Pad thai

The dish now known as pad Thai was likely first created in the 1930s, in the central Thai city of Ayutthaya. At the time, Ayutthaya was the capital of Siam, and the dish was likely inspired by the Chinese stir-fries that were popular in the city. It is said that the dish was created by a street vendor who wanted to appeal to both Thai and Chinese customers.

The dish quickly became popular, and soon spread throughout Thailand. It can now be found all over the world, and is one of the most popular Thai dishes.

There are many different recipes for pad Thai, but the dish typically includes rice noodles, tofu, eggs, and a variety of vegetables. It is often seasoned with fish sauce, tamarind, lime juice, and chili peppers.

Advice

Making pad thai is a great way to enjoy a Thai classic without having to eat out. To make the best pad thai, start by gathering all the ingredients you need. Make sure to have good quality ingredients such as fresh rice noodles, fish sauce, tamarind paste, and bean sprouts. To make the sauce, mix together the fish sauce, tamarind paste, and palm sugar. Once the sauce is ready and the noodles are cooked, stir fry the noodles in a wok or skillet with a tablespoon of oil. Add the vegetables and the sauce to the noodles and cook until everything is hot and the vegetables are tender. Top the noodles with crushed peanuts, a squeeze of fresh lime juice, and cilantro if desired. Enjoy the delicious pad thai!

Questions

What does Pad Thai consist of?

Pad Thai is a Thai stir-fried noodle dish made with thin rice noodles, eggs, tofu, bean sprouts, peanuts, and a sauce made from tamarind paste, fish sauce, garlic, chilies, and palm sugar. It is often garnished with fresh lime, cilantro, and chopped peanuts.

Why is Pad Thai so healthy?

Pad Thai is a healthy dish because it contains a variety of fresh vegetables and lean proteins. It is typically made with stir-fried rice noodles, eggs, tofu, fish sauce, tamarind paste, garlic, and bean sprouts, all of which are healthy and nutritious. The dish is also low in fat and calories, making it an ideal meal for those looking to watch their waistline.

Why is Pad Thai so popular?

Pad Thai is so popular because it is a delicious, flavorful dish that is relatively easy to make. The combination of rice noodles, egg, fish sauce, tamarind, garlic, chilies and peanuts creates a unique and delicious flavor. Additionally, Pad Thai is an incredibly versatile dish that can be customized with different toppings and ingredients, making it a good choice for a variety of tastes.

How is Pad Thai traditionally made?

Pad Thai is traditionally made by stir-frying thin rice noodles with eggs, tofu, and a mix of aromatics such as garlic, chilies, shallots, and tamarind paste. The noodles are then tossed with a mixture of fish sauce, sugar, lime juice, and sometimes other ingredients such as dried shrimp, salted radish, and peanuts. The dish is then served garnished with chopped roasted peanuts, bean sprouts, and spring onions.

Is Pad Thai spicy or sweet?

Pad Thai can be either spicy or sweet, depending on the ingredients used.

Is Pad Thai a healthy meal?

Yes, Pad Thai can be a healthy meal. It is typically made with rice noodles, vegetables, and proteins such as shrimp or chicken. The ingredients are usually low in fat, making it a healthy option. The combination of ingredients also provides good sources of fiber, protein, and vitamins. However, Pad Thai can be high in sodium, so it is important to watch the amount of sodium in the dish.

Jump to: Ingredient Breakdown Insights

Recipes

  /public/tastes-better-from-scratch-logo.svg

Pad Thai

  • bean sprout
  • soy sauce
  • sriracha hot sauce
  • bell pepper
  • peanut
  • cilantro
  • peanut butter
  • rice vinegar
  • egg
  • lime
  • fish sauce
  • oil
  • garlic
  • green onion
  • light brown sugar
  • flat rice noodle
  • shrimp
  /public/nytimes-logo.svg

Pad Thai

  • mung bean sprout
  • garlic
  • napa cabbage
  • peanut
  • shrimp
  • red pepper flake
  • honey
  • cilantro
  • green onion
  • fish sauce
  • peanut oil
  • tamarind paste
  • rice vinegar
  • egg
  • lime
  • fettuccine width rice noodle
  /public/recipe-tin-eats-logo.svg

Pad Thai

  • beansprout
  • oyster sauce
  • tamarind puree
  • tofu
  • onion
  • chang' pad thai rice
  • peanut
  • garlic chive
  • chicken breast
  • fish sauce
  • egg
  • garlic
  • vegetable
  • brown sugar
  • chilli
  • lime
  • beansprout
  /public/thespruceeats-logo.svg

