Making an authentic Thai Pad Thai at home may seem daunting, but with the right ingredients and techniques, it can be just as good as the one from a street vendor. The ingredients required for the dish include Thai rice noodles, shrimp, peanut oil, garlic, tamarind paste, fish sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, bean sprouts, scallions, roasted unsalted peanuts, eggs, lime, and cilantro. The steps to prepare the dish include soaking the rice noodles, prepping the shrimp and other ingredients, preparing the sauce, frying the eggs, cooking the shrimp and garlic, adding the sauce and noodles, and finally adding the remaining ingredients and serving with lime wedges on the side.
The Secrets to Making Authentic Thai Pad Thai
Introduction
If you’re a fan of Thai cuisine, you must have tried Pad Thai at some point. A staple of Thai street food, it’s a tasty and effortless way to enjoy the flavors of Thailand. While Pad Thai may seem simple, making it at home can be daunting for some; getting the balance of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy flavors and the perfect consistency can be a bit tricky. However, with the right recipe, ingredients, and techniques, you can create an authentic Pad Thai that is just as good as, if not better than, the one you’d find at a Thai street vendor.
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you will need to make authentic Thai Pad Thai:
- 8 oz. Thai rice noodles
- 1/2 lb. shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 Tbsp. peanut oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup tamarind paste
- 3 Tbsp. fish sauce
- 1 Tbsp. oyster sauce
- 1 Tbsp. sugar
- 1/2 cup bean sprouts
- 1/4 cup chopped scallions
- 1/2 cup chopped roasted unsalted peanuts
- 2 eggs
- 1 lime, cut into wedges
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
Instructions
Now that you have your ingredients ready let’s start making Pad Thai step by step:
Step 1: Soak the Rice Noodles
Put the rice noodles in a large bowl and cover them with warm water. Let it soak for 30 minutes, until soft and pliable.
Step 2: Prep the Shrimp and Other Ingredients
Peel and devein the shrimp if you haven’t already done it. Clean and chop the bean sprouts, scallions, peanuts, and cilantro. Keep these ingredients aside until needed.
Step 3: Prepare the Sauce
In a small bowl, mix together the tamarind paste, fish sauce, oyster sauce, and sugar. Stir well until the sugar dissolves.
Step 4: Fry the Eggs
Heat a wok or large frying pan over high heat. Add one Tbsp. of peanut oil. Beat the eggs in a separate bowl, and then pour them into the wok/pan. Cook the eggs, stirring them occasionally until they’re scrambled and lightly browned. Remove them and set them aside in a separate dish.
Step 5: Cook the Shrimp and Garlic
In the same wok/pan, add another Tbsp. of peanut oil. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until it becomes fragrant. Add the shrimp and cook for 3-4 minutes, flipping them occasionally until they’re lightly browned and cooked through.
Step 6: Add the Sauce and Noodles
Add the sauce mixture to the wok/pan, and stir well. Drain the rice noodles and add them to the wok/pan, stirring until they are coated with the sauce. Continue cooking for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently until the noodles absorb the sauce and become slightly tender.
Step 7: Add Remaining Ingredients and Serve
Once the noodles are done, add the scrambled eggs, chopped bean sprouts, and scallions, mix well. Turn off the heat, and sprinkle the peanuts over the top. Give it a final stir, and serve with lime wedges on the side. Garnish with chopped cilantro.
Conclusion
Pad Thai may seem complicated to make, but with practice and the right recipe and technique, you can make an authentic Pad Thai at home in no time. Use fresh and quality ingredients for the best results. Once you’ve mastered the technique, you can experiment with different proteins and vegetables to make your version of Pad Thai. Enjoy!