Description
Delightful pad thai celebrates Thailand’s culinary charm with rice noodles, tangy tamarind, and perfectly balanced flavors. Crisp vegetables and protein combine in a quick stir-fry you’ll crave repeatedly.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) flat rice noodles (linguini or fettuccini width)
- 3/4 pound (340 grams) large shrimp (31/35), peeled and deveined
- 2 large eggs, beaten
Sauce Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) plus 2 tablespoons water
- 2 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon (heaping) crushed red pepper flakes
Aromatics & Cooking Ingredients:
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 scallions, light parts thinly sliced, dark green parts cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 cup bean sprouts
- 4 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon vegetable oil, divided
- 1/4 cup dry roasted salted peanuts, coarsely chopped
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
- Lime wedges for serving (optional)
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Immerse rice noodles in boiling water for 5-10 minutes until they reach a tender yet resilient texture. Drain thoroughly and rinse with cold water to halt cooking process.
- Whisk eggs with a delicate sprinkle of salt. Separately, blend sauce ingredients into a harmonious mixture.
- Sear shrimp in sizzling oil over medium-high heat for approximately 2 minutes. Incorporate minced garlic and light scallion sections, cooking for an additional minute. Transfer protein to a holding plate.
- Create fluffy scrambled eggs in the same pan with a touch of oil, cooking 1-2 minutes until perfectly set. Combine with previously cooked shrimp.
- Infuse pan with remaining oil, introduce noodles and prepared sauce. Allow liquid to be completely absorbed while gently stirring. Integrate shrimp-egg mixture and dark scallion segments, tossing until uniformly heated.
- Garnish with crushed peanuts, crisp bean sprouts, and optional fresh cilantro. Accompany with zesty lime wedges for an enhanced flavor profile.
Notes
- Customize Noodle Texture: Soak rice noodles slightly less for a firmer bite or longer for softer consistency, depending on personal preference.
- Balance Sauce Flavors: Adjust sauce ingredients like tamarind, fish sauce, and sugar to create a perfect sweet-sour-salty balance that suits your taste.
- Make It Vegetarian: Swap shrimp with tofu, tempeh, or additional vegetables like bell peppers and mushrooms for a plant-based version.
- Prep Ahead Strategy: Chop ingredients and mix sauce in advance to streamline cooking process and reduce last-minute kitchen stress.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Stir-frying
- Cuisine: Thai
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 68 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 240 mg