Pad Thai Recipe – Authentic Thai, Quick and Easy

Pad Thai is Thailand's most famous noodle dish: stir-fried rice noodles with egg, bean sprouts, peanuts, and a sauce that is sweet, sour, and salty all at once. With this Pad Thai recipe, the dish will be on the table in 30 minutes - with our ready-made Pad Thai sauce or with a sauce you mix yourself. You can use chicken, shrimp, or tofu and determine the spiciness yourself.

🥢 What is Pad Thai?

Pad Thai is Thailand's national dish – an aromatic noodle dish with rice noodles, crunchy vegetables, egg, and a sweet and sour sauce. Originally introduced in the 1930s as a symbol of Thai identity, it is popular worldwide today. The special thing: there is not one Pad Thai. Instead, many variations exist – with tofu, chicken, shrimp, or completely vegetarian.

Basic recipe for Pad Thai

This recipe is a universal basic recipe that you can adapt entirely to your taste. Whether you are a beginner or already have experience with Thai cuisine – with a few ingredients and clear steps, you can make an authentic Pad Thai.

🛒 Ingredients for 2–3 servings of Pad Thai

Preparation time 30 minutes

Simply follow our cooking instructions

• 200 g rice noodles (wide)
• 2 eggs
• 100 g mung bean sprouts
• 2 spring onions
• 2 tbsp peanuts (roasted, chopped)
• 2 tbsp oil for frying
• 1 lime (for serving)

Optional protein source:

• 150 g chicken breast (sliced into strips)
• or 150 g shrimp (peeled, deveined)
• or 150 g firm tofu (cubed)

For the sauce (homemade):

• 2 tbsp tamarindo paste
• 2 tbsp fish sauce (or soy sauce for vegetarians)
• 1 tbsp palm sugar (alternatively brown sugar)
• 1 tsp chili powder (to taste)

👉 Note: The ingredients for the sauce are not easily available everywhere. You can buy our ready-made Pad Thai Sauce here – authentic, balanced, and ready to use immediately. Our ready-made Pad Thai sauce is made by Chonticha herself in Bavaria.

🔪 Preparation

1. Soak the noodles: Soak rice noodles in warm water for approx. 30 minutes until they are soft.
2. Prepare the protein:
   • Chicken: cut into strips
   • Shrimp: devein
   • Tofu: cut into cubes and fry until crispy if necessary
3. Cut the vegetables: Cut spring onions into 3–4 cm long pieces.
4. Mix the sauce: Mix all the ingredients for the sauce in a bowl.

🍳 Preparing Pad Thai

1. Heat the oil in a large pan or wok.
2. Fry the protein of your choice, then push it to the side.
3. Drain the noodles and add them to the pan.
4. Add the eggs to the pan, let them set, and roughly scramble them.
5. Add the sauce and mix everything well.
6. Fold in the spring onions and sprouts, and fry briefly.
7. Serve with chopped peanuts and lime wedges.

🔄 Variations & Tips

• Vegetarian: Replace fish sauce with soy sauce. Important: Our ready-made Pad Thai sauce contains fish sauce and dried shrimp and is therefore not vegetarian or vegan. For the vegetarian version, mix the sauce yourself.
• Vegan: zus additionally omit the eggs or replace them with a vegan egg alternative.
• Spicy: Enhance with fresh chilies or chili oil.
• Crunch: Roasted onions or more peanuts as a topping.

Pad Thai is particularly juicy with shrimp. Here is the recipe: Pad Thai with Shrimp

📦 Even easier: Ready-made Pad Thai Sauce

If you do not want to mix the sauce yourself, take our Pad Thai Sauce: tamarindo, cane coconut sugar, and fish sauce are already balanced, you only need noodles, egg, and protein. For 3-4 servings, approximately 125-250 ml are sufficient depending on the desired intensity.

Cooking Authentic Pad Thai with Yak Thai

Pad Thai is versatile, quick to make, and a real taste experience. With this basic recipe, you can prepare it entirely to your taste – whether with tofu, chicken, or shrimp. Ideal for beginners and everyone who wants to bring a piece of Thailand home.

More Thai classics from the wok: Try our Pad Kra Pao Recipe with the Pad Kra Pao Wok Sauce.