A lighter homemade pad thai with crisp golden tofu, egg, beansprouts and carrot in a tangy tamarind and lime sauce, finished with peanuts and coriander. Vegetarian, 32g of protein a plate, and on the table in 35 minutes.

A plate has about 32g of protein and 620 calories, from the tofu, eggs and peanuts. Takeaway (takeout) pad thai is often much larger, cooked in more oil and higher in sugar; making it at home lets you control all three.
Getting the tofu crisp. Extra-firm tofu works best. Pressing out the water and frying it in a hot pan before anything else gives golden edges that hold up when the sauce goes in. Tofu is a complete plant protein and, when set with calcium sulphate, a useful source of calcium; check the label.
The sauce. Real pad thai gets its tang from tamarind, a sour fruit paste sold in jars in most supermarkets and Asian grocers. Fish sauce is traditional, but this version uses tamari to keep it vegetarian. Just 2 tsp of sugar between two people balances the sourness.
Beansprouts. Raw beansprouts have been linked to food poisoning outbreaks, so food safety agencies advise cooking them until steaming hot unless the pack says they are ready to eat. Here they go in at the end and are tossed over the heat until hot.
Not tagged for blood sugar, because the rice noodles bring about 60g of carbohydrate; add more vegetables and fewer noodles if that matters to you. Contains peanuts, soy and egg; leave out the eggs and add extra tofu for a vegan version. For another tofu dinner, try the crispy sesame tofu with broccoli, or for noodles with chicken, the Vietnamese chicken noodle salad.