Pad Thai, this traditional Thai dish, has become extremely popular around the world. The tasty blend of stir-fried rice noodles with crunchy vegetables and a delicious sauce makes it a perfect meal for any occasion. In this article, discover how to easily make this recipe at home, without needing hard-to-find ingredients or complex cooking techniques.
The key ingredients to make a successful Pad Thai
To prepare an excellent Pad Thai, you must first and foremost choose the right ingredients. Here are a few that will make all the difference:
Rice Noodles (225g): a central element of this dish, rice noodles provide their unique texture. Prefer flat noodles rather than round noodles, for a result closer to the original.
Carrot (1): adds crunch and color to your plate. Cut it into thin slices or grate it according to your preference.
Bird’s eye chili: to enhance the taste of your dish without overdoing it, incorporate a finely chopped bird’s eye chili into the sauce. You can adjust the quantity according to your heat tolerance.
Fresh ginger: do not hesitate to grate a little fresh ginger into the sauce to bring a very pleasant tangy note and enhance the taste of the other ingredients.
Beans (500g): to add even more flavor and color, incorporate some fresh or frozen beans depending on the season.
Preparing Pad Thai in a few simple steps
Once you have gathered all the necessary ingredients, it’s time to start preparing the dish. Follow these steps to successfully make your Easy Pad Thai:
1. Cook the rice noodles
First of all, immerse the rice noodles in a large volume of salted boiling water, then let them cook for about 7 minutes (or follow the instructions on the packet). Then drain them and set aside.
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2. Prepare the vegetables
In the meantime, peel and grate the carrot, slice the bird’s eye chili and grate a bit of fresh ginger. If you are using broad beans, quickly cook them in boiling water then plunge them into a bowl of cold water to stop the cooking process and maintain their beautiful green color.
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3. Make the sauce
Mix in a bowl some soy sauce (3 tbsp), lime juice (4 quarters), brown sugar (3 tbsp), grated ginger and sliced bird’s eye chili. You can adjust the amounts according to your taste and the strength you want to give to your dish.
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4. Sauté everything
Heat a pan with a little oil, then add the prepared vegetables (carrot, pepper, and beans). Let them sauté for about 1 minute on high heat, then add the cooked rice noodles and soy-based sauce. Mix well to absorb all the flavors, and let it cook for another 1 to 2 minutes so that the noodles absorb the sauce well.
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Tips and Variations for Customizing Your Pad Thai
Every dish is unique and can be tailored to your tastes and desires. Here are some ideas to vary your Pad Thai:
Adding proteins: to make your dish more substantial, incorporate pieces of chicken, shrimp, or tofu according to your preferences.
Garnish: when serving, sprinkle your plate with crushed peanuts, fresh coriander and lime wedges to add an extra gourmet touch.
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Vegetable mix: don’t hesitate to vary the vegetables according to the season and your desires. Peppers, cabbages or even mushrooms can find their way into your dish for the greatest pleasure of the taste buds.
Vegetarian variant: for a 100% plant-based version, replace the soy sauce with tamari (gluten-free soy sauce) and incorporate pieces of smoked tofu.
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