Pad Thai (Thailand)

Cooking Time: 25 minutes

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting Thailand or enjoyed Thai food at a restaurant, chances are you've come across Pad Thai. It is sold on nearly every soi (street) corner, from the bustling metropolis of Bangkok to the provinces and villages of Thailand. This beloved dish is a street food staple, combining rice noodles, vegetables, and proteins with an irresistible sweet, salty, and slightly tangy sauce. It's the kind of meal that excites your taste buds with a perfect balance of flavors. Try it out, and enjoy a little slice of Thailand right from your own kitchen!

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Ingredients (Serves 4)

• 400g rice noodles

• 300g shrimp, chicken, or tofu (or a mix)

• 4 eggs

• 4 tablespoons tamarind paste

• 3 tablespoons fish sauce (or soy sauce for vegetarian)

• 2 tablespoons soy sauce

• 2 tablespoons brown sugar (or palm sugar)

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

• 2 cups bean sprouts

• 4 green onions, chopped

• ½ cup crushed peanuts

• 2 limes, cut into wedges

• Red chili flakes (optional, for heat)

• Fresh cilantro (optional, for garnish)

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Instructions

Prepare the noodles

• Soak the rice noodles in warm water for 15-20 minutes or until softened. Drain and set aside.

Make the sauce

• In a bowl, combine the tamarind paste, fish sauce, soy sauce, and sugar. Stir until the sugar dissolves.

Cook the protein

• Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large pan or wok over medium heat. Add shrimp, chicken, or tofu, and cook until done (shrimp turns pink, chicken is cooked through, or tofu is golden). Remove from the pan and set aside.

Scramble the eggs

• In the same pan, add the remaining oil and scramble the eggs until fully cooked. Push them to one side of the pan.

Stir-fry the noodles and sauce

• Add the drained noodles and sauce to the pan, mixing everything together. Stir well to coat the noodles in the sauce. Add the cooked protein back into the pan.

Add the vegetables

• Toss in the bean sprouts and green onions, stirring for another 2-3 minutes until everything is well combined and heated through.

Serve

• Divide the Pad Thai into four portions. Garnish with crushed peanuts, lime wedges, chili flakes (if desired), and fresh cilantro.