Chicken Pad Thai

  • cornstarch
  • cilantro
  • chili sauce
  • peanut
  • chicken stock
  • chicken breast
  • olive oil
  • chile
  • bean sprout
  • fish sauce
  • soy sauce
  • green onion
  • tamarind paste
  • brown sugar
  • garlic
  • rice noodle
  • lime
  /public/nytimes-logo.svg

Shrimp Pad Thai

  • NOODLES
  • peanut
  • garlic chive
  • shrimp
  • garlic
  • thai sweet preserved radish
  • bean sprout
  • shallot
  • vegetable oil
  • egg
  • sen lek
  • superfirm tofu
  • SAUCE
  • coconut
  • fish sauce
  • tamarind liquid
  /public/thespruceeats-logo.svg

Easy Pad Thai

  • egg
  • lime juice
  • galangal
  • chicken breast
  • lime
  • shrimp
  • soy sauce
  • chicken stock
  • peanut
  • cayenne pepper
  • red chile
  • bean sprout
  • fish sauce
  • vegetable oil
  • rice vinegar
  • garlic
  • brown sugar
  • green onion
  • rice noodle
  /public/thespruceeats-logo.svg

Easy Homemade Chicken Pad Thai

  • egg
  • lime juice
  • soy sauce
  • ginger
  • green chile
  • lime
  • chicken stock
  • peanut
  • white pepper
  • fish sauce
  • vegetable oil
  • bean sprout
  • rice vinegar
  • chicken thigh
  • brown sugar
  • garlic
  • green onion
  • pad thai rice noodle
  /public/thespruceeats-logo.svg

Vegetarian Pad Thai

  • chili sauce
  • cilantro
  • peanut
  • egg
  • lime
  • green onion
  • tamarind paste
  • bean sprout
  • vegetable stock
  • brown sugar
  • onion
  • soy sauce
  • bok choy
  • peanut
  • garlic
  /public/thespruceeats-logo.svg

Gluten-Free Shrimp Pad Thai

  • cilantro
  • egg
  • lime juice
  • tamari
  • ginger
  • shrimp
  • chicken stock
  • peanut
  • cayenne pepper
  • fish sauce
  • bean sprout
  • green onion
  • lemon juice
  • vegetable oil
  • garlic
  • brown sugar
  • rice noodle
  /public/bonappetit-logo.svg

Weeknight Pad Thai

  • lime
  • green onion
  • peanut
  • tamarind juice concentrate
  • mung bean sprout
  • fish sauce
  • chili garlic sauce
  • dark brown sugar
  • vegetable oil
  • egg
  • flat pad thai noodle
  /public/foodnetwork-logo.svg

Chicken Pad Thai

  • lime
  • mung bean sprout
  • lime juice
  • egg
  • shallot
  • sriracha
  • bell pepper
  • tofu
  • cilantro
  • peanut
  • brown sugar
  • tamarind paste
  • fish sauce
  • vegetable oil
  • green onion
  • flat rice noodle
  • chicken breast
  /public/the-recipe-critic-logo.svg

Pad Thai

  • bean sprout
  • sriracha
  • bell pepper
  • oil
  • cilantro
  • peanut
  • brown sugar
  • rice vinegar
  • light soy sauce
  • peanut butter
  • egg
  • lime
  • fish sauce
  • garlic
  • green onion
  • chicken breast
  • flat rice noodle
  /public/foodie-crush-logo.png

The BEST Authentic Pad Thai

  • rice vinegar
  • chili powder
  • bean sprout
  • water
  • peanut
  • tamarind paste
  • egg
  • fish sauce
  • sugar
  • vegetable
  • garlic
  • green onion
  • 4andquot flat rice noodle
  • tofu
  • shrimp
  /public/fattoincasadabenedetta-logo.svg

Pad thai

  • aglio
  • anacardi
  • gamberetti
  • germogli di soia
  • olio di cucchiai
  • pasta 'acciughe
  • porri
  • salsa di soia cucchiai
  • spaghetti di riso
  • tofu
  • uovum
  • zucchero cucchiaino
  /public/food52-logo.svg

Tofu Pad Thai

  • chile flake
  • lime
  • oil
  • golf ball tamarind pulp
  • chinese chive
  • seasoning soy sauce
  • vegetable stock
  • garlic
  • shallot
  • preserved radish
  • vegan fish sauce
  • coconut
  • tofu
  • rice
  • mung bean sprout
  /public/the-recipe-critic-logo.svg

