Yesterday I did something I’ve been wanting to do for….five years?
No, I did not get a puppy! Although for the life of me I can’t stop staring at this one. Pinterest is slowly sucking all the life out of me and I.just.can’t.stop.
What was I talking about again? Oh yeah…I made my own pad thai!
And guess what? It really wasn’t as scary as I made it out to be! You see, pad thai is one of my very favorite dishes in the whole entire world but just the thought of actually making it homemade put me in a cold sweat.
You see, anytime I can avoid touching fish sauce I celebrate a little inside. You know what I’m talking about, I know you do. If you don’t, take a sniff. But please then come back and make this recipe! It’s one of those rare circumstances that touching fish sauce is totally worth it. Promise.
I had a favorite restaurant growing up. My friends and I would all go before football games and to celebrate each others fifteenth birthdays with greasy Thai noodles and green tea ice cream.
It was there that my obsession with pad thai began.
I think it was the crushed peanuts…or maybe my own personal extra addition of sriracha sauce. Whatever it was, I just couldn’t get enough of the stuff. Never did it really register that I could probably make my own at home and save ten dollars.
My version is a tweak on a version found in the old yellow Gourmet cookbook. You’ll probably doubt yourself while cooking, you know from the fish sauce and all, but it definitely comes together at the end.
Now if I could just get that puppy…
Homemade Pad Thai
serves 4-6
adapted from Gourmet
Ingredients:
2 eggs, lightly beaten
3 green onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 large shallot, minced
6 oz raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
8 oz extra firm tofu, diced
1.5 tbsp vegetable oil
2 cups bean sprouts
2 tbsp tamarind (from a soft block. You can find this at an Asian grocery store)
1 cup boiling water
1 tbsp sweet chili sauce
2.5 tbsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
3 tbsp fish sauce (hold your nose!)
8 oz pad thai rice noodles
3 tbsp roughly chopped roasted peanuts
big squeeze sriracha sauce (or 1/4-1/2 tsp red chili flakes)
limes for serving
Directions:
In a glass measuring cup, combine the boiling water and tamarind. Mash with the back of a spoon for a few minutes so the tamarind softens. Pour over a fine mesh strainer or sifter into a small bowl and discard the remaining tamarind chunks. To the tamarind flavored water now add the fish sauce, sugar, salt and sweet chili sauce. Stir well to dissolve the sugar and then set aside.
Cook the rice noodles in a big pot of boiling water for five minutes until cooked through. Drain and rinse with cold water.
Rub a large wok or cast iron skillet with vegetable oil and scramble the eggs over medium heat. Remove scrambled eggs to a bowl and then add the remaining vegetable oil and crank the heat to medium high. Add the shallot and saute for four minutes, followed by the garlic. Add the shrimp and cook for 30 seconds until the tails curl in, followed by the tofu. After cooking, place tofu and shrimp in the bowl with the egg.
Pour the tamarind sauce into the skillet and bring to a boil. Add cooked rice noodles, bean sprouts and green onions followed by the shrimp and tofu. Toss everything together well and finish with a big squeeze of sriracha, more green onions, crushed peanuts and a squeeze of lime.
Time:
30 minutes
Lauren @ What Lauren Likes
October 13, 2011 at 4:25 amHOw cool! I’ve always wanted to try to make my own pad thai! Yours looks fab 🙂
Doris @ vanillacocoberry
October 13, 2011 at 4:26 ami love pad thai!!! looks yummy..and I gotta go to the Asian grocery store to get some tamarind! when I was in thailand I was literally obsessed with the snapper in tamarind sauce… soo Good!!
kaitlin @4loveofcarrots
October 13, 2011 at 4:27 amI am afraid to make pad Thai! I one time made a boxes kind, horrible idea it tasted awful. But this recipe sounds great I think I am going to have to give it a shot!
Molly @ RDexposed
October 13, 2011 at 4:43 amI was once asked to smell the fish sauce to assess if it was too old and should be thrown away. I refused and offerred to go buy a new jar instead.
