Hey there! Are you ready to take a culinary journey with me into the world of Pad Thai? I'm so excited to share my Shrimp Tofu Pad Thai Recipe with you. It's delicious, and I promise it will satisfy your cravings and take you on a virtual trip to the bustling streets of Thailand. So, let's get started! Grab your ingredients, roll up your sleeves, and dive into the wonderful world of Thai cooking together!
Did you know that Pad Thai, the beloved rice noodle dish from Thailand, has a fascinating history that dates back to World War II? At that time, Thailand faced a shortage of rice, which led the government to encourage the consumption of noodles instead. Inspired by Chinese stir-fry dishes, street vendors began experimenting with rice noodles, combining them with local ingredients. They tossed it all together in a flavorful sauce made from tamarind, fish sauce, and palm sugar. This dish quickly became popular among locals and tourists, eventually becoming a staple of Thai cuisine and a symbol of the country's culinary expertise. Today, Pad Thai can be found on menus worldwide, and it never fails to delight diners with its irresistible blend of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy flavors.
If you would like to learn more about how Pad Thai came to be, this article from Mental Floss provides more detail.
This pairs well with this amazing Thai Green Papaya Salad (Som Tum)
This dish brings back wonderful childhood memories of the vibrant night markets.
Hey there, foodies! Let's talk about the magic of Shrimp Tofu Pad Thai! This dish is more than just a meal; it's a journey that'll take you straight to the vibrant night markets of Thailand.
Picture this: tender shrimp and silky tofu dancing in a symphony of flavors. The noodles, oh, the noodles! They're like little clouds of joy, soaking up the tangy-sweet sauce. And those crunchy peanuts and fresh bean sprouts add the perfect balance of texture. I love how every bite takes me back to my childhood, the bustling streets, and the mouthwatering aromas that filled the air at our local night market.
Three Reasons Why I live this Dish
- The flavor! The shrimp, tofu, and that sauce? It's like they were made to be together!
- OMG, the textures! You've got the chewy noodles, crunchy peanuts, and those bean sprouts – it's a symphony of textures that dance on your palate!
- Eating it takes me back to that awesome childhood in Thailand. Every bite is a mini trip down memory lane, and who wouldn't love that? So yeah, basically, it's the bomb!
Get cookin' and experiance the taste and aromas of the night markets!
WELCOME I AM SO EXCITED YOU'RE HERE! COME MAKE THIS PAD THAI RECIPE WITH ME.
Ingredients For Pad Thai
This recipe features rice noodles, bean sprouts, shrimp, tofu, peanuts, and tamarind sauce, which all come together to create a mouth-watering blend of sweet, tangy, and savory flavors.
- Flat rice noodles provide a soft and chewy base.
- Medium shrimp, peeled and deveined, offer a succulent seafood element.
- Firm tofu, cut into small cubes, adds a hearty and protein-rich texture.
- Eggs contribute a fluffy and savory componen.
- Bean sprouts lend a fresh and crunchy contrast to the other ingredients.
- Roasted peanuts, crushed, provide a satisfying crunch and nutty flavor.
- Green onions, chopped, offer a mild oniony taste and a pop of color.
- Vegetable oil serves as the cooking medium, ensuring all ingredients are evenly coated and cooked.
- Garlic brings a fragrant and pungent aroma to the dish.
- Tamarind paste provides a tangy and slightly sour note to balance the other flavors.
- Sugar offers a touch of sweetness to enhance the overall taste.
- Chili powder adds a spicy kick to the sauce, balancing the sweetness and acidity.
- Lime wedges provide a zesty and refreshing citrus finish to brighten up the dish.
- Fresh cilantro adds a burst of herbal freshness and visual appeal to the finished Pad Thai.
To get the exact quantities, check out the recipe. It has all the details you need.
Soak Noodles
To get your rice noodles ready, soak them in warm water for about 10 minutes until they're tender, but still have a bit of a bite. Once they're ready, just drain the water and set them aside.
Read more about this in our PRO TIP
Mixing Pad Thai Sauce
Mixing up pad Thai sauce is super easy! Just grab a bowl and combine some tamarind paste (or substitute with lime juice), fish sauce, and sugar. Stir it all together until the sugar dissolves completely, and voila! A tasty pad Thai sauce is ready to elevate your dish to the next level!
Cook the Protein
Let's get started on making a delicious shrimp and tofu stir-fry. First, heat a tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the shrimp and tofu. Cook until the shrimp are pink and opaque, about 2-3 minutes. Once cooked, remove them from the pan and set aside.
