Shrimp Pad Thai topped with cilantro, chopped peanuts and lime wedges.

Description

Shrimp Pad Thai is the national dish of Thailand, a stir-fry noodle dish with that special balance of sweet, spicy, salty and sour that is uniquely Thai. In this recipe I give you a range of amounts for the sauce ingredients so you can adjust the four elements to suit your own taste. Make notes and perfect it. This is a quick weeknight dinner in my house and we know how we like it.

Despite the name ‘Shrimp’ Pad Thai many versions include chicken as well as the shrimp. The combination adds another element to the over all taste and I love it. The addition of bean sprouts is also quite specific. Although bean sprouts are stirred into the hot noodles some people feel that adding fresh bean sprouts at the end creates a desired contrast. Said to be essential.

This post contains affiliate links. When you purchase using these links your cost is the same, but I receive a few cents for every dollar spent. I appreciate your support for this website.

Should I Use Fresh or Dried Rice Noodles

Rice noodles deserve a place in every gluten free pantry. They are made from rice flour and are available dried or fresh in a variety of widths. Pad Thai is typically made with a wide rice noodle similar to fettuccini. Although fresh rice noodles are available I prefer the convenience of dry noodles. In my pantry I always keep thin vermicelli noodles (to make salads and salad rolls) and one wider variety that I use in this recipe.

Cooking Rice Noodles for Shrimp Pad Thai

Apparently, the biggest travesty in making Pad Thai is overcooking the noodles. Many recipes call for soaking the noodles in warm water but I use boiling water. I pour boiling water over the noodles and let them soak for five minutes. (Yes, you should set a timer.) The noodles always get a little more cooking during the stir-fry process and this method consistently works for me. I sometimes accidentally overcook them (didn’t set the timer) but the dish still tastes delicious with broken noodles. It just takes a little practice to figure out how to cook them perfectly.

Do I Need a Wok

I can’t say it enough, you really should have a wok. A standard flat bottom wok isn’t expensive, will last for years (possibly decades) and the large cooking surface is excellent for more than just cooking Asian dishes. I sometimes demonstrate cooking in a wok side-by-side cooking in a frying pan. Even the nicest All-Clad non-stick skillet can’t compare to a wok. It’s an excellent investment, trust me.

Gluten Free Pantry Essentials for Thai Cooking

Stock up on the basics to make Shrimp Pad Thai an everyday dish in your kitchen..
Stock up your Asian Pantry so you can cook the amazing gluten free dishes like this Shrimp Pad Thai.

Fish sauce and tamarind are two naturally gluten free ingredients that you need for cooking Thai dishes. Tamarind gives a unique sour taste to dishes. I prefer the tamarind concentrate for ease (sold in small plastic tubs) rather than the tamarind pulp or paste that needs to be softened with water and strained.

For more on this topic check out this post; Tamarind Concentrate vs Tamarind Paste or watch me explain it on YouTube.

Is There a Vegan Substitute for Fish Sauce

Yes, there is a Vegan Fish Sauce Substitute for your friends who have a fish allergy or are vegan and I swear you cannot tell the difference. Everyone can enjoy all the Thai and Vietnamese dishes you can think of.

A jar of a Vegan Fish Sauce Substitute
Vegan Fish Sauce Substitute -photo credit Jim Little

Fish sauce is like a condiment used in almost every Thai dish, just as salt and soy sauce are used in other cultures. If you haven’t used it before my only advice is don’t smell it. Buy it, use it and you’ll be happy someone told you that.

Let me know in the comments below how you like your Shrimp Pad Thai.


A Travel Tale – Thailand

From time to time I write a travel post for my friend Sue over at Travel Tales of Life. This is the one I wrote about our trip to Thailand many years ago; Thailand and Thai Red Shrimp Curry.


More Thai Recipes

More Thai Recipes

Shrimp Pad Thai

Shrimp Pad Thai is a stir-fry noodle dish with that special balance of sweet, spicy, salty and sour that is uniquely Thai. Try it!
Author: Cinde Little
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: thai
Keyword: Shrimp Pad Thai
Servings: 4 people

Ingredients

SAUCE

  • 1-1½ Tbsp tamarind concentrate
  • ¼ cup gluten free chicken stock
  • 3 Tbsp fish sauce
  • 1 Tbsp gluten free soy sauce
  • ½-1 tsp chile sauce
  • â…› tsp ground pepper
  • â…› tsp ground pepper
  • 3-4 Tbsp brown sugar

PAD THAI

  • 8 oz wide rice noodles
  • 1 boneless chicken breast, cut into small pieces
  • 1 Tbsp gluten free soy sauce
  • 12-15 medium raw shrimp, shells removed
  • 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
  • 4 green onions, sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp grated ginger root
  • 1-2 fresh Thai chilies, sliced
  • 1 egg
  • 2 cups fresh bean sprouts

TOPPINGS

  • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • â…“ cup salted peanuts, chopped
  • lime wedges

Notes

Fish sauce is like a condiment used in almost every Thai dish, just as salt and soy sauce are used in other cultures. If you haven't used it before my only advice is don't smell it. Buy it, use it and you'll be happy someone told you that.
Yes, there is a Vegan Fish Sauce Substitute for your friends who have a fish allergy or are vegan and I swear you cannot tell the difference. Everyone can enjoy all the Thai and Vietnamese dishes you can think of.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Ingredients

Directions