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat
October 13, 2011 at 5:03 amYou’ve covered 3 of my favourite things in 1 post – Pinterest, puppies, and pad Thai. This recipe sounds fabulous! And I agree on that fish sauce… it’s amazing how something with such a filthy smell can make food taste so good!
Erin (Travel, Eat, Repeat)
October 13, 2011 at 5:06 amYum… this looks delicious (and beautiful). When I was in Thailand, I ate pad thai almost every single morning… for breakfast. It was cheap, fast and oh-so delicious!
katie @KatieDid
October 13, 2011 at 5:07 amThe first few times I tried pad thai I thought it tasted like dog food lol. Now I know maybe it was that fish sauce talking to me. Nowadays its not something I’d order but I’m definitely the one next to my friends sneaking bites when they aren’t looking 😉
Lisa D
October 13, 2011 at 5:09 amThat looks awesome. Cannot wait to try it. I’ve been making coconut curry at home for a while to save money bc i LOVE Thai food but I miss the variety of the menu. I need to add this to my repertoire. Thanks for sharing.
stacey
October 13, 2011 at 5:19 ami love pad thai! i can’t wait to try this 🙂
Hilliary@HappilyEverHealthy
October 13, 2011 at 5:26 amI have always wanted to make my own pad thai! Now I have the perfect recipe! Thanks for sharing!
lindsay
October 13, 2011 at 5:34 amnext time you are in charleston you must try basil’s pad thai…if you haven’t already. it is glorious.
jenna
October 13, 2011 at 6:37 ami adore Basil!
Emmy (Wine and Butter)
October 13, 2011 at 5:47 amI looooooooooooooooooove P ad thai and have always previously used chez pims directions but Im always up for giving your recipes a try! ALSO puppies – i fulfiled my lifelong ambition to get one a few months ago and I am totally obsessed. EXCEPT he was super irresistibly unbelievavle well behaved for months 3 – 6. Just this months hes had a bit of a personality transplant and is reminding me of a gross teenage boy (my husband is still getting on with him FINE)…. but Im trusting it will all even out again soon! (snip snip) SInce you work from home… DO IT!!!! xox
jenna
October 13, 2011 at 5:50 amyummmm!! this sounds amazing! i always get cravings for this but we have no good places to get it at in my town. Problem solved 🙂
Casey @ Pocket Full of Sunshine
October 13, 2011 at 5:51 amAs usual, gorgeous pics. And that looks so good!! I had my first Pad Thai in a hole-in-the-wall in Chicago several years back…still the best i’ve ever had. It was one of those things you inhale b/c it was so insanely yummy!!
Jane
October 13, 2011 at 5:53 amYou can learn a lot about a person from their pins. Is there an announcement coming soon? 🙂
jenna
October 13, 2011 at 6:37 amthe announcement that I’m just like every other girl, obsessed with puppies, shoes and wedding cakes?
Jane
October 13, 2011 at 1:36 pmSorry. I was just love your blog and was thinking how pretty you will be as a bride. Again, I apologize.
jenna
October 13, 2011 at 1:37 pmno problem! I chuckled when I saw that 😉
Heather (Heather's Dish)
October 13, 2011 at 5:59 ami actually ADORE pad thai, and have never even thought to make it at home. since your asian recipes never fail i’m definitely getting ingredients for this today!
Kristen @ Popcorn on the Stove
October 13, 2011 at 6:00 amI’ve actually never had pad thai but this looks yummy!! I may have to try it.
Sarah K. @ The Pajama Chef
October 13, 2011 at 6:04 amonce again, you make it look easy and do-able. thanks! 🙂
Emily @ Comfortable Home Life
October 13, 2011 at 6:05 amI made Pad Thai in college once. The recipe I used called for dried shrimp (!!) and I went asian grocery store diving to find it. It didn’t even turn out that great. 🙁 I might have to try yours — sans fish sauce, extra tofu. I’m vegetarian!!
Rachael @ FreshlyMinted
October 13, 2011 at 6:14 amI made my first attempt at homemade Pad Thai for my husband’s birthday this year.
Bad. Idea.
This recipe looks so much easier – I’ll have to try a round two (if the hubby isn’t still scarred from the last experience 🙂
Ashley
October 13, 2011 at 6:15 amI’m a big fan of pad thai! This recipe looks great!
