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A bowl of stir-fried noodles with fresh basil leaves, red bell pepper strips, a lime wedge, and garnished with green peppercorns and herbs.
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5 from 1 vote

Thai Basil Noodles

Chewy rice noodles stir-fried in a tamarind-garlic sauce with crispy veggies and a whole mess of Thai basil. Fast, fiery, and packed with bold flavors, this is the kind of noodle situation you’ll be dreamin’ about 24/7.
Prep Time4 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time29 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Thai
Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 7 Cups
Calories: 207kcal
Author: Adam Sobel
Cost: $8.50

Equipment

Ingredients

Noodles:

  • 1 lb. fresh wide noodles or 400 grams dried

Stir-Fry Sauce:

To Stir-Fry:

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ cup shallots or red onions, diced
  • 1 teaspoon garlic minced
  • 3 bird’s eye chilies
  • ½ cup carrot julienne cut, or sliced
  • ¼ cup pickled green peppercorns cut into 1 cm. sections (optional)
  • 1 ½ cups Chinese broccoli chopped
  • 1 ½ cup Thai basil leaves

Optional Fried Basil to Garnish:

  • ¼ cup Thai basil leaves
  • canola oil vegetable oil, or sunflower oil (for frying)

Other Optional Garnishes:

  • Bird’s eye chilies thinly sliced
  • Cilantro leaves

Instructions

  • If using rice noodles, submerge them in warm water for 30 minutes until softened but still slightly firm. Drain and set aside. For fresh wide wheat noodles, cook them in salted boiling water for 4-5 minutes, stirring once. Drain and rinse thoroughly under cold running water.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the vegetarian oyster sauce, tamari, sugar, tamarind concentrate, and water.
  • Heat olive oil in a large pan or wok over medium-high heat. After 90 seconds, when the oil is hot, add the shallots and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently, until lightly golden.
  • Add the garlic and bird’s eye chilies, stirring for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  • Add the carrots and pickled green peppercorns (if using), and the Chinese broccoli. Sauté for another 3-4 minutes until the stems are just tender.
  • 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. Stir in the Thai basil leaves and cook for 30-60 seconds until just wilted. Remove from heat.
  • To make fried basil for garnish, heat 1 inch (2.5 cm) of oil in a small pan over high heat. After 2 minutes, when the oil is hot, carefully add the Thai basil leaves and fry for just 5–10 seconds until crisp. Use a slotted spoon to transfer them to a kitchen towel-lined plate.
  • Serve the noodles hot, garnished with additional bird’s eye chilies, cilantro leaves, and fried basil, if desired.

Notes

🍜 Noodle’s Gonna Give You Up:
Parboil wheat noodles just enough to get that chewy texture—no mushy mess here. Once they’re pliable, toss 'em in the wok to get lightly golden in the oil and soak up that sauce.
♨️ Rice Noodle Rehab:
Skip the boil for rice noodles (unless you are using wide/thick ones)! Soak them in warm water until they’re soft yet firm. You want them flexible, not floppy, when they hit the wok.
🍳 Wok This Way:
Use a wok or Dutch oven with high sides to prevent spills and splatters while tossing those noodles. No one wants a stovetop mess to clean up after the meal!

Nutrition

Calories: 207kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 606mg | Potassium: 239mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1992IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 1mg