Best Pad Thai Recipe (2024)

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ByCheryl Avrich February 11, 2021January 5, 2022 Updated onJanuary 5, 2022

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Think of the best pad Thai recipe as perfect Asian comfort food. The flavors and textures in this sweet, salty, umami noodle stir fry are simply delicious. Way better than take out. Make it vegetarian or not.

I combined four highly rated recipes to create this one. My goal for every recipe is to simplify to the greatest extent possible while still achieving maximum deliciousness.This one is a winner. If you love Thai food, it’s definitely worth a try.

The first time you make this recipe, it will take a little longer (all recipes do the first time). The next time, I promise it will be quick and easy. I make pad Thai every week!

Is this an authentic pad Thai recipe?

Partly. I wanted to make this recipe accessible to the busy home cook and with ingredients easily found at a regular grocery store. And I figured most of you don’t have ground dried shrimp or preserved salted radishes in your cupboard 🙂

I also wanted to make the pad Thai sauce recipe without tamarind since tamarind is also not a common ingredient in most kitchens.

The recipe is a blend of authentic and western style. It includes the 5 tastes – sweet, sour, salty, bitter and savory/umami – but replaces a few of the ingredients you would typically use to make an authentic version.

In the comparative lists below, you can see that most of the core ingredients are the same. Unless you’re a purist, I’m pretty confident you will love this Thai noodle dish.

Authentic Pad Thai

Rice stick noodles
Fish Sauce
Soy sauce (Thai)
Crushed peanuts
Bean sprouts
Egg
Tofu, chicken and/or shrimp
Other ingredients
- Tamarind
- Garlic chives
- Chilis
- Ground dried shrimp
- Preserved salted radishes

Best Pad Thai Recipe

Rice stick noodles
Fish Sauce
Soy sauce (low sodium)
Crushed peanuts
Bean sprouts
Egg
Tofu, chicken and/or shrimp
Other ingredients
- Rice vinegar
- Scallions & garlic
- Sriracha
- Carrots and/or peppers
- Peanut butter and cilantro (optional)

So skip the takeout and make the best pad Thai recipe (in our humble opinion). This easy recipe really delivers. You’ll be asking why you didn’t try it sooner.

What to serve with pad Thai

Although this Thai noodle recipe is a complete meal on its own, you can round it out with one of these simple side dishes: a cucumber salad with everyone’s favorite Japanese salad dressing (carrot ginger) or a Thai mango salad.

Tailor To Your Taste

Protein:

Traditional pad Thai recipes include firm tofu. Nowadays, Thai restaurants serve chicken pad Thai and shrimp pad Thai. Vegetarians will stick to the tofu of course. Otherwise, include whatever you prefer. Even beef.

Noodles:

If at all possible, buy rice noodles – fairly thin, less than 1/4 inch (2-3cm).
Wheat noodles like spaghetti just aren’t the same in this dish, but use them in a pinch.

Fish sauce:

Fish sauce is made of fermented fish and shellfish mixed with salt. When added to dishes, it does not taste like fish and it’s a staple in Thai and Vietnamese dishes.
I know that fish sauce freaks some people out. I was one of those, but I’m now a convert. If you can’t eat it or don’t want to, we have listed several substitutes in the recipe notes, including for vegans and vegetarians.

Substitutes:

No bean sprouts? Leave them out or use shredded nappa cabbage
No peanuts? Use crushed roasted almonds in a pinch. Peanuts are better though.
No peanut butter? Leave it out, but it does add a nice richness and flavor
No sriracha? Use red pepper flakes instead.
Need a vegetarian version: Use tofu as the protein and one of the substitutes for fish sauce.
We use rice vinegar, but if you have tamarind, use it – about half the amount – as it’s a key ingredient in authentic pad Thai.
No red bell pepper or carrots? Leave them out or just use more of what you have.

Shortcuts

A really great shortcut is using cooked rotisserie or leftover chicken – instead of pan frying fresh chicken. I do this all the time.
You can also buy cooked shrimp.

Make Ahead options

Hour ahead: The finished Pad Thai dish is best fresh off the stove, but if necessary, you can make it up to an hour ahead then warm it up. I find the best way to reheat it is in the microwave for a minute or two. Alternatively, heat it in the skillet or wok on the stove, adding a tablespoon or two of water.
Day ahead: The pad Thai sauce and any proteins you are going to use can be made a day or two ahead.
Freezer option: Freeze pad Thai in a sealed container after it’s cooled. Reheat in the microwave with a splash of water.

