Best 6 Easy Homemade Pad Thai Recipes

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When it comes to quick and easy stir-fried noodle dishes, pad Thai is often at the top of the list. Originating from Thailand, this dish has gained immense popularity worldwide due to its tantalizing flavors and vibrant ingredients. Its sweet, sour, and savory taste profile, coupled with the chewy texture of the noodles, crunchy vegetables, and the creaminess of the peanut sauce, creates a harmonious and unforgettable culinary experience. Whether you're a seasoned cook or a beginner looking for a flavorful and effortless meal, this comprehensive guide will take you through the essential steps and key ingredients needed to prepare an authentic and delicious homemade pad Thai.

Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!

EASY PAD THAI



Easy Pad Thai image

Skip the take-out restaurant and give this pad thai recipe a try if you need an easy and quick meal. -Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 30m

Yield 4 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 16

4 ounces uncooked thick rice noodles
1/2 pound pork tenderloin, cut into thin strips
2 teaspoons canola oil
2 shallots, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 large egg, lightly beaten
3 cups coleslaw mix
4 green onions, thinly sliced
1/3 cup rice vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons fish sauce or additional reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce
1 tablespoon lime juice
2 tablespoons chopped salted peanuts
Chopped fresh cilantro leaves, lime wedges and fresh bean sprouts

Steps:

  • Cook noodles according to package directions., In a large nonstick skillet or wok, stir-fry pork in oil over high heat until lightly browned; remove and set aside. Add shallot to pan and cook until tender, about 1 minute; add garlic and cook 30 seconds. Make a well in the center of the onion mixture; add egg. Stir-fry for 1-2 minutes or until egg is completely set. , Add the coleslaw mix, green onions, vinegar, sugar, soy sauce, fish sauce, chili garlic sauce, lime juice and peanuts; heat through. Return pork to pan and heat through. Drain noodles; toss with pork mixture. Garnish with cilantro, additional peanuts, lime wedges and bean sprouts.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 361 calories, Fat 8g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 78mg cholesterol, Sodium 1669mg sodium, Carbohydrate 53g carbohydrate (23g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 19g protein.

PAD THAI



Pad Thai image

The most famous Thai dish in America! Making a good Pad Thai takes time. There's a delicate dance with the noodles because they cook in three stages. First you soak them in warm water and they begin to absorb and soften. They first get pan-fried with all the ingredients. Be patient at this stage. Allow them to begin to yield and marry with the hot oil and other ingredients. Once they look soft enough to eat right out of the pan but slightly al dente, add the sauce to finish the cooking. My family was among the first to introduce this dish to America nearly 50 years ago and the American version differs slightly from the native one. The super bright orange was accentuated with paprika instead of the traditional addition of chili paste to give it a slight tint. And we typically finish this dish with garlic chives vs. green onions. I always say Pad Thai is like pancakes. You'll burn a few before you get the knack for it.

Provided by Jet Tila

Categories     main-dish

Time 1h

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 21

4 tablespoons (60 ml) Thai fish sauce
4 tablespoons (50 g) sugar
3 tablespoons (45 ml) bottled tamarind paste
1 tablespoon (15 ml) fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon (15 ml) unseasoned rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon sweet paprika, for color (optional)
2 teaspoons chili sauce, such as Sriracha
3 to 4 cups medium-width rice sticks, soaked
Banana leaf, cut into circles, for plating (optional)
2 tablespoons (30 ml) vegetable oil, such as canola, grapeseed or peanut oil
3 to 4 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
1/2 cup (95 g) Thai-style baked tofu, sliced
1 teaspoon dried shrimp
1/2 cup (95 g) chicken, cut into thin strips, 1-inch lengths
2 large eggs
4 teaspoons packaged salted turnip, minced
8 shrimp, peeled and cleaned
1 cup (240 g) bean sprouts
1/4 cup (50 g) dry-roasted unsalted peanuts, crushed
3 to 4 garlic chives (or scallions), cut into 2-inch lengths on a bias
1 lime, cut for garnish

Steps:

