Quick & Flavorful Pad Thai Recipe That Brings Thailand to You

Pad Thai tantalizes taste buds with its magical combination of complex culinary elements.

Street food champions have long celebrated this remarkable noodle sensation that bridges traditional and modern cooking styles.

Rich with umami undertones, the dish weaves together harmonious flavor profiles that dance across your palate.

Delicate rice noodles intertwine with proteins and crisp vegetables, creating a symphonic gastronomic experience.

Each bite promises a multilayered adventure of taste and texture that transcends ordinary meal expectations.

Southeast Asian cuisine reaches its pinnacle through this masterful blend of sweet, sour, and savory notes.

Packed with nutritious ingredients and explosive flavor combinations, this dish revolutionizes ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary culinary masterpiece.

Why Pad Thai Deserves a Spot on Your Table

• Burst with Authentic Thai Flavors: Experience a delightful symphony of sweet, tangy, and savory notes that transport your taste buds straight to the bustling streets of Bangkok.
• Master Complex Cooking Techniques: Learn intricate stir-frying methods that transform simple ingredients into a restaurant-quality dish, building your culinary confidence with each step.
• Enjoy Protein-Packed Nutrition: Savor a balanced meal featuring tofu and shrimp, delivering 20 grams of protein while keeping calories moderate at 480 kcal per serving.
• Quick Weeknight Dinner Solution: Prepare a gourmet-style meal in under an hour, making it perfect for busy home cooks craving international cuisine without extensive preparation time.

The Essential Ingredients That Make Pad Thai Shine

• Dried Pad Thai Noodles: Classic rice noodles with soft texture and essential for authentic pad thai experience.
• Water: Lukewarm liquid for soaking and softening the noodles.

• Extra-Firm Tofu: Firm protein with mild flavor, absorbs seasoning well and provides substantial texture.
• Shrimp, Dried Shrimp: Sweet seafood protein adding depth and traditional pad thai character.
• Eggs: Binding ingredient creating soft curds and adding rich protein to the dish.

• Palm Sugar Paste: Sweet component with complex caramel-like depth for balanced flavor.
• Fish Sauce: Salty, umami liquid providing traditional Thai seasoning.
• Tamarind Concentrate: Tangy fruit extract creating signature pad thai sourness.
• Garlic, Shallot: Aromatic base adding sharp and sweet flavor undertones.
• Preserved Radish: Salty, crunchy element with unique Thai flavor profile.
• Roasted Peanuts: Crunchy topping with nutty richness for texture and taste.
• Vegetable Oil: Neutral cooking fat for stir-frying ingredients.

• Scallions: Fresh green onions for bright, mild onion flavor.
• Mung Bean Sprouts: Crisp vegetable adding fresh crunch.
• Lime: Acidic fruit for final fresh squeeze.
• Banana Blossom: Optional traditional Thai garnish.
• Red Pepper Flakes: Optional spicy topping.

Easy Steps for a Street-Food Worthy Pad Thai

Step 1: Prepare Noodles

Soak dried pad Thai noodles in a spacious bowl filled with warm water. Let them rest for 30 minutes until they become soft and pliable. Drain completely and set aside.

Step 2: Press Tofu

Slice extra-firm tofu into 1/2-inch thick planks. Place on a towel-lined rack, sprinkle with salt, cover with additional towels. Press using a weighted baking sheet for 30 minutes. Cut pressed tofu into 1-inch cubes.

Step 3: Create Flavor Sauce

• Palm sugar paste
• Fish sauce
• Tamarind concentrate
• Water

Heat mixture over medium-high until boiling, then simmer on medium-low for 2-3 minutes until it transforms into a syrupy consistency. Remove from heat and reserve.

Step 4: Chop Ingredients

• Minced garlic
• Chopped shallots
• Crushed roasted peanuts
• Chopped preserved radish
• Rinsed dried shrimp
• Sliced scallions
• Mung bean sprouts
• Cracked eggs

Step 5: Cook Tofu and Shrimp

Heat vegetable oil in a large wok over medium-high heat. Stir-fry tofu for 5 minutes until golden brown. Transfer to a separate bowl. Cook shrimp in the same pan for 2-3 minutes until they turn opaque. Add to tofu bowl.

