Skip to main content

🟦Doing Something New: Making Vegetarian and Vegan Pad Thai

Vegetarian Pad Thai (Serves 2)


Ingredients

For the sauce:

3 tbsp tamarind paste (or 2 tbsp lime juice + 1 tbsp vinegar)

2 tbsp soy sauce

1 tbsp vegetarian oyster sauce (or extra soy sauce)

1 tbsp brown sugar

For the stir-fry:

150g (5 oz) rice noodles (soaked in warm water for 30 minutes, then drained)

200g (7 oz) tofu (firm or extra-firm, cubed)

2 cloves garlic (minced)

2 eggs (lightly beaten)

1 cup bean sprouts

2 spring onions (cut into 5cm/2-inch pieces)

¼ cup crushed peanuts

1 tsp chili flakes (optional, for spice)

2 tbsp vegetable oil

For garnish:

Lime wedges

Extra crushed peanuts

Fresh coriander (optional)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Sauce – Mix all the sauce ingredients and set aside.

2. Fry the Tofu – Heat 1 tbsp oil in a wok or pan, add tofu cubes, and fry until golden. Remove and set aside.

3. Cook the Eggs – In the same pan, add another tbsp of oil and the minced garlic. Push everything to the side and pour in the eggs. Scramble lightly until just set.

4. Cook the Noodles – Add the drained noodles and pour in the sauce. Stir well for 1-2 minutes.

5. Final Touches – Add the tofu, bean sprouts, and spring onions. Toss everything together.

6. Serve & Enjoy – Garnish with crushed peanuts, lime wedges, and coriander.

💡 Tip: You can add mushrooms or bell peppers for extra flavor!



Vegan Pad Thai (Serves 2)


Ingredients


For the sauce:


3 tbsp tamarind paste (or 2 tbsp lime juice + 1 tbsp vinegar)


2 tbsp soy sauce


1 tbsp maple syrup or brown sugar


1 tsp miso paste (optional, for umami)



For the stir-fry:


150g (5 oz) rice noodles (soaked in warm water for 30 minutes, then drained)


200g (7 oz) tofu (firm or extra-firm, cubed)


2 cloves garlic (minced)


1 cup bean sprouts


2 spring onions (cut into 5cm/2-inch pieces)


¼ cup crushed peanuts


1 tsp chili flakes (optional)


2 tbsp vegetable oil



For garnish:


Lime wedges


Extra crushed peanuts


Fresh coriander




---


Instructions


1. Prepare the Sauce – Mix all sauce ingredients and set aside.



2. Fry the Tofu – Heat 1 tbsp oil in a wok or pan, add tofu, and fry until golden. Remove and set aside.



3. Cook the Garlic – Add another tbsp of oil to the pan, then stir-fry the garlic for 30 seconds.



4. Cook the Noodles – Add the drained noodles and pour in the sauce. Stir well for 1-2 minutes.



5. Final Touches – Add tofu, bean sprouts, and spring onions. Toss everything together.



6. Serve & Enjoy – Garnish with crushed peanuts, lime wedges, and coriander.




💡 Tip: If you miss the egg texture, try scrambled soft tofu as an alternative!




Popular posts from this blog

🟥ESOL: Gardening

Lesson Plan: Gardening (A2) 🟥  Attendance & Warmer Discussion Question: Do you like gardening? Why or why not? Example Answers: Yes, I like gardening because I enjoy flowers and vegetables. No, I don’t like gardening because it’s hard work. I garden on weekends or when the weather is nice. 🟧  Reading and Vocabulary  1. Choral read (as a class)  Gardening is a popular hobby in New Zealand. People grow flowers, vegetables, and herbs in their backyards or in pots on balconies. Gardening can help you relax, enjoy fresh air, and grow your own food. Some people plant tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, and strawberries. It is important to water plants and give them sunlight. You can buy seeds, plants, and tools at garden centres or hardware stores like Bunnings. 2. Watch the video below and write any new words into your vocabulary notebook. Gardening Vocabulary Garden Stone path Grass Weeds Plant  Moss Flower bed Flower Lawn Hedge Soil Rake Pruning shears ...

🟥100 Most Common Kiwi Expressions for Social Interaction Lesson 1 and 2

Common Kiwi Expressions  🟥 Warmer – How many Kiwi expressions do You know?  🟧Reading  H ighlight the expressions that you have heard or used. Social & Friendly Phrases (1–40) Kia ora! How’s it going? Not bad, thanks. How was your day? Catch you later. You doing okay? Good to see you. Take care! All good. Sounds great. That’s fine with me. Thanks heaps! No worries. Have a good one. I appreciate it. What have you been up to? Talk soon. I’m happy to help. Let me know. I’ll get back to you. Social & Friendly (21–40) I’ll give you a call later. Want to catch up for coffee? Let’s go for a walk. It’s been a busy day. Would you like a cup of tea? Feel free to pop in. That sounds like fun. It’s nice to have a quiet weekend. I’m just heading to the shops. Want to join us? It’s lovely weather today. A bit chilly this morning! It’s really warm out. I’m just finishing up a few things. Let’s keep in touch. We had a relaxing afternoon. I’m meeting a friend for lunch. That was ...

🟥ESOL: Irregular Verbs

  🟥Warmer How many irregular verbs do you know? Possible Answers: I know about 10 irregular verbs I know about 20 ... I know about 40... I know most of them! How many are there? All of them in English? 200 Some of them are rarely used Most ESL classes teach 100 í-150 everyday ones  🟧Reading:  Anna's Weekend  Last weekend, Anna went to the city with her friends. They took the bus early in the morning. First, they ate breakfast at a small café. Anna had pancakes and juice. Then they saw a movie at the cinema. After the movie, they bought some clothes at the mall.  🟨 Speaking in Pairs  Practising irregular verbs in conversation.  What did you eat for dinner last night? (Irregular verb: eat → ate) Did you go anywhere last weekend? Where? (Irregular verb: go → went) Have you ever met someone famous? Who did you meet? (Irregular verb: meet → met) What was the last movie you saw? Did you like it? (Irregular verb: see → saw) Tell...