Pad Thai is one of Thailand’s most beloved street foods. This stir-fried noodle dish strikes all the right notes and offers the perfect balance of salty, sour, sweet, and savory flavors. Satisfying all taste buds and perfectly filling, pad Thai is also exceptionally easy to make at home. You just need a few simple, high-quality ingredients and you can recreate this classic street food at home. At International Fresh Market, we have everything you need to make pad Thai at our Asian food store. Discover how to make it and make plans to pick up the essentials at our storefront!
What Makes Pad Thai Unique?
Pad Thai is unique due to the combination of flavors. It includes soy sauce or fish sauce for depth and umami, tamarind for a tasty “tang,” chilies for a spicy kick, and palm sugar for a touch of sweetness. There’s also a feast of textures in pad Thai. As you dig in, you’ll enjoy crunchy peanuts, chewy noodles, and crispy vegetables.
There’s truly something for everyone in pad Thai! Plus, it’s customizable. You can include chicken, tofu, or shrimp as your protein in pad Thai. Why not try a combination of all three?
Key Ingredients You’ll Need
To make pad Thai at home, you just need a handful of ingredients. Here’s what you need:
- Rice noodles: Rice noodles are light and chewy, the foundation of pad Thai.
- Tamarind paste: A thick paste that provides signature tangy flavor.
- Soy sauce or fish sauce: Necessary to create umami and depth of flavor.
- Brown sugar (or palm sugar): For a touch of sweetness that’s not overwhelming.
- Protein of choice: Chicken, shrimp, or tofu.
- Vegetables of choice: Traditional options include scallions, garlic, and bean sprouts.
- Peanuts and lime: These add garnish and brightness to the dish.
All of these ingredients can be found at International Fresh Market. Our friendly associates are always happy to help you find everything on your list.
Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions
It only takes about 45 minutes to make pad Thai. Start by prepping the noodles. Soak rice noodles in warm water until pliable, and while they are soaking, make the sauce. Mix together tamarind paste, soy or fish sauce, and sugar. Whisk until well-combined and adjust as needed for sweetness and tang.
Cook the protein of your choice until almost done, and then add the noodles and sauce. Mix everything together well. Push the cooked noodles to one side and scramble an egg in the open space of the pan. Fold the noodles with the cooked egg, and add in the bean sprouts and scallions. Once the noodles, veggies, and proteins are combined and fully cooked, top with crushed peanuts, lime wedges, and chili flakes (optional) for heat. For the best results, work quickly over high heat. This will give you the most authentic stir-fry taste and texture.
Pad Thai Variations & Tips
There are a lot of ways to change up pad Thai and make it your own. You can skip the fish sauce and use mushroom sauce instead for stronger umami flavor, or kick up the spice quota with Thai bird’s eye chilies or chili paste. To make pad Thai even healthier, swap out the rice noodles for zucchini noodles, or add extra vegetables. To make prep time even faster, chop ingredients ahead of time.
International Fresh Market Is Your Local Asian Food Store
Pad Thai is not only delicious and flavorful, but it’s quick to make in the comfort of your own home, with minimal ingredients. Stop by International Fresh Market to pick up everything you need, and discover how easy it can be to indulge in authentic Thai cooking. Our Asian food store is full of high-quality options for any variation you want to make.
