Pad Thai is an iconic dish of Thai cuisine, loved for its balanced flavors and satisfying texture. This dish is perfect for a quick and delicious dinner, combining stir-fried noodles, crunchy vegetables, and your choice of protein. Discover how to prepare this traditional dish at home with this simple recipe.

Why should you try Pad Thai?

• Unique flavor: Pad Thai offers the perfect balance of sour, sweet, spicy, and salty flavors, creating a distinctive and unforgettable dining experience.
• A Thai culinary icon: It is one of Thailand’s most famous national dishes, representing Thai food culture and loved by travelers from around the world.
• Easy to find: You can enjoy Pad Thai almost anywhere, from upscale restaurants to street food stalls, with options available at a wide range of prices.
• Balanced meal: With ingredients such as shrimp, tofu, eggs, bean sprouts, and peanuts, Pad Thai is both delicious and nutritious.
• Easy to prepare: It is a simple and quick dish that you can easily make at home while still keeping its characteristic flavor.

Ingredients for Pad Thai

• 300 g Pad Thai noodles (flat rice noodles, 5 mm wide)
• 80 ml chicken broth
• 230 g chicken breast
• 230 g shrimp
• 2 eggs
• 200 g firm tofu
• 100 g peanuts
• 1 pinch of salt
• 15 g garlic, minced
• 50 g spring onions, chopped
• 35 g Asian chives, cut into 5 cm pieces
• 100 g bean sprouts
• ½ tsp chili powder (optional)
• 1 lime, cut into wedges
• Fresh coriander (for serving)
• 2 tbsp tamarind paste
• 2 tbsp fish sauce
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp palm sugar
• 2 tbsp chili sauce
• ½ tsp ground pepper
• Or: ready-to-use Pad Thai sauce (available from us) instead of these sauces
• Cooking oil

Preparing Pad Thai

1. Prepare the noodles

Soak the Pad Thai noodles in cold water for 15 minutes until softened.

2. Cut the ingredients

Cut the chicken breast into thin strips and halve the shrimp.

Cut the tofu into cubes.

Mince the garlic, chop the spring onions, cut the Asian chives into 5 cm pieces, and wash the bean sprouts.

Roast the peanuts with a pinch of salt, then crush them.

3. Prepare the Pad Thai sauce

Mix 2 tablespoons of tamarind paste, 2 tablespoons of fish sauce, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 2 tablespoons of palm sugar, ½ teaspoon of chili powder, ½ teaspoon of ground pepper, and 2 tablespoons of chili sauce. Stir until the mixture is smooth and well combined.

If you are using ready-made Pad Thai sauce, you can skip this step.

4. Sauté the garlic

Heat a little oil in a large frying pan or wok. Sauté the garlic until golden and fragrant.

5. Cook the chicken and shrimp

Add the chicken and shrimp and stir-fry until fully cooked.

6. Add the tofu and noodles

Add the tofu and noodles and mix well.

7. Scramble the eggs

Add the eggs directly to the pan and scramble them into the other ingredients.

8. Add the sauce

Pour in the prepared sauce and mix well so that all the ingredients are evenly coated. Continue cooking until most of the liquid has evaporated.

9. Add the vegetables

Add the spring onions, Asian chives, and bean sprouts. Stir-fry for another 1–2 minutes.

10. Serve

Serve the Pad Thai hot, topped with crushed peanuts, a few drops of lime juice, and fresh coriander if desired.

Tips for customizing your Pad Thai

Vegetarian: Replace the animal proteins with tofu and use vegan sauces.

Spicy: Add more chili powder or chili sauce according to your taste.

Extra indulgent: Add roasted cashews or sesame seeds for a crunchy touch.

Conclusion

With this homemade Pad Thai recipe, you can enjoy this classic Thai dish in no time. It is an ideal choice for a quick, balanced, and flavor-packed meal. Try it tonight and enjoy a dish that is sure to delight your taste buds!