Shrimp Pad Thai

  • matchstick carrot
  • shrimp
  • fish sauce
  • sesame oil
  • lime juice
  • bell pepper
  • bean sprout
  • oil
  • brown sugar
  • thai rice noodle
  • peanut
  • rice vinegar
  • garlic
  • green onion
  • cilantro
  • egg
  • sriracha
  • soy sauce
  /public/themodernproper-logo.svg

No Noodle Pad Thai

  • Pad Thai Dresing
  • garlic
  • coconut amino
  • sesame oil
  • white vinegar
  • ginger
  • red curry paste
  • lime
  • coconut milk
  • salt
  • honey
  • almond butter
  • pad thai dressing
  • carrot
  • cilantro
  • almond
  • egg
  • lime
  • green onion
  • sweet potato
  • chicken breast
  • sesame oil
  /public/foodandwine.svg

Seafood Pad Thai

  • chile garlic sauce
  • pad thai rice noodle
  • cilantro
  • ground peanut
  • bay scallop
  • squid
  • rock shrimp
  • carrot
  • fish sauce
  • lime juice
  • oyster sauce
  • sugar
  • vegetable oil
  • garlic
  • egg
  • shallot
  • green onion
  /public/foodandwine.svg

Shrimp Pad Thai

  • bean sprout
  • white vinegar
  • shallot
  • garlic
  • thai preserved sweet radish
  • egg
  • palm sugar
  • peanut
  • fish sauce
  • tamarind concentrate
  • shrimp paste
  • thai chile powder
  • flat rice noodle
  • garlic chive
  • tofu
  • shrimp
  • canola oil
  • shrimp
  /public/saveur-logo.webp

Pad Thai

  • garlic chive
  • peanut
  • radish
  • tamarind paste
  • tomato paste
  • nam pla
  • bean sprout
  • shrimp
  • palm sugar
  • garlic
  • egg
  • lime
  • preserved bean curd
  • shallot
  • shrimp
  • soybean
  • sugar
  • rice noodle
  /public/foodandwine.svg

Scallop Pad Thai

  • chile garlic sauce
  • pad thai rice noodle
  • ground peanut
  • carrot
  • fish sauce
  • lime juice
  • oyster sauce
  • sugar
  • vegetable oil
  • garlic
  • egg
  • shallot
  • bay scallop
  • green onion
  /public/gimmie-some-oven-logo.svg

Pad Thai

  • bean sprout
  • chicken breast
  • rice noodle
  • carrot
  • brown sugar
  • fish sauce
  • red pepper flake
  • soy sauce
  • tamarind concentrate
  • oil
  • egg
  • green onion
  • garlic
  • lime juice
  • peanut
  /public/foodandwine.svg

Steak-and-Eggs Pad Thai

  • bean sprout
  • chile garlic sauce
  • tamarind paste
  • lime
  • pad thai rice noodle
  • ground peanut
  • carrot
  • fish sauce
  • oyster sauce
  • sugar
  • vegetable oil
  • garlic
  • egg
  • shallot
  • skirt steak
  • green onion
  /public/saveur-logo.webp

Andy Ricker's Pad Thai with Pork and Shrimp

  • < href= https www saveur com story recipes thai chile powder >phrik pon khua < >
  • banana blossom
  • lime
  • sugar
  • thai fish sauce
  • garlic chive
  • tofu
  • < href= https www saveur com story recipes palm sugar syrup >palm sugar syrup< >
  • < href= https www saveur com story recipes thai tamarind water >thai tamarind water< >
  • soybean sprout
  • peanut
  • shrimp
  • egg
  • sen lek
  • lard
  • thai radish
  • ground pork
  • shrimp
  Smitten Kitchen

crispy tofu pad thai

  • egg
  • shallot
  • peanut
  • fish sauce
  • sweet preserved radish
  • tamarind concentrate
  • dark brown sugar
  • garlic
  • bean sprout
  • lime
  • garlic chive
  • rice noodle
  • firm tofu
  • thai
  • thai
  • remaining garlic chive
  • vegetable
  /public/foodandwine.svg

Wild Mushroom Pad Thai

  • bean sprout
  • carrot
  • chile garlic sauce
  • tamarind paste
  • pad thai rice noodle
  • soy sauce
  • light brown sugar
  • vegetable oil
  • garlic
  • egg
  • shallot
  • green onion
  • mushroom
  /public/foodandwine.svg

Vegetarian Pad Thai

  • bean sprout
  • chile garlic sauce
  • tamarind paste
  • lime
  • pad thai rice noodle
  • ground peanut
  • soy sauce
  • carrot
  • light brown sugar
  • vegetable oil
  • garlic
  • egg
  • shallot
  • green onion
  /public/saveur-logo.webp

