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Authentic Shrimp Pad Thai is really quite easy to prepare! But that doesn't mean it comes up short on taste!
It is so satisfyingly delicious. Although it's not hard to make, it is very authentic and is ready in about 30 to 40 minutes! You can make this in your wok or a large skillet!
HOW TO MAKE AUTHENTIC SHRIMP PAD THAI
Authentic Shrimp Pad Thai is loaded with classic Thai flavor and we've got a few tricks to show you how to make this iconic dish in your own kitchen.
And, because you're cooking shrimp, the entire dish comes together quickly, typically in about 30 minutes at most.
Watch us show you how easy it is to make at home!
PREPARING THE THAI NOODLES
The traditional noodle for Pad Thai is wide rice noodles. They are about as wide as linguine noodles.
Rice noodles are now found in the Asian section of most well-stocked supermarkets, or you can order them online.
EXPERT TIP: The best way to prepare the noodles is to bring a pot of water to boil, and then turn the heat off. Lower the dried noodles in the water and immediately give them a stir to make sure they are not sticking to each other. After 20 to 25 minutes, pull one out of the water (carefully, the water will still be hot), and taste for texture. Once they are ready, drain and set aside.
AUTHENTIC SHRIMP PAD THAI SEASONING
Getting the perfect and authentic pad Thai taste is not hard to achieve. You first need to create the sauce which is a combination of tamarind paste, fish sauce, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and dark brown sugar.
To truly deepen the Thai flavor profile, we use Thai Seasoning Blend from our all-time favorite spice manufacturer in the world: The Spice Hunter. This Thai Seasoning Blend is chock full of sesame seeds, chile pepper, coriander, onion, red pepper, shrimp extract, garlic, cinnamon, nutmeg and lemon oil. We appreciate that all of The Spice Hunter's spices are also Non-GMO Project Verified and contain no artificial flavors or preservatives. Simply the best.
EXPERT TIP: Tamarind is very common in Thai cooking. You can find tamarind paste in the Asian section of many well-stocked supermarkets, or in Asian food markets, or online. See how to make tamarind paste at home in the NOTES section of the recipe card.
BUILDING THE DISH
We use our wok for quickly stir-frying this Authentic Shrimp Pad Thai. If you don't have a wok, don't fret! You can, by all means, use a nice large sturdy skillet. When using a wok, we HIGHLY recommend using a wok ring to secure your wok in place.
Crank the heat on high and add the oil. Be careful when adding ingredients to the hot oil, they may pop and sizzle!
We start with a quick-fry of the garlic and minced, seeded Thai red peppers, as well as a small handful of whole peppers. Next, we add the shrimp and some chicken (or vegetable) stock and sauté until the shrimp are bright pink. Then we use our wooden spatula to push everything to one side in the wok, and then we add the two eggs and scramble.
EXPERT TIP: Thai green peppers can be found in specialty food shops, such as Whole Foods, or at your local Asian market. You can certainly substitute them with Serrano peppers, too. Removing the seeds and the ribs of the diced peppers will reduce the spiciness of the final dish.
Next goes in the softened noodles and then tamarind sauce.
Stir-fry for a few minutes and add a little more oil if noodles are sticking to the wok.
Finally, stir in the bean sprouts.
AUTHENTIC SHRIMP PAD FAQs
- What do you serve with Shrimp Pad Thai? Traditional garnishes for the dish include sliced lime, chopped peanuts, fresh cilantro, and another few sprinkles of The Spice Hunter's Thai Seasoning.
- What about replacing the shrimp with chicken or beef strips? Of course! Use boneless chicken or ribeye steak, cut into strips and stir-fry in the wok until sufficiently cooked.
- Can I use a different type of noodle? Yes, rice noodles are traditional, but you could use any kind of Asian noodle, and be just fine. In a pinch, you could substitute cooked linguine or fettuccine.
- Is Shrimp Pad Thai spicy? That depends on how many peppers you add. We use a combination of seeded and chopped peppers along with whole peppers. This produces a mildly spicy dish. Leave the seeds in for more spice, and for even more heat, add in chili oil, which can be found in the Asian section of most supermarkets, or at an Asian market.
- Can this be made in advance? This is one of those dishes that we believe is best served fresh. Leftovers are still good, but it's really best when eaten right when it comes together.
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We're not kidding when we tell you that this Authentic Shrimp Pad Thai is one of our most favorite dishes to prepare of all time.
We love serving this for friends and family year-round because it's always such a hit.
But, it's also great to serve during the holiday season for something new, different, and delicious.
Okay! Now go make this amazing Shrimp Pad Thai recipe! You'll be so glad you did!!
And when you make it, be sure to take a picture of it, post it on Instagram, and tag @howtofeedaloon and @thespicehunter!
Authentic Shrimp Pad Thai
This Authentic Shrimp Pad Thai is packed with flavor that is true to Thai cuisine. See NOTES on how to make tamarind paste at home.
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