Emily @ The Finicky Farmer
October 13, 2011 at 6:18 amWowzers! I cannot *wait* to try this one in my own kitchen.
Jennifer
October 13, 2011 at 6:23 amwhy is pinterest so.addicting.
kathleen @ the daily crumb
October 13, 2011 at 6:29 ami just love your blog, jenna, because you make fancy-schmancy restaurant-style recipes that are oh-so delicious look simple! now, i’m sure my pad thai will not come out as gorgeous as yours, BUT at least i can give it a try 🙂
Urban Wife
October 13, 2011 at 6:33 amIt’s not as difficult as I thought it would be! I love, love pad thai.
Liz @ Southern Charm
October 13, 2011 at 6:37 amI love pad thai … and I think we are going there today for work. Hmm, I could definitely save a lot making my own and that recipe isn’t too intimidating!
Sabrina @ Radioactive Runner
October 13, 2011 at 6:45 amI LOVE pad thai but have to admit have always been to scared/intimated to make it at home. Glad to know it’s not as scary as it seems.
This looks SO good!
Bethany @ One Girl's Taste On Life
October 13, 2011 at 6:48 amSo excited to try this! Alton Brown has a recipe on Food Network (and an episode of Good Eats about this), but I feel like his is too complicated. Your recipe seems much easier. Thanks, Jenna!
Christie Inge
October 13, 2011 at 6:49 amI have been wanting to make my own pad thai for ages – both my husband and I love it. Thank you for this recipe!!
Faith @ For the Health of It
October 13, 2011 at 6:49 amOoh, Jenna, I’m drooling! Do you happen to know of any vegetarian substitutes for fish sauce though?
jamie @ jamelafamela
October 13, 2011 at 7:04 amyes fish sauce smells terrible. this looks really good tho I will have to try it— as soon as i gain courage to purchase that which must not be smelled.
amy walters, aDESIGNdock
October 13, 2011 at 7:05 amLove pad tai. I’m drooling already!
Khushboo
October 13, 2011 at 7:07 amIf you ever go to London, you have to go to Busaba off Oxford Street…best.pad.thai.EVER!
d.liff @ yelleBELLYboo
October 13, 2011 at 7:20 amVery similar to my recipe, although I used chicken!! (http://yellebellyboo.blogspot.com/2011/04/chicken-pad-thai.html) It’s never the same when people don’t use tamarind!
Kristina
October 13, 2011 at 7:31 amI learned to make Pad Thai at a cooking class in Thailand, and was surprised that they actually used soy sauce instead of fish sauce – so I think it is an optional thing, varying by cook. Just FYI – if you really hate it, you can leave it out 🙂
Jamie
October 13, 2011 at 7:37 amHi Jenna, this looks good. How much hot water do you use with the tamarind?
Emily
October 13, 2011 at 7:44 amThanks for the pad thai recipe! My husband LOVES pad thai, but like so many others I’m just too intimidated to try to make it myself. Looks like I know what I’ll be making this weekend when he gets back from his business trip …
And that puppy is SOOOO CUTE!!! I LOVE puppies (and dogs)! I hope you get one, they’re awesome and make life so much more fun!
Kim {Recipes To Run On}
October 13, 2011 at 8:09 amPad Thai is a FAVE for my husband and I…. and I’ve never made it at home. Bookmarking this to try stat! 🙂
Joelle (On A Pink Typewriter)
October 13, 2011 at 8:15 amI’ve actually made pad thai before as well.. my old coworker is half Thai and she taught me her mom’s homemade recipe. SO good, and way better than restaurant even!
Alex@Spoonful of Sugar Free
October 13, 2011 at 8:18 amSadly, I must say that I have never had Pad Thai. Ever. *Hide in Shame*
Your pictures are making me drool, though. Must make now.
Danielle
October 13, 2011 at 8:18 amHi, Jenna,
This looks great!
Can you tell us how much boiling water do you use, to mix with Tamarind? Thanks!
Linda W.
