I love to recreate some of my family’s favorite Thai dishes at home including Thai chicken curry, cucumber salad, Thai fried rice and this simple, yet totally satisfying chicken Pad Thai.
Whenever I go to my local Thai restaurant, I have to order the chicken Pad Thai. I’ve since learned to make this dish at home, and now I can enjoy this meal any time I want with perfect results every time!
What is pad thai?
Pad Thai is a meal that consists of stir fried rice noodles that are mixed with chicken, beef or shrimp, as well as tofu and scrambled eggs. The noodles and protein are tossed in a sauce made with brown sugar, lime juice, soy sauce and fish sauce. This dish is typically served as street food, or in restaurants all over Thailand. It’s also a very popular dish in America.
How do you make chicken pad thai?
Start by cooking thinly sliced chicken and tofu in a pan until golden brown. Remove the chicken mixture from the pan, and cook two eggs until scrambled. Return the chicken and tofu to the pan, along with shredded carrots and rice noodles. Pour a homemade sauce over the noodle mixture, then add bean sprouts, cilantro and green onions. Toss everything until well combined. Serve the dish with a garnish of fresh herbs, as well as lime wedges and chopped peanuts.
Tips for the perfect dish
I recommend partially freezing your chicken before you slice it to make the job go a lot faster. This will also allow you to get the thinnest cuts of chicken. Use extra firm tofu so that it won’t fall apart as it cooks. If you have a softer type of tofu, you can press the water out of it to make it firmer. Cut the block of tofu into thick slices and place them on a plate lined with paper towels. Place a layer of paper towels on top of the tofu, then add a plate on top and use a heavy skillet to weigh the plate down. Let the tofu sit for at least 20 minutes, then cut into cubes and use in the recipe. This dish calls for fish sauce, which is a savory condiment that’s popular in Thai cuisine. Fish sauce can be found in the Asian foods aisle of most grocery stores. You’ll want to use dried rice noodles for the most authentic flavor, which are also located in the Asian foods aisle. Chicken Pad Thai will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Is chicken pad thai spicy?
This dish is not traditionally spicy. That being said, you can add some heat by sprinkling in a pinch or two of crushed red pepper flakes. Another option is to add sriracha to taste.
Flavor Variations
While this recipe is delicious as-is, you can add other ingredients to the mix to customize the flavors to your tastes.
Protein: Swap out the chicken for sliced flank steak or shrimp. Vegetables: Add extra veggies such as sliced red bell pepper, mushrooms, baby corn or zucchini noodles. Herbs: Try using fresh thai basil instead of the green onions and cilantro.
This chicken Pad Thai is perfect for those nights when you crave the flavors of take out!
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Chicken Pad Thai Video
