Billie Eilish’s Mom Shares the Singer’s Favorite Noodle Recipe
Maggie Baird has dedicated years to transforming her family’s cherished recipes into vegan versions. Now, she is excited to share these culinary creations, along with their accompanying stories, with everyone.
Baird, the proud mother of Grammy-winning artists Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell, disclosed in a TODAY interview published on April 9, that she has authored a recipe book enriched with family history for her children.
Having lost her parents before her kids could know them, the book acts as a vessel to preserve their memory through the joy of cooking.
“Sadly, my parents both passed away, so my kids didn’t have grandparents around, which is why I’ve included those recipes and added stories about them,” Baird shared with TODAY.
“For instance, my mom made apple pie for my dad, but she also made cherry pie for years until he revealed he actually disliked it and preferred apple,” she noted.
Transforming beloved family recipes into plant-based versions is a familiar journey for many. Baird confirmed that every recipe in her book has been veganized so her children can enjoy them as much as she does.
Billie Eilish’s Mom Reveals a Family Favorite
A standout dish in the Eilish-O’Connell home is Baird’s spicy noodles, shared on her Support + Feed website.
Baird launched Support + Feed, a nonprofit aimed at tackling climate change and food insecurity by promoting plant-based diets, in 2020.
This spicy noodle recipe provides a swift, wholesome meal that plant-based cooks often seek.
“I loved being able to whip this up quickly whenever Billie or Finneas had friends over!” Baird mentions on her site.
“When everyone is eager to eat but you want to serve something nutritious, this is the go-to dish,” she continues.
In her conversation with TODAY, Baird shared the recipe’s inspiration from her New York days in the 1980s.
“Back then, cold sesame noodles were one of the few takeout options available,” she recalled. “When we moved to L.A., these weren’t common.”
“Many years ago, I veganized it, and it has consistently been a favorite in our family,” she added.
How to Prepare Maggie Baird’s Spicy Noodle Recipe
Baird’s spicy noodle recipe consists of 8 oz pad thai style rice noodles, 1/2 cup olive oil, one tsp chili flakes, two medium garlic cloves, 1/3 cup tamari, one package of firm tofu, and one head of broccoli.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to prepare it, as detailed by Food + Support:
- Prep the tofu: Drain a package of tofu and cube it into approximately 40 pieces. Set aside.
- Cook the broccoli: Half-fill a saucepan with water and heat to medium-high. Cut broccoli into florets and slice the stems, then add to the water. Cover and cook until fork-tender. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
- Cook the noodles: Add more water to the same pot and follow package directions for the rice noodles. Rinse with cool water to remove starch, drain, then place into a serving bowl.
- Make the chili-garlic oil: Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium. Combine ½ cup olive oil and 1 tsp red chili flakes and cook for 30 seconds. Stir in 2 crushed garlic cloves (and ½–1 tsp grated fresh ginger, if desired). Turn off the heat immediately to prevent burning the garlic. Drizzle the hot oil over the rice noodles and toss with tongs until coated.
- Cook the tofu: Return the skillet to medium heat, along with the residual chili oil, and add the tofu cubes, stirring to coat. Pour in ⅓ cup tamari (gluten-free, low-sodium recommended) and heat through.
- Combine: Introduce the noodles into the skillet with the tofu and toss together using tongs. Adjust tamari to taste. Once everything is heated and well combined, turn off the heat and top with the cooked broccoli.
- Finish: Use scissors to snip scallion tops over the dish. Optionally, add a dash of toasted sesame oil and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.
If you’re a fan of heat, you might take a page from Eilish herself. Baird noted that her daughter personalizes the dish, “She adds enough chili flakes to warm up a room! It’s absolutely delicious,” she shared.
Discover more of Baird’s favorite recipes on her upcoming cooking series Climate Kitchen, which is anticipated to debut in 2027.