Step 6: Build Noodle Base

Add remaining oil to the pan. Sauté shallots and garlic for 30 seconds. Incorporate peanut mixture and fry briefly. Add noodles and prepared sauce, stirring continuously for 3 minutes. Add small amounts of water if the pan becomes dry.

Step 7: Scramble and Combine

Create scrambled eggs with large curds. Before eggs fully set, return noodles, tofu, and shrimp to the pan. Toss ingredients together, breaking egg pieces.

Step 8: Add Fresh Vegetables

Push noodle mixture to one side of the pan. Add scallions and bean sprouts to the empty space, tossing until slightly wilted. Mix everything thoroughly.

Step 9: Serve and Garnish

• Lime wedges
• Fresh bean sprouts
• Additional scallions
• Banana blossom

Optional toppings include sugar, crushed peanuts, and red pepper flakes.

Pad Thai Tips for Perfect Noodles and Sauce

• Master Noodle Soaking: Ensure lukewarm water completely covers noodles for even softening, preventing clumping and maintaining perfect texture.
• Press Tofu Like a Pro: Use heavy weights to remove excess moisture, creating crispy, golden edges that absorb flavors more effectively.
• Sauce Consistency is Key: Simmer sauce until it reaches a syrupy thickness, which helps coat noodles evenly and intensifies overall flavor profile.
• Wok Heat Management: Keep wok at medium-high temperature to achieve proper caramelization without burning ingredients, creating authentic street-food style results.
• Ingredient Prep Matters: Chop and measure all components beforehand, enabling smooth stir-frying and preventing overcooking of delicate ingredients like shrimp and eggs.

How to Store and Reheat Pad Thai Without Drying Out

• Refrigerate Carefully: Transfer leftover pad Thai to an airtight container within two hours of cooking. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days to maintain freshness and prevent bacterial growth.
• Reheat Gently: Warm pad Thai in a skillet over medium-low heat to prevent noodles from becoming mushy. Sprinkle a few tablespoons of water to help restore moisture and prevent sticking. Stir occasionally to distribute heat evenly and revive the sauce's original texture.
• Revive Crispness: Before serving reheated pad Thai, garnish with fresh bean sprouts, chopped scallions, and a squeeze of lime juice.

The Best Dishes to Pair with Pad Thai

• Sip Thai Iced Tea: Cool down the spicy, tangy Pad Thai with a creamy, sweet Thai iced tea. Its refreshing blend of black tea, condensed milk, and sugar perfectly balances the dish's bold flavors.
• Pair with Singha Beer: Crack open a crisp, light Singha beer from Thailand. Its clean, hoppy taste cuts through the rich, savory notes of the Pad Thai, creating a harmonious dining experience.
• Complement with Jasmine Rice: Add a small side of steamed jasmine rice to soak up the sauce. Its subtle, fragrant aroma and soft texture provide a gentle contrast to the noodles' complexity.
• Enhance with Cucumber Salad: Serve a simple cucumber salad dressed with rice vinegar and a touch of sugar. Its cool, tangy crunch refreshes the palate between bites of the rich Pad Thai.

Fun Twists to Reinvent Your Next Pad Thai

• Seafood Sensation: Replace tofu and shrimp with a mix of fresh prawns, squid, and mussels for an oceanic protein boost. Adjust cooking times to ensure seafood is perfectly cooked without becoming tough.
• Vegetarian Venture: Swap protein sources with crispy tempeh or seitan, and use mushroom-based fish sauce alternative. Add extra vegetables like bell peppers and zucchini for more nutritional depth and texture.
• Spicy Southeast Fusion: Incorporate additional chili paste or fresh bird's eye chilies for intense heat. Include lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves to elevate the aromatic profile and create a more complex flavor experience.
• Quick Weeknight Version: Simplify the recipe by using pre-pressed tofu, store-bought pad Thai sauce, and pre-chopped ingredients. Reduce preparation time while maintaining authentic taste and essential cooking techniques.

