Drunken noodles facts for kids
A plate of drunkard noodles in Chiang Mai, Thailand
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| Type | Noodle |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Thailand |
| Region or state | Thailand |
| Main ingredients | Broad rice noodles, soy sauce, fish sauce, garlic, meat, seafood or tofu, bean sprouts or other vegetables, Chili, holy basil |
Drunken noodles or drunkard noodles is a popular Thai stir-fried noodle dish. It is similar to phat si-io but usually much spicier. In English, it is often called pad kee mao, pad ki mao, or pad kimao. The Thai name is Thai: ผัดขี้เมา, RTGS: phat khi mao. Phat means 'to stir-fry', and khi mao means 'drunkard'.
You can find this dish in many restaurants and from street vendors in Thailand. It is also very popular in the United States. Despite its name, this dish does not contain any alcohol.
What Makes Drunken Noodles Special?
This dish started as a spicy stir-fry that did not have noodles. The original stir-fry used ingredients like garlic, shallots, fresh chilies, and shrimp paste. It also included holy basil for extra flavor.
Later, noodles were added to this spicy stir-fry. The noodle version is made with broad rice noodles. Other key ingredients are soy sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce, and more garlic. It also includes meat, seafood, chili, fresh black pepper pods, and holy basil. These ingredients give the dish its unique and spicy taste. Sometimes, eggs are also added. The exact recipe can change from one cook to another.
You can easily change the ingredients to make this dish vegetarian or vegan. For example, you can use Thai thin soy sauce instead of fish sauce. Tofu or vegetables like cabbage, carrots, broccoli, snow peas, or bell peppers can replace meat or seafood. Instead of broad rice noodles, you can use other types of rice noodles or even regular pad Thai noodles. Some people even eat the spicy stir-fry with rice instead of noodles. You might also find versions made with instant noodles or even spaghetti.
Pad see ew is a similar Thai noodle dish. Drunken fried rice (khao phat khi mao) uses the same spicy ingredients but with rice instead of noodles.
The Story Behind the Name
The exact reason for the name "drunkard noodles" is not fully clear. There are a few fun stories about it.
One story says that people often ate this dish after a long night. It was made with whatever leftover ingredients were available. The spicy flavors were thought to "wake up" the taste buds.
Another story suggests that during the Vietnam War, American soldiers found the Thai name hard to say. It sounded like "drunken" to them, and the name became popular that way.
There is also a local story about a wife who wanted to teach her husband a lesson. He often came home very hungry. She decided to add as many spices and chilies as she could find to his favorite noodles. She hoped the very spicy dish would surprise him.
Gallery
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A variation where instant noodles are used
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A modern Thai fusion version with spaghetti
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Another variant of the drunken noodle dish using flat rice noodles
See also
In Spanish: Fideos borrachos para niños
