How to make Pad Thai

Ingredients

1. For the sauce:

- 3 tablespoon tamarind paste

- 3 tablespoon fish sauce

- 1–2 tablespoon soy sauce

- 1–2 tablespoon sugar (adjust to taste)

- 1–2 teaspoon sriracha or chili paste (optional for spice)

2. For the pad Thai:

- 200g rice noodles (preferably flat, about 1/4-inch wide)

- 2 tablespoon vegetable oil

- 200g chicken breast or shrimp, peeled and deveined (or tofu for vegetarian version)

- 2 large eggs

- 1/2 cup bean sprouts

- 1/4 cup roasted peanuts, crushed

- 2 green onions, chopped

- 1/2 cup carrot, julienned (optional)

- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

- 1 lime, cut into wedges

- Salt and pepper to taste

A plate of Pad Thai with shrimp. Photo by Pexels/Vish V

Instructions

1. Prepare the sauce:

In a small bowl, whisk together the tamarind paste, fish sauce, soy sauce, sugar, and sriracha (if using). Adjust sugar to your taste for a balance of sweet and tangy flavors. Set aside.

2. Cook the noodles:

Cook the rice noodles according to the package instructions until just tender. Drain and rinse with cold water to prevent sticking. Set aside.

3. Cook the protein:

Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add chicken, shrimp, or tofu, and cook until just done. Season with salt and pepper, remove from the pan, and set aside.

4. Scramble the eggs

In the same skillet, add a bit more oil if needed, and crack in the eggs. Stir until softly scrambled, then push them to the side of the pan.

5. Combine ingredients

Add the remaining oil, followed by the noodles, sauce, bean sprouts, green onions, and carrots (if using). Toss everything together until heated through and well combined. Add the cooked protein back into the pan, and stir well.

6. Serve

Transfer to plates and sprinkle with crushed peanuts and fresh cilantro. Serve with lime wedges on the side for squeezing over the top.

Tips

- Adjust the sweetness and tanginess of the sauce to taste.

- For a vegetarian option, use tofu to replace chicken and shrimp, and substitute the fish sauce with soy sauce or mushroom sauce.

- Customize with extra veggies like bell peppers or broccoli if you like.

*This recipe was created with the assistance of AI.