Lip-Smacking Pad Thai Recipe: Your Homemade Thai Delight

Sizzling woks and street-side vendors inspire this authentic pad Thai recipe that brings Bangkok’s vibrant flavors straight to your kitchen.

Tangy tamarind, silky rice noodles, and crisp vegetables dance together in this classic Thai dish.

Every bite tells a story of culinary tradition and bold spices.

The recipe balances sweet, sour, and savory notes that make pad Thai a true crowd-pleaser.

Restaurants can’t compete with the fresh, homemade goodness you’ll create.

Chefs and home cooks alike adore this simple yet spectacular meal that comes together in minutes.

Let’s find out this delectable journey and transform your weeknight dinner into a Thai street food adventure.

Stir-Frying Pad Thai Like a Street Vendor

• Noodle Preparation

Soak rice noodles in warm water until they become soft and pliable, creating a silky foundation for your culinary journey.

• Tofu Transformation

Press tofu gently to remove excess moisture, then slice into delicate cubes that will absorb incredible flavors during cooking.

• Flavor Fusion

Craft a magical sauce by blending sweet, tangy, and savory elements that will dance across your taste buds, creating a symphony of Thai street food essence.

• Ingredient Lineup

Gather your flavor warriors: crunchy peanuts, fresh herbs, crisp bean sprouts, and protein-packed eggs, each ready to play a starring role in this delicious performance.

• Sizzling Start

Heat your wok until it whispers with energy, quickly searing tofu and proteins to lock in their golden, crispy potential.

• Noodle Narrative

Introduce noodles to the sizzling pan, coating them in the vibrant sauce, allowing each strand to become a canvas of rich, complex flavors.

• Egg Embrace

Scramble eggs directly into the mix, creating soft, fluffy clouds that weave through the dish like delicate threads.

• Fresh Finale

Toss in bright, crisp vegetables, giving the dish a final burst of color and texture that celebrates fresh ingredients.

• Plate and Celebrate

Garnish with lime, extra peanuts, and herbs, transforming your creation into a feast that tells a story of Thai culinary magic.

Tips for Perfect Pad Thai

• Lukewarm water helps rice noodles soften perfectly without breaking, ensuring a tender, authentic texture in your pad Thai.
• Removing excess moisture through pressing guarantees crispy, golden tofu that absorbs flavors better and provides a delightful texture contrast in the dish.
• Adjust the sauce's sweetness and tanginess by tasting and tweaking the palm sugar, fish sauce, and tamarind concentrate ratios to match your personal preference.
• Swap shrimp with chicken, beef, or keep it vegetarian by adding more tofu or using plant-based protein alternatives to suit different dietary needs and tastes.
• Sprinkle red pepper flakes or add a dash of sriracha for heat lovers, or keep it mild for those who prefer a gentler flavor profile in this classic Thai street food.

Serving Pad Thai With Garnishes That Pop

• Tropical Table Centerpiece: Create a vibrant display with fresh Thai herbs, sliced lime wedges, and colorful garnishes that showcase the dish's authentic origins. Arrange ingredients in small decorative bowls around the main platter.
• Street Food Style Presentation: Serve Pad Thai on a rustic wooden board with chopsticks, extra crushed peanuts, and chili flakes on the side. Mimic the casual, bustling street food experience of Bangkok's culinary scene.
• Interactive Dining Experience: Encourage guests to customize their plate by offering additional toppings like extra bean sprouts, fresh herbs, and condiment sauces. This allows everyone to adjust flavors to their personal preference.
• Balanced Meal Companion: Pair the Pad Thai with a light cucumber salad or fresh spring rolls to create a complete Thai-inspired meal. Add a refreshing Thai iced tea to complement the dish's rich and tangy flavors.

Pad Thai Storage That Preserves Flavor

• Smart Batch Cooking: Whip up a double batch of Pad Thai and store individual portions in airtight containers for quick weekday lunches or dinners. Keeps fresh in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
• Freezer-Friendly Strategy: Cool the noodle dish completely before transferring to freezer-safe containers. Freeze for up to 2 months, ensuring best texture by separating noodles and preventing clumping with a light coating of oil.
• Quick Reheat Technique: Revive refrigerated or thawed Pad Thai in a hot wok or skillet with a splash of water to restore moisture. Stir constantly for 2-3 minutes until heated thoroughly, maintaining the original vibrant flavors and texture.
• Ingredient Prep Hack: Chop and store tofu, slice scallions, and measure sauce ingredients in advance. Keep prepped components in separate sealed containers in the refrigerator, reducing total cooking time by 15-20 minutes when ready to cook.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Calories: 450 kcal

Servings: 5

All the Ingredients for Classic Pad Thai

• Dried Pad Thai Noodles: Delicate rice noodles that create the perfect soft and chewy foundation for the dish, best when soaked just before cooking.
• Extra-Firm Tofu: Protein-packed ingredient that absorbs flavors beautifully and provides a meaty texture, choose brands with firm, compact structure.
• Jumbo Shrimp: Ocean-fresh protein adding sweet and tender bites, select plump and clear-looking shrimp for best quality.
• Small Dried Shrimp: Umami-rich seafood component that intensifies the dish's traditional flavor profile, look for bright and crisp pieces.