  • For the Pad Thai Sauce: In a small bowl, stir together the fish sauce, sugar, tamarind paste, lime juice, vinegar, paprika and chili sauce. Set aside.
  • For the Pad Thai: Soak the noodles in enough warm water to cover for 1 hour.
  • If using, cut the banana leaf into round shapes using an overturned bowl. Place on the serving platter and hold for plating.
  • Heat a large cast-iron skillet over high heat. Add the oil and coat the skillet completely. When the skillet starts to smoke, add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 5 seconds. Add the tofu and dried shrimp and cook, stirring, until they begin to soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the chicken pieces and cook, stirring, until no longer pink, 1 to 2 minutes.
  • Push ingredients in the skillet to one side and let the oil settle in the center of skillet. Crack the eggs into the oil and let set until half-cooked, about 30 seconds, then lightly scramble. Combine with the remaining cooked ingredients in the skillet, scraping the bits from the bottom before they burn. Add 3 cups of the drained noodles and cook, stirring, until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Reserve the noodle soaking water.
  • Add the salted turnip and shrimp. Cook until both the chicken and shrimp are at medium doneness, about 1 minute. Add the sauce and fold together until all the liquid is absorbed, about 2 minutes.
  • Place half of the bean sprouts, half of the crushed peanuts and the garlic chives (or scallions) in the center of noodles, and then spoon some noodles over them to cover and let steam for 30 seconds. If the skillet seems dry, add a small amount of the noodle soaking water. Transfer to a serving plate with the banana leaf circle, and garnish with the remaining bean sprouts, peanuts and lime.

PAD THAI



Pad Thai image

Pad Thai is essentially a stir-fry and requires little more than chopping and stirring. It comes together in less than a half-hour. Some ingredients in this recipe may be unfamiliar. The first are the noodles themselves: rice stick noodles, which are pale, translucent, flat and range from very thin to more than a quarter-inch wide. Unlike semolina pasta, rice stick noodles don't need to be boiled; instead, you soak them in hot water until they're tender. Meanwhile, make a sauce from tamarind paste, now easily found in larger supermarkets or online. The paste, made from the pulp of the tamarind pod, is very sour, but more complex than citrus. It can vary widely in its potency, so be sure to taste as you go. Fish sauce (nam pla) is another important ingredient. Made from fermented anchovies (and much like the garum of ancient Rome), it has an unappealing smell and a fabulous taste. Honey and rice vinegar round things out.

Provided by Mark Bittman

Categories     dinner, quick, weekday, one pot, main course

Time 25m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 16

4 ounces fettuccine-width rice stick noodles
1/4 cup peanut oil
1 to 4 tablespoons tamarind paste
1/4 cup fish sauce (nam pla)
1/3 cup honey
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
1/4 cup chopped scallions
1 garlic clove, minced
2 eggs
1 small head Napa cabbage, shredded (about 4 cups)
1 cup mung bean sprouts
1/2 pound peeled shrimp, pressed tofu or a combination
1/2 cup roasted peanuts, chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 limes, quartered

Steps:

  • Put noodles in a large bowl and add boiling water to cover. Let sit until noodles are just tender; check every 5 minutes or so to make sure they do not get too soft. Drain, drizzle with one tablespoon peanut oil to keep from sticking and set aside. Meanwhile, put 1 tablespoon tamarind paste, fish sauce, honey and vinegar in a small saucepan over medium-low heat and bring just to a simmer. Taste and add more tamarind paste if desired. It should be piquant, but not unpleasantly sour. Stir in red pepper flakes and set aside.
  • Put remaining 3 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; when oil shimmers, add scallions and garlic and cook for about a minute. Add eggs to pan; once they begin to set, scramble them until just done. Add cabbage and bean sprouts and continue to cook until cabbage begins to wilt, then add shrimp or tofu (or both).
  • When shrimp begin to turn pink and tofu begins to brown, add drained noodles to pan along with sauce. Toss everything together to coat with tamarind sauce and combine well. When noodles are warmed through, serve, sprinkling each dish with peanuts and garnishing with cilantro and lime wedges.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 532, UnsaturatedFat 20 grams, Carbohydrate 61 grams, Fat 26 grams, Fiber 5 grams, Protein 20 grams, SaturatedFat 4 grams, Sodium 1872 milligrams, Sugar 29 grams, TransFat 0 grams

PAD THAI



Pad Thai image

This is a traditional Pad Thai recipe used by a friend's mother. You can use chicken, pork, beef, tofu, or a combination. You may want to start with less pepper, and work your way up.