October 13, 2011 at 8:34 amAt the top of the list for my weekend cooking – vegan pumpkin cinnamon rolls and homemade pad thai! My stomach is growling….
Erica @ In and Around Town
October 13, 2011 at 8:36 amSo impressed – I always resort to ordering take out when I crave pad thai, but maybe I will try this at home, looks delicious!
deva @ deva by definition
October 13, 2011 at 8:39 amHow would Dexter feel about a puppy? I have two amusing images in my head. One of Dexter taking the puppy under his wing, and the other of him chasing the puppy all over 🙂
Katie
October 13, 2011 at 9:01 amI love Pad Thai! I’ve always been intimidated by the long list of unfamiliar Asian ingredients, but this one doesn’t look too scary! Ps, it’s pet adoption month, it’s a great time to adopt a new best friend 😉 Did I mention the humane society adoption fee is only $25 during October?
Julie
October 13, 2011 at 9:13 amHow much boiling water does the recipe call for?
jenna
October 13, 2011 at 9:21 amso sorry! 1 cup.
Hakan
December 9, 2012 at 7:08 pmHow many farang patnres are we talking about here?Thou i strongly agree that all kids should have access to a full education,i am not sure that if funds are to spent on the island that this should be the way.IF and i do mean if there are only a few kids in question,surely it would be better to educate them from home,online.I am sure there was somthing in australia years ago and maybe even today..called the school of the air,hosted over cb radios for kids in the outback.Not suggesting setting up this,but surley there must be some sort of equivelant online theese days?
Krystina (Organically Me)
October 13, 2011 at 9:18 amOh how I love pad Thai! This looks so amazing – good job! 🙂
Cait's Plate
October 13, 2011 at 10:06 amI don’t even like Pad Thai but I would happily gobble this up!
Dee
October 13, 2011 at 10:16 amWow! Yay! I must try this. I’ve been obsessed with pad thai this year and it really does cost a pretty penny.
ps. I love fish sauce! Even though it smells like sweaty socks, it really does add that special something to a dish. Lol.
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen
October 13, 2011 at 10:25 amLove this! I took a Thai Cooking class earlier this year for the sole purpose of learning to cook pad thai. We ended up making 8 different Thai dishes and the one that came out the worst? Pad Thai. It was so gross I won’t even use that recipe again. Definitely going to try this one out! And, it has less obscure ingredients than the one from the class I took, bonus!
Andrea @ The Skinny Chronicles
October 13, 2011 at 10:30 amThree cheers for your pad Thai and the puppy!!!! Uber-yum and uber-cute. A brilliant meal inspiration! Hip hip hooray!
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com
October 13, 2011 at 11:06 amGimme some Pad Thai and I would be your BFF 😀 Love how drool-worthy is those photos!
Daisy
October 13, 2011 at 11:14 ami loveeee your pics lately!
Doris @ vanillacocoberry
October 13, 2011 at 11:17 amI bet if you used cashews it would even taste more delicousssssss …hmmmmmm cashews ♥
thursday — Eat, Live, Run
October 13, 2011 at 11:20 am[…] brought yesterday’s pad thai to my pastor’s family since they have four kids and I have…none. I got so much joy when […]
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog)
October 13, 2011 at 11:36 amOMG, I love Pad thai with shrimp!!! That sounds sooo good. Must have soon. Yum! 🙂
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga
October 13, 2011 at 12:29 pmIt looks crazy good. And I still want that blue tattered wood board underneath the food. Every time I see it, I covet thee 🙂
Anna
October 13, 2011 at 2:25 pmI am allergic to peanuts (I know, I know, poor me!) but do you think pad thai is still enjoyable sans peanuts? My family insists absolutely not, but I’ve always wanted to try!
Lindsay
October 13, 2011 at 6:20 pmLess than a week ago I turned to your blog looking for a Pad Thai recipe… Haha!
Anne
October 13, 2011 at 7:03 pmUmmmmm I love you so much for this!!! I can’t get enough pad Thai…it’s like a constant craving and I’ve been looking for a good recipe! You’re the greatest 🙂 let’s be friends.
