Pad Thai with Crispy Tofu

Prepare the rice noodles according to the package directions, then drain them. Most rice noodles simply require a quick soak in boiling water for a few minutes until they’re tender.

Whisk together the tamarind paste, water, maple syrup, soy sauce, Sriracha and garlic in a medium bowl until smooth; this your sauce.

Ready for the tofu two ways? Remove the block of tofu from its package and drain any liquid. Stand it on a short side and slice it in half lengthwise, then grab one half and crumble it into a bowl; this will be your scrambled-egg stand-in.

Cut the remaining slab of tofu into rectangles about 1 1/2 inches long and 1/2-inch thick. Place them on a clean dish towel or paper towel, and place another towel over the slices. Let them sit for 5 minutes.

Mix the cornstarch and kosher salt in a medium bowl. Toss each tofu slice in the cornstarch mixture until it’s well coated, then give each one a tap to shake off any excess coating. Place them on a plate as you work. Most of the cornstarch mixture will be leftover when you’re done; you can discard it (working with an extra-large quantity makes it easier to get an even coating on your tofu).

Heat the oil until shimmering over medium-high heat in a large nonstick skillet. Add the coated tofu slices in a single layer -- don’t let them touch each other -- and cook each side until browned and crisped, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer the pan-fried tofu slices to a wire rack to cool while you cook the rest of the veggies.

Add the bell pepper, radish and three-quarters of the scallions to the skillet. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the vegetables are softened. Reduce the heat to medium-low, then add the cooked noodles, pan-fried tofu, crumbled tofu and the sauce mixture. Gently toss until the sauce coats everything and it is heated through, about a minute or two, then remove from the heat. Taste, and add a shake of soy sauce as needed.

Divide the pad thai among bowls and top with the remaining scallions, bean sprouts and crushed peanuts.