Other Thai recipes you might like

Thai grilled chicken
chicken lemon orzo soup Thai-style
Thai curried shrimp and vegetables
3 minute Thai green curry paste
shrimp chowder Thai style
Thai mango salad

How to make pad Thai

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Rate this recipe here

4.96 from 42 votes

Best Pad Thai Recipe

Equipment

▢
non stick skillet or wok

Ingredients

▢ 4 ounces (125g) flat rice noodles less than 1/4 inch (2-3 mm) wide
▢ 1 1/2 tablespoon vegetable oil, divided (or 1/2 tbsp if using tofu or cooked shrimp, chicken)
▢ 8 ounces (225g or 1.5 cups) tofu, shrimp or chicken, Note 1 Shortcut: use cubed leftover or rotisserie chicken or plain uncooked tofu.
▢ 3 garlic cloves, minced (3 tsp)
▢ 3 green onions, cut into 1 inch pieces
▢ 1 1/2 cup julienned carrots or red bell pepper or combination about 1/2 pepper, 1 medium carrot
▢ 2 eggs
▢ 1 cup bean sprouts

Pad Thai Sauce

▢ 2 tablespoon fish sauce Note 2
▢ 2 tablespoon soy sauce, low sodium
▢ 1/4 cup (50g) brown sugar
▢ 2 tablespoon rice vinegar (or 1 1/2 tbsp tamarind paste)
▢ 1 tablespoon sriracha for mild-medium spicy
▢ 2 tablespoon smooth peanut butter

Garnish

▢ lime wedges
▢ 1/2 cup dry roasted peanuts, crushed
▢ 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro (or parsley)

Instructions

SOFTEN NOODLES: Make noodles according to package instructions. Typically, place in bowl with warm-hot water for 5-7 minutes or until soft. Drain and rinse under cold water if not using right away to keep them from sticking.
MAKE PAD THAI SAUCE: While the noodles are soaking, whisk all sauce ingredients together is a small bowl or measuring cup. Set aside.
COOK SHRIMP, TOFU OR CHICKEN (if needed): If using fresh chicken or shrimp and/or tofu, see Note 1 for cooking instructions. Tofu doesn't need to be cooked (up to you). You can use leftover, rotisserie or precooked chicken or shrimp. Just cut into small pieces – and skip this step.
SAUTE VEGGIES: Heat pan to medium-high heat and add 1/2 tablespoon oil. Add green onions, carrots and peppers. Saute 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook another 30 seconds.
COOK EGGS: Move veggies to one side of pan. Crack eggs into pan. As they cook, break them up and scramble them with a spatula or wooden spoon into little pieces, about 1 minute.
ASSEMBLE PAD THAI: Add protein (chicken, shrimp or tofu), half of bean sprouts, cooked noodles (I run them under hot tap water to warm them up), half of cilantro and sauce. Toss with tongs to coat everything with sauce and heat through. If too dry, add 1-2 tbsp water. Transfer to platter and garnish with remaining bean sprouts, crushed peanuts, cilantro and lime wedges. Serve immediately.

Recipe Notes

To cook protein (tofu, shrimp, chicken).
- You can add one, two or all 3 proteins. If adding more than one, use less than 8 ounces (225g) of each to ensure adequate sauciness of pad Thai.
- Tofu – traditional and vegetarian option
  - Squeeze water out of tofu, cut into small rectangles. Set aside if using uncooked which is fine. To pan fry, dust with salt and cornstarch, pan fry for a few minutes to crisp up. Set aside.
- Chicken
  - Easiest way: chop up a rotisserie or leftover chicken breast or thighs.
  - For fresh chicken, slice into thin slices, sprinkle with salt and pepper, heat oil in pan to medium high and stir fry for 2-3 minutes. Set aside.
- Shrimp
  - For shortcut, buy cooked shrimp and cut into pieces
  - For fresh shrimp, pat dry, sprinkle with salt and pepper, heat oil in pan to medium high, and stir fry for 2-3 minutes just until they turn opaque. Set aside.
Fish Sauce substitutes
- If you can’t eat it or don’t want to use fish sauce, here are some substitutes you can use:
  - Soy sauce or tamari (but it won’t have the same depth of taste).
  - Worcestershire (note this has anchovies in it).Use half the amount.
  - Recipe forVegan Fish Saucefrom Food52.
  - Recipe forVegetarian Fish Sauceusing mushrooms by Cook’s Illustrated.
Other substitutes
- No bean sprouts? Leave them out or use shredded nappa cabbage
- No peanuts? Use crushed roasted almonds in a pinch. Peanuts are better though.
- Need a vegetarian version? Use tofu and eggs for protein and one of the fish sauce substitutes.
- No peanut butter? leave it out, but it does add a nice richness and flavor
- No red pepper or carrots? leave them out or just use more of what you have.
Make Ahead options
1. Day ahead: The pad Thai sauce and any proteins you are going to use can be made a day or two ahead.
2. Hour ahead: The finished Pad Thai dish is best fresh off the stove, but if necessary, you can make it up to an hour ahead then warm it up. I find the best way to reheat it is in the microwave for a minute or two. Alternatively, heat it in the skillet or wok on the stove, adding a tablespoon or two of water.
3. Freezer option: Freeze pad Thai in a sealed container after it’s cooled. Reheat in the microwave with a splash of water.

Nutrition values are estimates and will depend on type of proteins used, vegetables, how much garnish, etc.

Nutrition

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This recipe was inspired by 4 others – My Modern Cookery, Tastes Better from Scratch, Feasting at Home and Cooking Classy.