May @ Slow Food Kitchen
October 14, 2011 at 4:05 amI love this dish and it’s actually quite quick and easy to make. Why don’t I do this more often? I have had a carb free version where the noodles were substituted for more bean sprouts and other vegetables. Worked really well too.
Michelle @ Chellbellz
October 14, 2011 at 7:11 amAt one point last year a friend and I where going to a ton of Thai places in the DC area and trying the Pad Thai to see who made it the best! By far my favorite was this Hole in the Wall place on Capital Hill! I really wanted to try and make it on my own for once! So i may try this!
Julie
October 14, 2011 at 8:00 amI’ve been meaning to try (read: too intimidated by all the weird ingredients and steps) alton brown’s pad thai recipe. This looks much less daunting and oh so delicious! Mmmmm…..
Ranjani
October 14, 2011 at 9:34 amThis looks awesome! I have that cookbook but didn’t realize this recipe was in there. Must try soon
Lindsey
October 15, 2011 at 12:02 pmI’m definitely bookmarking this one– looks great!
ps, that puppy is adorable, and from experience of having a golden retriever, they seriously are the best dogs– I can’t imagine having any other! (mine’s a little dumb, but the cutest and nicest one you can find:)
Steph
October 16, 2011 at 2:09 pmLooks so good! I have a question though – My husband hates fish and I was wondering if you can taste the fish sauce when it is in?
jenna
October 17, 2011 at 7:00 pmnope–not at all!
Esther Sam
October 20, 2011 at 11:55 amJust made this last night and it was delicious! Thank you for sharing!!!
thai red curry with kabocha squash — Eat, Live, Run
October 26, 2011 at 3:51 am[…] I’ve ever gotten at home. You must make this!!! Really…if you were debating making the pad thai I made last week, make this instead. Then make that next week. And invite me over for […]
Selbsttest: Passionsfrucht Maracuja essen « Verschlankomat
November 3, 2011 at 2:44 am[…] gab beispielsweise Pad Thai von Eat, Live, Run (ich hab das Gericht etwas punkte-freundlicher gestaltet, war aber kein Bringer), einen Chicoree […]
The Chronicles Philosophize
November 3, 2011 at 9:26 am[…] Thai. I finally made it. I had been aspiring to make Pad Thai ever since Jenna posted her recipe, adapted from the Gourmet Cookbook weeks ago. My one problem: the bean sprouts. I had to go to five […]
Jen
November 8, 2011 at 11:16 amSmall confession….I made pad thai for the first time a few weeks ago and I couldn’t bring myself to put in the fish sauce. I have it at the house, but the recipe only called for a small amount so I psyched myself out and didn’t add it. I know. I know. Such a wuss.
Homemade Pad Thai
January 1, 2012 at 4:05 pm[…] from Eat, Live, Run, originally from […]
Homemade Pad Thai
January 28, 2012 at 8:11 pm[…] from Eat, Live, Run, originally from Gourmet Share […]
cristinahaines
January 7, 2013 at 7:14 pmPad Thai is a skill in itself, and it doesn’t help that most of us Americans aren’t familiar with Asian cooking techniques. Asians seem to think making Pad Thai is easy, but I beg to differ! I’ve been trying to perfect a Pad Thai recipe for about 6 months, and I’ve had more than my fair share of flops. This site helped me a lot; if you’re thinking about making Pad Thai, I’d encourage you to read through it: http://chezpim.com/cook/pad_thai_for_beginners
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January 28, 2013 at 8:04 am[…] Honey Garlic Pork Chops Meatloaf Mexican Lasagna Mini Corn Dog Muffins Mushrooms Pizza Bites Pad Thai Pizza Casserole Pork Chops au Poivre Proscuitto Panini Quick Coq au Vin Spaghetti with Chicken and […]
Pad Thai… that I made.
April 4, 2013 at 7:53 am[…] made Jenna’s Pad Thai because all her recipes are delicious. If you’re like me… you don’t frequent […]
m
June 7, 2014 at 12:24 pmI actually combined your interests and added “Puppy” to the Pad Thai instead of shrimp. The meat is soooooo tender.
Yum!
Thanks for a great idea