Pad thai (ผัดไทย) is probably the most famous Thai dish around the world but it is also one of the least traditional dishes in Thai cuisine.
Ingredients
- 4 oz. Thai rice noodles (sen lek or เส้นเล็ก)
- 1 cup bean sprouts
- 6 Chinese chives (or scallions)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons tamarind concentrate
- 2 tablespoons palm sugar
- 1 shallot , finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon pickled turnip (optional)
- ½ cup extra firm tofu
- ½ lime
- 2 tablespoons crushed peanut
- 4 shrimps
- ½ teaspoon crushed chili
- 3 cloves garlic , minced
- 4 teaspoons fish sauce (namh pla or น้ำปลา)
- 1 egg
- Black pepper
Instructions
- Start by soaking the dry noodles in water at room temperature while preparing the other ingredients, about 30 minutes.
- The noodles should end up being soft but not mushy.
- Roast the peanuts in a pan without oil for a few minutes.
- Cut tofu into thin 1-inch (2,5cm) strips.
- Fry the tofu separately in a pan with a little oil until golden brown.
- Cut Chinese chives into 1-inch strips (2,5cm) diagonally.
- Set aside a few pieces of fresh chive for garnish.
- Rinse bean sprouts and keep half for garnish.
- Heat cast iron skillet or heavy bottomed pan over high heat and add vegetable oil.
- Add shallot, pickled turnip (optional), garlic and tofu and stir until they begin to brown.
- Drain noodles and add to the skillet. Stir quickly to prevent the noodles from sticking.
- Add the tamarind concentrate, palm sugar, fish sauce and chili. Stir.
- Keep on high heat so that the liquid evaporates.
- Make room for the egg by pushing the noodles to the sides of the pan.
- Break the egg in the middle of the pan and stir until it is almost cooked.
- Stir the egg in the noodles. The noodles should be soft and tender.
- If the noodles are too hard and undercooked, add a little water.
- Add shrimps and stir. Sprinkle with pepper.
- Add the bean sprouts and chives and stir.
- Pour the mixture on a serving platter and sprinkle with crushed chili and peanuts.
- Serve hot with a wedge of lime on the side, and fresh Chinese chives and bean sprouts on top.
- Add Sambal or crushed chili to spice it up.