Scramble The Eggs
Next step! If there's not enough oil left in the pan, add a bit more. Then, pour in the beaten eggs and give them a gentle scramble. Once they start coming together, just push them to the side of the pan and get ready for the next part.
Combine Ingredients
Now that you've drained the noodles, toss them into the pan. Pour in the sauce you made earlier and give everything a good mix. Let it cook for about 2 minutes so the noodles can soak up all those yummy flavors.
Add Veggies and Nuts: Add the cooked shrimp, tofu, bean sprouts, chopped green onions, and half of the crushed peanuts. Toss everything and let it cook for one more minute. You're almost there!"
Plate & Savor: Time to Dig In
Serve it hot with lime wedges, fresh cilantro, extra bean sprouts, and a sprinkle of crushed peanuts. Now, get ready to enjoy this fantastic Thai dish you just made!
Tasty Twist: Shrimply Delicious Pad Thai
Ingredients
- 7 oz flat rice noodles
- 1 or 3.5 oz Chicken breast or medium shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1.75 oz firm tofu cut into small cubes
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup bean sprouts
- ½ cup roasted peanuts crushed
- 3 green onions chopped
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 3 cloves garlic minced
For the sauce:
- 3 tablespoons fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon tamarind paste
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon chili powder adjust to taste
Garnish:
- Lime wedges
- Fresh cilantro
- Extra bean sprouts
- Extra crushed peanuts
Instructions
- Prepare the Noodles:Soak the rice noodles in warm water for about 10 minutes, until they are just tender but still firm to the bite. Drain and set aside.
- Make the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the fish sauce, tamarind paste, sugar, and chili powder. Set aside.
- Cook the Protein: Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp and tofu. Cook until the shrimp are pink and opaque, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Scramble the Eggs:In the same pan, add a little more oil if needed, and pour in the beaten eggs. Scramble lightly and then push to the side of the pan.
- Combine Ingredients:Add the drained noodles to the pan. Pour the prepared sauce over the noodles and toss everything together. Cook for about 2 minutes, allowing the noodles to absorb the flavors.
- Mix in Vegetables and Nuts:Add the cooked shrimp, tofu, bean sprouts, chopped green onions, and half of the crushed peanuts. Toss everything together and cook for an additional minute.
- Serve: Serve hot, garnished with lime wedges, fresh cilantro, extra bean sprouts, and a sprinkle of crushed peanuts on top.
- Enjoy crafting this delicious and classic Thai dish.
Notes
- For extra flavor, marinate the tofu in soy sauce or your favorite seasoning blend before cooking.
- Don't overcook the shrimp—they should be just pink and opaque to avoid becoming tough.
- Adjust the sauce to your taste preference by adding more or less sugar, tamarind paste, or fish sauce.
- Feel free to customize your Pad Thai with additional veggies like bell peppers, carrots, or broccoli for extra color and crunch.
- Have all your ingredients prepped and ready to go before starting cooking—the stir-frying process goes quickly!
- Serve with lime wedges on the side for a burst of citrus freshness. Enjoy your culinary masterpiece!"
Nutrition
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR PAD THAI
It can be, but it's totally up to how it's made! Some recipes add chili flakes or chili paste to give it that extra kick. But don't worry if you're not into spicy food—you can always make it milder. So, whether you like it hot or not, Pad Thai has something for everyone!
Imagine this: it's sweet, sour, a little salty, and a bit spicy if you want it to be. It's like a flavor party in your mouth! Plus, you've got all these yummy textures, like chewy noodles, crunchy peanuts, and juicy shrimp. It's like a taste explosion that'll make your taste buds do a happy dance!
It is like the secret ingredient that makes everything taste amazing! This super yummy mix of tamarind, fish sauce, and palm sugar. And get this you can customize it to make it sweeter, tangier, or spicier, depending on what you like! It's kind of like the boss of flavors in your Pad Thai, making sure every bite is totally delicious!
Most of the time, they are! Pad Thai noodles are usually made from rice flour without gluten. If you're gluten-sensitive or want to try something new, they are a yummy option to dig into without any worries!
Pro Tip For Soaking Rice Noodles!
Here's a helpful tip for you. Don't follow the instructions on the packaging, the majority of the time wrong and will cause you to over cook them. Instead, soak the noodles in water for about 10 minutes, and if they're too long for your bowl, just bend them slowly until they're fully submerged. Once you're done soaking, strain the noodles and run your fingers through them to prevent them from sticking together. Hope this helps!
Pailin's Kitchen has a a great video on how to avoid cooking mushy broken rice noodles.
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