Authentic Pad Thai Recipe: How to Make the Most Famous Thai Dish

Ingredients

To make authentic Pad Thai, you will need:

- 8 oz. of dried rice noodles
- 1/2 cup of vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 shallot, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup of roasted unsalted peanuts, chopped
- 1/2 cup of bean sprouts
- 1/4 cup of chopped fresh coriander leaves
- 2 limes, cut into wedges

For the sauce:

- 3 tablespoons of fish sauce
- 2 tablespoons of tamarind paste
- 2 tablespoons of palm sugar
- 1 teaspoon of red chili flakes

Preparation

1. Soak the dried rice noodles in warm water for 30 minutes until they soften. Drain and set aside.
2. In a wok or large skillet, heat the vegetable oil over high heat. Add garlic and shallot and cook until golden brown.
3. Push the garlic and shallot to one side of the wok, crack in the eggs, and scramble them in the oil, mixing with the garlic and shallot once they’re cooked.
4. Add the soaked and drained rice noodles and the sauce to the wok. Use chopsticks or tongs to mix everything together.
5. Stir fry the mixture for about 2 minutes. Add the chopped peanuts and continue frying for another minute.
6. Add the bean sprouts and stir fry for another 30 seconds. Remove from heat and sprinkle the fresh coriander on top.
7. Serve hot with lime wedges on the side.

Tips for the Perfect Pad Thai

- Use a wok or a large skillet to make sure you have enough space to move the noodles around while cooking.
- Don’t overcook the rice noodles, as they will become mushy and lose their flavor.
- Make sure you have all the ingredients prepared and ready to go before starting, as Pad Thai is a quick dish to cook.
- Adjust the ingredients to suit your taste, adding more or less fish sauce, sugar, or chili flakes according to your preference.