Pad Thai Recipe

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4.5 from 40 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Authentic Pad Thai delivers a symphony of Thai street-style flavors dancing across your palate. Savory rice noodles intertwine with tender proteins, crunchy peanuts, and zesty lime, creating a perfect balance of sweet, sour, and umami that transports you straight to Bangkok’s bustling markets.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein and Seafood:

• 8 ounces (226 grams) raw jumbo peeled and deveined shrimp (optional for non-vegan)
• 7 ounces (198 grams) extra-firm tofu
• 4 large eggs (or vegan egg alternatives like scrambled tofu for a vegan option)
• 2 tablespoons (30 grams) small dried shrimp (optional for non-vegan)

Noodles and Vegetables:

• 7 to 8 ounces (198 to 226 grams) dried pad Thai noodles (thin, flat rice noodles)
• 2 cups (100 grams) mung bean sprouts
• 1 medium shallot, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 medium scallions or 6 garlic chives, chopped
• ¼ cup (40 grams) Thai sweet preserved radish, diced

Sauce and Seasonings:

• ¼ cup (56 grams) palm or coconut sugar paste (or palm sugar in a block or puck)
• 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) fish sauce (or vegan fish sauce alternative)
• 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) tamarind concentrate or prepared tamarind pulp
• 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) water
• 1 ½ teaspoons (7 grams) kosher salt
• 4 tablespoons (60 milliliters) vegetable oil, divided, with more as needed
• 2 tabl

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Instructions

1. Submerge dried Pad Thai noodles in a spacious container with lukewarm water, allowing them to soften for approximately 30 minutes until they become pliable. Thoroughly drain the noodles using a colander.
2. Prepare extra-firm tofu by slicing it into precise 1/2-inch (1.3 centimeters) rectangular planks. Arrange the planks on a towel-lined wire rack, sprinkle with kosher salt, cover with additional towels, and apply gentle pressure using a weighted baking sheet for 30 minutes. Afterwards, cut the tofu into uniform 1-inch (2.5 centimeters) cubes.
3. Create the signature Pad Thai sauce by combining palm sugar paste, fish sauce, tamarind concentrate, and water in a medium saucepan. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to medium-low and simmer for 2-3 minutes until it reaches a syrupy consistency. Remove from heat and set aside.
4. Prepare ingredients by finely mincing garlic and shallots, and placing them in a small prep bowl. Chop preserved radish and crush roasted peanuts, combining them in another bowl with rinsed dried shrimp. Separately prepare scallions, mung bean sprouts, and eggs.
5. Heat of vegetable oil in a large wok over medium-high heat until it begins to smoke. Carefully stir-fry tofu cubes for 5 minutes, rotating until they develop a golden-brown exterior. Transfer the tofu to a separate holding bowl. In the same pan, cook shrimp for 2-3 minutes until they turn opaque, then add to the tofu bowl.
6. Introduce remaining oil to the wok and sauté shallots and garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant. Incorporate the peanut mixture and briefly fry. Add prepared noodles and sauce, continuously stirring for 3 minutes to ensure even cooking. If the pan becomes dry, gradually add small amounts of water to prevent sticking.
7. Create scrambled eggs in a portion of the wok, forming large, soft curds. Before the eggs completely set, reintroduce the noodles, tofu, and shrimp to the pan. Gently toss all ingredients together, carefully breaking up egg pieces.
8. Strategically push noodle mixture to one side of the wok. Add scallions and bean sprouts to the empty section, quickly tossing until they slightly wilt. Thoroughly integrate all components.
9. Transfer the completed Pad Thai to a serving platter. Accompany the dish with fresh lime wedges, additional bean sprouts, scallions, banana blossom, and optional garnishes such as granulated sugar, crushed peanuts, and red pepper flakes for personalized seasoning.

Notes

• Noodle Soaking Trick helps create perfectly tender, flexible strands without overcooking during final stir-fry.
• Tofu Pressing Method removes excess moisture, ensuring crispy golden exterior and better absorption of delicious sauce flavors.
• Sauce Preparation transforms basic ingredients into a complex, balanced condiment that ties all recipe components together seamlessly.
• Mise en Place Strategy organizes ingredients for rapid, efficient cooking, preventing potential burning or missed steps during high-heat wok preparation.
• Layered Cooking Technique builds depth of flavor by separately cooking proteins, then reintegrating them into final dish for maximum taste complexity.
• Finishing Touches allow personalization with multiple garnish options, letting each diner customize their perfect Pad Thai experience.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Stir-Frying
• Cuisine: Thai

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 480 kcal
• Sugar: 10g
• Sodium: 860mg
• Fat: 14g
• Saturated Fat: 3g
• Carbohydrates: 60g
• Fiber: 4g
• Protein: 20g
• Cholesterol: 180mg