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A person holds up a forkful of thin noodles from a bowl. The noodles are mixed with vegetables and garnished with cilantro. A green sweater is visible in the background.
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5 from 3 votes

Pad Ba Mee

Stupidly-good pad ba mee is what happens when thin, lightly sauced noodles meet crispy tofu and just a little (optional) vegan egg. Tossed up with garlic, scallions, and chilies, this one’s got that wok-fired magic you’re gonna wanna keep on repeat. 
Prep Time4 minutes
Cook Time16 minutes
Soaking Time10 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Thai
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 6 Cups
Calories: 322kcal
Author: Adam Sobel
Cost: $9.50

Equipment

Ingredients

For the Tofu:

For the Pad Mee:

  • 200 grams dried rice vermicelli noodles dried
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ cup shallots or red onions, diced
  • 1 cup scallions chopped
  • 1 teaspoon garlic minced
  • 3 bird’s eye chilies (or to taste) thinly sliced
  • 1 cup bean sprouts

For the Stir-Fry Sauce:

Optional to serve:

  • 1 cup cooked vegan egg sliced
  • Additional raw beansprouts
  • Cilantro leaves
  • Scallion minced
  • Sliced bird’s eye chilies

Instructions

  • For the tofu, heat olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. After 90 seconds, when the oil is hot, add the crumbled tofu. Cook for 6-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until crispy and lightly browned all around.
  • Add the sriracha and hoisin sauce, stirring to coat the tofu evenly. Cook for 1-2 more minutes, until the sauce caramelizes into the tofu, then transfer to a plate and set aside.
  • Meanwhile, soak the dried rice vermicelli in warm water for 10 minutes, or until softened but still slightly firm. Drain and set aside.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the tamari, tamarind concentrate, vegetarian oyster sauce, rice vinegar, and sugar until the sugar dissolves. Set aside.
  • To stir-fry, heat olive oil in a Dutch oven or wok over medium-high heat. After 90 seconds, when the oil is hot, add the shallots, scallions, garlic and bird’s eye chilies, stir-frying for 4 minutes until fragrant.
  • Increase to high heat and add the drained noodles. Pour in the prepared stir-fry sauce and toss everything together, stirring continuously, for 2–3 minutes until the noodles are evenly coated and heated through.
  • Add the cooked tofu and bean sprouts, stirring for 1 more minute until combined. Remove from heat.
  • Serve immediately, topped with cooked vegan egg if using, along with additional raw bean sprouts, cilantro leaves, minced scallions, and sliced bird’s eye chilies if desired.

Notes

💪 Tofu's Gotta Flex:
Press tofu for at least 15 minutes with a heavy weight, like a cast iron pan. This ensures crispy, golden tofu instead of soggy, steamed “tofu scramble” lumps.
💧 Not a Pool Party:
Soak your rice vermicelli just until it's soft but still chewy. Too long in the water and you’re stuck with mushy noodles once they stir-fry.
🔥 Sweet Heat Moment:
Let the stir-fry sauce sit on the noodles for a minute before stirring. This caramelizes the sugar and gives you the smoky sticky noodles you want.

Nutrition

Calories: 322kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 0.3mg | Sodium: 605mg | Potassium: 279mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 198IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 2mg