This Homemade Pad Thai recipe is restaurant-quality; it is delicious, saucy, and the noodles are perfectly cooked. With ingredients ready, stir-frying takes less than 15 minutes!
Jump to:
Ingredients you'll need
Notes and substitutions
- Dried rice noodles: These noodles, also called rice sticks, are thin and flat. Choose the medium-width (Size M) variety.
- Dried shrimp: These are tiny, umami-rich dehydrated shrimp with a concentrated flavor; a little goes a long way.
- Bean sprouts: Use mung bean sprouts (not soybean sprouts) with their smaller beans and thick, crunchy stems. They add freshness and make the dish lighter.
- Tamarind concentrate or paste: I used a Thai brand of liquid tamarind-its pulp tastes tangy or sour with the texture and sweetness of dates.
- Sriracha: It adds color and a little heat. It's okay to omit it if you don't have it, add more paprika instead.
- Paprika: It adds color but won't make it spicy. Use regular or sweet paprika with a very mild flavor. You can use smoked paprika but make sure it isn't the hot variety.
How to make this recipe
Step 1: Soak 6 ounces of dried rice noodles in hot water for about 5 minutes or in warm water for 30 minutes until opaque and soft. Drain and set aside.
Step 2: Finely chop 2 tablespoons of dried shrimp.
Step 3: Crush or finely chop ¼ cup of peanuts.
Step 4: Place 7 ounces (½ block) of cut-up tofu on a paper towel to drain excess water.
Step 5: Season 6 ounces of boneless chicken with salt and pepper.
Step 6: Dry 6 ounces of shrimp on a paper towel and season with salt and pepper.
Step 7: Make the sauce by combining ¼ cup tamarind concentrate, 3 tablespoons fish sauce, ¼ cup brown sugar, 2 teaspoons Sriracha, ¼ cup water, and 1 teaspoon paprika in a cup. Set it aside.
Step 10: Over medium heat, sauté 4 garlic cloves, 1 shallot, and dried shrimp for about a minute. If using baked tofu, add it at this time. Add the chicken and cook until no longer pink.
Step 11: Add the noodles and the sauce.
Step 12: Toss them together until the noodles mostly absorb the sauce. Try the noodles to see if they are cooked. You may add a splash of water if it begins to dry up.
Step 13: Push the noodles to one side, add some oil, and then add 2 eggs. Break the yolks and let them partially cook for a minute. Scramble and mix them into the noodles.
Step 14: Add 1 cup of bean sprouts, crushed peanuts, and 4 scallions. Toss them together.
Step 15: Mix in the shrimp and tofu. Serve immediately.
Garnish your Homemade Pad Thai with lime, crushed peanuts, chili powder, and more bean sprouts.
Recipe FAQs
Pad Thai is a popular Thai stir-fried noodle dish made with rice noodles, eggs, tofu or shrimp, bean sprouts, and other ingredients such as peanuts, lime, and cilantro. It has a tangy and slightly sweet sauce made from tamarind paste, fish sauce, and palm sugar.
Pad Thai is best eaten fresh to avoid the noodles from clumping together as they cool. You can prepare the ingredients in advance. It takes less than 15 minutes to stir-fry when everything is ready.
If you have a wok, use it to get that smokiness or wok hei. You may also use a skillet or a sauté pan that is large enough for the ingredients to come in contact with the hot pan.
Other noodles and pasta recipes you may like
Did you make this recipe? I would love to know! Your feedback helps me make better recipes. Please rate, review, or comment below. Questions about this recipe are welcome, too!
Let's connect on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, Twitter, and Youtube. Be sure to tag me when you try any of my recipes @recipesbynora!
📖 Recipe
Homemade Pad Thai
Equipment
- A wok, skillet, or sauté pan
Ingredients
For the Stir-fry:
- 6 ounces dried rice noodles medium-width (see note)
- 6 ounces large shrimp peeled and deveined
- 7 ounces (½ block) extra-firm tofu or baked tofu bite-size pieces
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 small shallot sliced or minced
- 2 tablespoons dried shrimp finely chopped (see note)
- 6 ounces boneless chicken breast or thighs sliced thinly
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup mung bean sprouts (see note)
- ¼ cup fried or roasted peanuts crushed or finely chopped
- 4 scallions or garlic chives cut into 2-inch sections
- oil (canola, vegetable, or olive) for searing & sautéing
For the sauce:
- ¼ cup tamarind paste or concentrate (see note)
- 3 tablespoons fish sauce
- ¼ cup brown sugar or palm sugar
- 2 teaspoons Sriracha (see note)
- ¼ cup water
- 1 teaspoon paprika (see note)
To serve (optional)
- Lime wedges
- Crushed peanuts
- Mung bean sprouts
- Chili powder or red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Soak rice noodles in hot water for about 5 minutes or in warm water for 30 minutes until opaque and soft. Drain and set aside.
- Make the sauce by combining tamarind concentrate, fish sauce, brown sugar, Sriracha, water, and paprika in a cup. Set it aside.
- Place tofu on a paper towel to drain excess water.
- Season chicken and shrimp with salt and pepper.
- Over high heat, sear the shrimp in a bit of oil for about a minute on each side. Transfer to a plate.
- Add more oil (as needed) and sear tofu on both sides. Set aside.
- Over medium heat, sauté garlic, shallot, and dried shrimp for about a minute. If using baked tofu, add it at this time.
- Add the chicken and cook until no longer pink.
- Add noodles and the sauce. Toss them together until the noodles mostly absorb the sauce. Try the noodles to see if they are cooked. You may add a splash of water if it begins to dry up.
- Push the noodles to one side, add some oil, and then add the eggs. Break the yolks and let them partially cook for a minute. Scramble and mix them into the noodles.
- Add bean sprouts, crushed peanuts, and scallions. Toss them together.
- Mix in shrimp and tofu. Serve immediately.
- Garnish with lime, crushed peanuts, chili powder, and more bean sprouts.
Notes
- Dried rice noodles: These noodles, also called rice sticks, are thin and flat. Choose the medium-width (Size M) variety.
- Dried shrimp: These are tiny, umami-rich dehydrated shrimp with a concentrated flavor; a little goes a long way.
- Bean sprouts: Use mung bean sprouts (not soybean sprouts) with their smaller beans and thick, crunchy stems. They add freshness and make the dish lighter.
- Tamarind concentrate or paste: I used a Thai brand of liquid tamarind-its pulp tastes tangy or sour with the texture and sweetness of dates.
- Sriracha: It adds color and a little heat. It's okay to omit it if you don't have it, add more paprika instead.
- Paprika: It adds color but won't make it spicy. Use regular or sweet paprika with a very mild flavor. You can use smoked paprika but make sure it isn't the hot variety.
Bim says
One if my favorite Thai food. I cooked this today and my husband lives it. Easy to make and so yummy more tastier than the Pad Thai in the restaurant where we eat. Thank you Nora!
Nora Rey says
That's wonderful to hear! I'm thrilled you enjoyed making and savoring your homemade Pad Thai. There's something special about preparing it yourself, and it's even better when it's tastier than the restaurant version!