• Garlic, Shallot: Flavor-building base that creates depth and fragrance, select firm and unblemished aromatics.
• Scallions, Garlic Chives: Fresh, green ingredients that add bright and sharp notes, choose crisp and vibrant green stalks.
• Mung Bean Sprouts: Crunchy element providing refreshing texture, pick crisp and white sprouts without brown spots.
• Thai Sweet Preserved Radish: Unique tangy ingredient adding signature Thai street food taste, seek out authentic preserved varieties.

• Palm Sugar: Natural sweetener creating complex caramel-like undertones, prefer traditional block or paste form.
• Tamarind Concentrate: Tart and intense sauce base delivering signature pad thai tanginess, choose pure, concentrated versions.
• Fish Sauce: Salty, umami liquid providing deep flavor complexity, select high-quality, clear amber-colored sauce.

Tools for Getting Pad Thai Texture Just Right

• Wok: Large, high-sided pan perfect for stir-frying with even heat distribution.
• Wire Rack: Essential for draining and pressing tofu to remove excess moisture.
• Cutting Board: Sturdy surface for slicing tofu, garlic, shallots, and other ingredients.
• Chef's Knife: Sharp blade for precise chopping and mincing of ingredients.
• Small Bowls: Multiple containers to organize and prepare different recipe components.
• Baking Sheet: Weighted tool for pressing tofu and creating firm texture.
• Saucepan: Used for creating and simmering the pad Thai sauce.
• Towels: Necessary for draining and pressing tofu, absorbing excess liquid.
• Spatula: Helps stir-fry ingredients and mix noodles evenly in the wok.
• Measuring Spoons: Ensures accurate sauce and seasoning quantities.

Authentic Pad Thai Recipe

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4.5 from 15 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Savory pad thai brings together rice noodles, tender proteins, and crunchy peanuts in a tangy sauce. Layers of authentic Thai flavors combine perfectly to create a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 7 to 8 oz (198 to 226 g) dried pad Thai noodles (thin, flat rice noodles)
• 8 oz (226 g) raw jumbo peeled and deveined shrimp (optional for non-vegan)
• 7 oz (198 g) extra-firm tofu
• 4 large eggs (or vegan egg alternatives like scrambled tofu for a vegan option)
• 2 tbsps (30 g) small dried shrimp (optional for non-vegan)
• 2 cups (100 g) mung bean sprouts
• 4 tbsps (60 mL) vegetable oil, divided, with more as needed
• 1 medium shallot, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 medium scallions or 6 garlic chives, chopped
• ¼ cup (40 g) Thai sweet preserved radish, diced
• ¼ cup (56 g) palm or coconut sugar paste (or palm sugar in a block or puck)
• 3 tbsps (45 mL) fish sauce (or vegan fish sauce alternative)
• 3 tbsps (45 mL) tamarind concentrate or prepared tamarind pulp
• 3 tbsps (45 mL) water
• 1 ½ tsps (7 g) kosher salt

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Instructions

1. Noodle Preparation: Submerge dried Pad Thai noodles in lukewarm water for 30 minutes until pliable, then drain completely using a colander.
2. Tofu Processing: Press extra-firm tofu between towels with a weighted baking sheet for 30 minutes, then slice into uniform 1-inch cubes after salting.
3. Sauce Crafting: Combine palm sugar paste, fish sauce, tamarind concentrate, and water in a saucepan. Boil, then simmer until achieving a syrupy texture, then set aside.
4. Ingredient Preparation: Finely mince garlic and shallots, chop preserved radish, crush roasted peanuts, and prepare dried shrimp, scallions, bean sprouts, and eggs.
5. Protein Searing: Heat vegetable oil in a wok, stir-fry tofu until golden-brown, remove and repeat with shrimp until opaque. Transfer both to a holding bowl.
6. Noodle Infusion: Sauté shallots and garlic, add peanut mixture, then incorporate noodles and sauce. Stir continuously, adding water if needed to prevent sticking.
7. Egg Integration: Create soft scrambled eggs in the wok, then reintroduce tofu, shrimp, and noodles. Gently toss to distribute egg pieces throughout the mixture.
8. Final Touches: Push noodle mixture aside, quickly wilt scallions and bean sprouts in the empty wok section, then thoroughly combine all ingredients.
9. Serving Presentation: Transfer Pad Thai to a platter, garnish with lime wedges, additional bean sprouts, scallions, banana blossom, and optional condiments like crushed peanuts and red pepper flakes.

Notes

• Noodle Soaking Technique: Ensure lukewarm water fully covers noodles, preventing uneven softening and potential hardness in certain sections.
• Tofu Pressing Hack: Salt and weighted pressing removes excess moisture, creating crispier texture and better absorption of flavors during stir-frying.
• Sauce Consistency Check: Simmer until sauce reaches syrupy thickness, which helps noodles coat evenly and prevents watery final dish.
• Wok Temperature Control: Maintain medium-high heat to achieve proper caramelization and prevent ingredients from becoming soggy or burning.

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

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 450
• Sugar: 10 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 20 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 50 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 20 g
• Cholesterol: 200 mg