Provided by TRANSMONICON

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     Asian     Thai

Time 1h

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 (12 ounce) package rice noodles
2 tablespoons butter
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cut into bite-sized pieces
¼ cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons fish sauce
3 tablespoons white sugar
⅛ tablespoon crushed red pepper
2 cups bean sprouts
¼ cup crushed peanuts
3 green onions, chopped
1 lemon, cut into wedges

Steps:

  • Soak rice noodles in cold water 30 to 50 minutes, or until soft. Drain, and set aside.
  • Heat butter in a wok or large heavy skillet. Saute chicken until browned. Remove, and set aside. Heat oil in wok over medium-high heat. Crack eggs into hot oil, and cook until firm. Stir in chicken, and cook for 5 minutes. Add softened noodles, and vinegar, fish sauce, sugar and red pepper. Adjust seasonings to taste. Mix while cooking, until noodles are tender. Add bean sprouts, and mix for 3 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 523.8 calories, Carbohydrate 58.5 g, Cholesterol 178.1 mg, Fat 20.7 g, Fiber 2.9 g, Protein 26.4 g, SaturatedFat 5.7 g, Sodium 593.6 mg, Sugar 8.1 g

EASY PAD THAI



Easy pad Thai image

Almost a national dish of Thailand, Mary Cadogan's simplified take makes it easy to shop for - and very authentic tasting

Provided by Mary Cadogan

Categories     Lunch, Main course, Supper

Time 30m

Yield Serves 2-3

Number Of Ingredients 13

125g (half a 250g pack) rice noodles
3 tbsp lime juice about 2 limes
½ tsp cayenne pepper
2 tsp light muscovado sugar
2 tbsp fish sauce (nam pla)
2 tbsp vegetable oil
200g cooked and peeled tiger prawn , tails left on
4 spring onions , sliced
140g beansprout
25g salted peanut , finely chopped
a small handful of coriander leaves
1 or 2 lime , cut into wedges
sweet chilli sauce

Steps:

  • Put the noodles in a large heatproof bowl, pour boiling water over them and leave for 4 minutes, then drain and refresh under cold running water.
  • Put the lime juice, cayenne, sugar and fish sauce in a bowl and mix well. Have all the other ingredients ready by the cooker.
  • Heat the oil and fry the prawns until warmed through. Add the spring onions and noodles and toss around. Tip in the lime juice mixture, then stir in the beansprouts and half the peanuts and coriander. Cook for 1 minute until everything is heated through.
  • Pile into a large dish, scatter with the rest of the peanuts and coriander, and serve with lime wedges and sweet chilli sauce.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 531 calories, Fat 20 grams fat, SaturatedFat 3 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 62 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 5 grams sugar, Fiber 2 grams fiber, Protein 27 grams protein, Sodium 3 milligram of sodium

SUPER EASY PAD THAI



Super Easy Pad Thai image

Make and share this Super Easy Pad Thai recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Lilasianchef

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 35m

Yield 2-3 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

6 -9 ounces rice noodles
1/2 tablespoon sugar
1/4 tablespoon salt
3 tablespoons vinegar
3 tablespoons fish sauce (nam plaa)
1 -2 green onion (finely Sliced)
2 eggs
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup meat (chicken, pork, beef, shrimp, scallop are very good)

Steps:

  • soak noodle in hot water until stringy but will not break
  • heat wok or deep frying pan to about 300 degrees.
  • add oil and scramble egg.
  • add noodle and stir fry until midway to tender noodle.
  • add sugar, fish sauce, salt, vinegar and stir fry until wet ingredients are soaked through.
  • add onions and stir fry until cooked.
  • add crushed peanut, shredded carrot, and beansprouts to top (optional).
  • serve immediately for best taste.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 652.1, Fat 32.7, SaturatedFat 5.2, Cholesterol 211.5, Sodium 3182.9, Carbohydrate 75.9, Fiber 1.6, Sugar 4.7, Protein 10.7

Tips:

  • Use the right noodles. Pad Thai noodles are flat and wide, made from rice flour. They have a chewy texture and a slightly sweet flavor.
  • Soak the noodles before cooking. This will help to soften them and make them more pliable.
  • Use a well-seasoned wok or large skillet. This will help to prevent the noodles from sticking.
  • Cook the noodles over high heat. This will help to create a nice, slightly charred flavor.
  • Don't overcook the noodles. They should be cooked through but still have a slight bite to them.
  • Use a flavorful sauce. The sauce is what really makes Pad Thai so delicious. Make sure to use a sauce that is well-balanced and flavorful.
  • Add your favorite toppings. Pad Thai is a great dish to customize with your favorite toppings. Some popular options include peanuts, bean sprouts, cilantro, and lime wedges.

Conclusion:

Pad Thai is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a quick and easy weeknight meal. With a few simple ingredients and a little bit of time, you can create a delicious Pad Thai that will satisfy your cravings. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy meal, give Pad Thai a try!

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