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Authentic Pad Thai Recipe

A close-up view of a pan filled with flavorful Pad Thai noodles, topped with plump shrimp, chopped peanuts, and green onions, with a lime wedge on the side.
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Learn to make classic Pad Thai at home with this easy-to-follow recipe. Achieve the perfect balance of sweet, sour, and savory flavors with tender rice noodles, shrimp, tofu, and crunchy peanuts.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 ounces dried flat rice noodles
  • 3 tablespoons tamarind paste
  • 3 tablespoons fish sauce
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sriracha or chili garlic sauce (optional)
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
  • 8 ounces medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 4 ounces firm tofu, pressed and cubed
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 1 cup fresh bean sprouts
  • 1/4 cup chopped roasted peanuts
  • 2 green onions, chopped
  • 1 lime, cut into wedges

Instructions

  1. Soak rice noodles in warm water for 20-30 minutes, or until pliable but not mushy. Drain well.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together tamarind paste, fish sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and sriracha (if using). Set aside.
  3. Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add shrimp and cook until pink and opaque, about 2-3 minutes. Remove shrimp from skillet and set aside.
  4. Add tofu to the skillet and cook until golden brown on all sides, about 5-7 minutes. Remove tofu and set aside.
  5. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil to the skillet. Add minced garlic and stir-fry for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  6. Add the drained rice noodles to the skillet and stir-fry for 1-2 minutes.
  7. Pour the prepared sauce over the noodles and toss to coat evenly. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly, until the noodles absorb the sauce.
  8. Push the noodles to one side of the skillet. Pour the beaten egg into the empty side and scramble until cooked.
  9. Add the cooked shrimp and tofu back into the skillet. Toss everything together with the noodles and egg.
  10. Stir in the bean sprouts, chopped peanuts, and green onions. Cook for another minute until the bean sprouts are slightly tender-crisp.
  11. Serve immediately with lime wedges on the side.

Notes

  • For a vegetarian version, omit the shrimp and fish sauce. Use extra firm tofu and substitute the fish sauce with vegetarian stir-fry sauce or more soy sauce.
  • Adjust the sweetness, sourness, and saltiness of the sauce to your preference.
  • Ensure your wok or skillet is very hot before adding ingredients for proper stir-frying.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://recipestokeep.com/pad-thai-recipe-authentic-tamarind-sauce-noodles/