How to: Authentic Shrimp Pad Thai Noodles Recipe

shrimp

🥗Healthier: chicken

💰Cheaper: tofu

Tofu is plant-based and often more affordable.

fish sauce

🥗Healthier: soy sauce

💰Cheaper: soy sauce

Soy sauce is easier to find and lower in sodium.

tamarind paste

🥗Healthier: lime juice

💰Cheaper: vinegar

Lime juice adds acidity with lower cost.

peanuts

🥗Healthier: sunflower seeds

💰Cheaper: cashews

Sunflower seeds are nut-free and budget-friendly.

Start by making the Pad Thai sauce.

Use about 1/2 cup of whole Asian small shallots and set aside.

Scrape small pieces of palm sugar from a medium chunk.

For saltiness, use fish sauce or soy sauce for a vegan version.

For sourness, mix tamarind pulp with warm water to create tamarind paste.

Rub the tamarind pulp to remove fibers, then strain into a bowl to extract the juice.

Use about 250 milliliters of tamarind paste and store the rest in the fridge.

Chop Thai garlic and set aside.

Cut dried red chilies open, remove seeds, and wear gloves during this process.

In a pot of boiling water, add shallots, garlic, and chilies, and simmer on low heat for 10 to 15 minutes until soft.

Blend the mixture into a smooth sauce, then return it to the pot.

Add fish sauce, tamarind paste, palm sugar, and salt to the sauce and stir well.

Simmer the sauce for about 20 minutes until thick, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.

Let the sauce cool while preparing other ingredients for Pad Thai.

Cut pressed tofu into 1.5 centimeter strips and then into small cubes.

Thinly slice shallots and finely chop garlic, placing them in a bowl.

Chop Chai Po and add to the bowl with tofu.

Roughly chop Goong Haeng and add to the bowl.

Cut garlic chives into 1.5 inch pieces and set aside.

Prepare bean sprouts, crushed peanuts, and chili powder.

Soak medium size rice noodles in water for about 30 minutes, then drain before cooking.

Prepare shrimp by cutting off the head, removing the skin, and deveining them.

Gather all ingredients next to the cooking stove for convenience.

Heat a wok and add cooking oil.

Add all ingredients from the bowl to the wok and stir until shallots and garlic turn golden yellow.

Add the soaked noodles to the wok and toss quickly, then add the Pad Thai sauce.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens