next, in a deep, large nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable or peanut oil over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add in the sliced chicken. Allow it to cook undisturbed for about one minute, then stir fry until it’s cooked through. This should take around 3 to 4 minutes. Once done, transfer the chicken to a plate and wipe out the skillet to remove any excess oil.
In the same skillet, heat another tablespoon of oil. Add the red bell pepper and minced shallots. Sauté these for about one minute until they become tender and fragrant. Then, add the matchstick carrots and minced garlic, sautéing for an additional minute. You want the vegetables to maintain a bit of crunch, so keep an eye on them!
Reduce the heat to medium and pour the beaten eggs over the sautéed vegetables. Stir constantly until the eggs are scrambled and cooked through. This whole process should take no longer than 2 minutes.
Now it’s time to add in the sauce and noodles to the skillet. Increase the heat to medium-high, tossing everything together until evenly combined. You’ll want to keep stirring for about 1 to 2 minutes until the noodles are heated and flavorful.
Stir back in the cooked chicken, along with the bean sprouts, green onions, and chopped peanuts. Heat everything through for about another 1 to 2 minutes, ensuring all the flavors meld together beautifully. At this stage, you can taste and decide if you want to add an extra tablespoon of lime juice for additional tang.
Once everything is heated through and well combined, remove the skillet from the heat. Top your Homemade Pad Thai with fresh cilantro leaves and serve immediately. Enjoy this dish hot for the best experience!