Pad Thai

  • chinese chive
  • peanut
  • radish
  • rice vinegar
  • thai chili powder
  • lime
  • tamarind pulp
  • soybean sprout
  • nam pla
  • shrimp
  • garlic
  • egg
  • smoked
  • palm sugar
  • shallot
  • shrimp
  • vegetable oil
  • flat rice noodle
  /public/foodandwine.svg

Smoked Tofu Pad Thai

  • bean sprout
  • chile garlic sauce
  • tamarind paste
  • lime
  • pad thai rice noodle
  • soy sauce
  • carrot
  • light brown sugar
  • vegetable oil
  • garlic
  • egg
  • shallot
  • green onion
  • smoked tofu
  /public/cookie-and-kate-logo.png

No Noodle Pad Thai

  • cilantro
  • peanut butter
  • bean sprout
  • zucchini
  • tofu
  • lime juice
  • red pepper flake
  • honey
  • sesame seed
  • tamari
  • ginger
  • daikon radish
  • green onion
  • carrot
  • lime
  • water
  /public/foodandwine.svg

Vegan Pad Thai

  • bean sprout
  • chile garlic sauce
  • tamarind paste
  • pad thai rice noodle
  • ground peanut
  • soy sauce
  • carrot
  • light brown sugar
  • vegetable oil
  • garlic
  • shallot
  • green onion

Ingredient Breakdown

 
egg
garlic
lime
peanut
green onion
bean sprout
fish sauce
shrimp
vegetable oil
shallot
cilantro
tamarind paste
soy sauce
carrot
brown sugar
pad thai rice noodle
rice vinegar
tofu
lime juice
sugar
chile garlic sauce
garlic chive
chicken breast
light brown sugar
flat rice noodle
rice noodle
ground peanut
oil
oyster sauce
bell pepper
mung bean sprout
chicken stock
ginger
palm sugar
peanut butter
red pepper flake
honey
vegetable
sriracha
sesame oil
white vinegar
tamarind concentrate
radish
peanut oil
beansprout
tamarind puree
onion
chili sauce
coconut
sen lek
cayenne pepper
vegetable stock
tamari
dark brown sugar
chili powder
water
chinese chive
bay scallop
nam pla
soybean sprout
thai
mushroom
sriracha hot sauce
napa cabbage
fettuccine width rice noodle
chang' pad thai rice
chilli
cornstarch
olive oil
chile
tamarind liquid
thai sweet preserved radish
superfirm tofu
galangal
red chile
green chile
white pepper
chicken thigh
bok choy
lemon juice
tamarind juice concentrate
chili garlic sauce
flat pad thai noodle
light soy sauce
4andquot flat rice noodle
aglio
anacardi
gamberetti
germogli di soia
olio di cucchiai
pasta 'acciughe
porri
salsa di soia cucchiai
spaghetti di riso
uovum
zucchero cucchiaino
chile flake
golf ball tamarind pulp
seasoning soy sauce
preserved radish
vegan fish sauce
rice
matchstick carrot
thai rice noodle
pad thai dressing
coconut amino
red curry paste
coconut milk
almond
salt
sweet potato
almond butter
squid
rock shrimp
thai preserved sweet radish
shrimp paste
thai chile powder
canola oil
red shallot
tomato paste
preserved bean curd
soybean
skirt steak
< href= https www saveur com story recipes thai chile powder >phrik pon khua < >
banana blossom
thai fish sauce
< href= https www saveur com story recipes palm sugar syrup >palm sugar syrup< >
< href= https www saveur com story recipes thai tamarind water >thai tamarind water< >
lard
thai radish
ground pork
sweet preserved radish
firm tofu
remaining garlic chive
sweet pea
thai chili powder
tamarind pulp
smoked
smoked tofu
green garlic
pea
red chili flake
asparagus
zucchini
sesame seed
daikon radish

Insights

Correlated with Higher Ratings

  • shrimp

Staple Ingredients

  • egg 53%
  • fish sauce 50%
  • garlic 50%
  • peanut 50%
  • green onion 47%

Common Ingredients

  • bean sprout 41%
  • lime 41%
  • cilantro 32%

Usual Ingredients

  • brown sugar 29%
  • shrimp 26%
  • lime juice 24%
  • tofu 24%
  • vegetable oil 24%
  • chicken breast 21%
  • rice vinegar 21%
  • soy sauce 21%

Rarey Ingredients

  • oil 15%
  • shallot 15%
  • tamarind paste 15%