Pad Pak Boong Fai Daeng (Thai Stir-Fried Morning Glory)
Local name: ผัดผักบุ้งไฟแดง
In short: Crunchy morning glory stems and leaves stir-fried over very high heat with garlic, chilies and fermented soybean sauce, ready in five minutes. It takes about 14 min in total and makes 3 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 4 min
- Total
- 14 min
- Servings
- 3
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 120 kcal
Pad pak boong fai daeng means morning glory stir-fried over red fire, a name that describes the huge flames street cooks use. The hollow stems stay crunchy while the leaves wilt in seconds, tossed with garlic, chili and fermented soybeans. At home, a very hot wok, dry greens and a quick toss will get you close to the flavor. Serve it as a side with rice and a curry.
Instructions
- Wash the greens well and dry them thoroughly in a salad spinner or with towels. Separate the thick stems from the leaves.
- Stir the oyster sauce, yellow bean sauce, sugar and water together in a small bowl.
- Pound the garlic and chilies together in a mortar to a rough paste.
- Heat a wok over the highest heat until it begins to smoke. Add the oil, then the garlic and chilies, and stir for 10 seconds.
- Add the stems and toss for 30 seconds. Add the leaves and sauce and toss for 30 to 45 seconds, until the leaves wilt and the stems are bright green and crisp-tender.
- Tip onto a plate right away and serve with rice, as the greens keep cooking in their own heat.
Tips
- Water spinach is not available everywhere. Use choy sum or bok choy cut into strips, or baby spinach added for only the last 30 seconds.
- Dry greens and a very hot pan matter most. Wet leaves lower the heat and stew, so wash them ahead and let them air-dry for 10 minutes.
Questions and answers
What is morning glory in Thai cooking?
It is water spinach, a leafy green with hollow stems, sold as pak boong in Thailand and as ong choy or kangkong elsewhere.
Can I make this vegetarian?
Yes. Use a vegetarian mushroom-based stir-fry sauce instead of the oyster sauce and double-check that your yellow bean sauce contains no fish.
Is pad pak boong spicy?
It can be. Use 1 chili for a mild version, or skip it and serve sliced chilies in vinegar on the side.
How long does it take to make Pad Pak Boong Fai Daeng (Thai Stir-Fried Morning Glory)?
About 14 min in total: 10 min of preparation and 4 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Pad Pak Boong Fai Daeng (Thai Stir-Fried Morning Glory)?
About 120 kcal per serving, with 3 g of protein, 7 g of carbohydrates and 9 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 120 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 3 g |
| Carbohydrates | 7 g |
| Fat | 9 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 650 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
