Description
A comforting, self-care focused Pad Thai recipe that balances sweet, sour, salty, and spicy flavors using a simple tamarind sauce base. It’s designed to be forgiving, minimal cleanup, and nourishing for tired days.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 tablespoons (45g) tamarind paste
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) fish sauce
- 2 tablespoons (30g) palm sugar or brown sugar
- 8 ounces (225g) flat rice noodles (sen lek)
- 1 cup (100g) fresh bean sprouts
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small shallot, finely chopped
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup (35g) roasted peanuts, crushed
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 2 tablespoons warm water (for sauce)
- Fresh lime wedges
- Sliced chili peppers (optional)
Instructions
- Soak the rice noodles in a large bowl of warm water for 30 minutes until pliable but still resistant. Drain and set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the tamarind paste, fish sauce, brown sugar, and 2 tablespoons of warm water until dissolved. Taste and adjust sweetness or sourness as needed.
- Heat oil in a large wok or skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and chopped shallots, sautéing gently for 2-3 minutes until fragrant and translucent.
- Push aromatics to the side and crack eggs into the pan. Scramble gently until just set but still soft, then break into bite-sized pieces.
- Add the drained noodles to the pan and pour the tamarind sauce over them. Toss vigorously to coat.
- Add bean sprouts and half of the crushed peanuts. Toss for another 2-3 minutes until noodles are heated through and glossy.
- Remove from heat and serve immediately, topped with remaining peanuts, lime wedges, and chili peppers.
Notes
Do not overcrowd the pan to prevent steaming. If cooking for more than two people, cook in batches. The noodles should be soaked, not boiled, for best texture. If tamarind paste is unavailable, substitute with lime juice and brown sugar.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Thai
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 12
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 60
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 15
Keywords: Pad Thai, tamarind sauce, self-care meal, easy dinner, Thai noodles, comfort food, gluten-free option