Frat Thai

While living in the frat house, we were generally limited to ingredients that one could pick up at Sam’s Club. Occasionally a brother would pick up something different from a decent grocery store and donate it to the fridge, but not often. This dish was born while trying to make something less traditional with a very limited stock of ingredients. Since then I have iterated on it a bit to remove the more agressive substitutions, but kept the foundational ingredients of ramen, peanut butter, and chicken. Serves 2.

Ingredients

  • 2 packets of ramen, flavor insignificant

  • 2 chicken breasts, diced

  • 1/2 white onion, diced

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1/4-1/2 cup peanut butter, to taste

  • Sriracha, to taste

  • Soy sauce

  • 2 eggs

  • 2 limes

  • Cilantro

  • (Optional) 1/4 cup unsalted, roasted peanuts, chopped

  • (Optional) 1/2 can bean sprouts

  • (Optional) 2 tablespoons tamarind paste

Directions

  • Heat water to cook the ramen.

  • While waiting, cook the onions in oil in a large pan over medium heat. After 3 minutes, add the minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Remove and place in a separate bowl.

  • Start cooking the ramen. I reccomend breaking the ramen into half “against the grain” or into quarters.

  • Scramble the three eggs together with a pinch of salt. Once uniform in consistency, cook in the previous pan. The remaining oil should be enough to prevent sticking, but add more if desired. Once done, but not overcooked, remove and add to the bowl of onions and garlic.

  • The ramen should be done by now, drain and put back in the original pot off of heat.

  • Add the diced chicken to the original pan and cook through.

  • Once cooked, add the peanut butter and some Sriracha, and stir. If adding peanuts or tamarind paste, do so now as well. Cook for 1 minute before adding the onion, garlic, and eggs back into the pan. Stir to coat all the ingredients.

  • Add the ramen on top of the other ingredients. Generously pour soy sauce over the entire pan. Mix all ingredients together.

  • Add the juice of one lime and mix again.

  • Taste. The lime, peanut butter, and salt form a nice flavor triangle, so if one flavor is overpowering, it can be easily countered by adding a small amount of the other ingredients.

  • Serve with chopped cilantro and a wedge from the second lime. Add bean sprouts if desired.