Pad thai
Rice noodles, tofu and egg in a sweet-sour tamarind sauce.
- Hands-on
- 25 min
- Total time
43 min, show breakdown
- Prep 25 min
- Cook 12 min
- Clean up 6 min
- Pans
- 1
- Ingredients
- 12
- Cost/serving
- $2.55
Per serving
- Calories
- 715
- Protein
- 33 g
- Fiber
- 6.3 g
- Net carbs
- 72 g
- Fat
- 32 g
High in (% Daily Value per serving): Selenium 79%, Vitamin K 64%, Calcium 59%, Riboflavin (B2) 37%, Iron 32%, Thiamin (B1) 30%, Folate 30%, Zinc 30%, Magnesium 29%, Vitamin E 26%, Vitamin B6 24%
Whole recipe (): . Full nutrition facts, vitamins and minerals. All nutrition is estimated; check your own labels.
Everything else is scaled from this.
Nutrition per serving is the whole batch divided by this.
Already vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free.
Ingredients for 2
Tap an ingredient for other units and forms.
You changed this recipe. Nutrition and cost include your changes. This combination hasn't been tested.
120 g flat rice noodles, dry
Same amount as: 4¼ oz.
- ½ block firm tofu (198 g)
2 large eggs (100 g)
Same amount as: about 2 medium, about 2 jumbo.
1 cup bean sprouts (104 g)
Same amount as: 240 mL.
- 3 medium green onions (45 g)
2 cloves garlic, smashed (6 g)
Same amount as: 2 tsp fresh minced garlic, 1 tsp jarred minced garlic, ¼ tsp garlic powder.
2 tbsp roasted peanuts, chopped (18 g)
Same amount as: 30 mL.
1½ tbsp tamarind paste (26 g)
Same amount as: 20 mL.
1½ tbsp tamari (gluten-free soy sauce) (24 g)
Same amount as: 20 mL.
1½ tbsp brown sugar (21 g)
Same amount as: 20 mL.
1 tbsp lime juice (15 g)
Same amount as: 15 mL, ½ lime squeezed from fresh limes.
2 tbsp vegetable oil (canola) (28 g)
Same amount as: 30 mL.
Use the menu next to each ingredient to skip it, halve it or add more. Nutrition updates as you go. The main ingredient changes with servings instead.
Amount for everything you're cooking. Missing an ingredient? Ask for it.
Healthier swaps
Optional. Nutrition and cost update as you choose; the recipe was written with the original.
- tamari (gluten-free soy sauce)
- coconut aminos: About 65% less sodium. A little sweeter (1 g sugar per teaspoon).
- brown sugar
- allulose: No sugar and almost no calories. About 70% as sweet, so the swap uses a third more.
Optional
Adds about 0 kcal per serving.
Quantities are for 2 servings.
Nutrition Facts
2 servings per recipe
Serving size 1 plate (352 g raw)
| Nutrient | Per serving | % DV* | Whole recipe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 715 | ||
| Total fat | 32 g | 42% | |
| Saturated fat | 4.7 g | 23% | |
| Cholesterol | 186 mg | 62% | |
| Sodium | 879 mg | 38% | |
| Total carbohydrate | 78 g | 28% | |
| Dietary fiber | 6.3 g | 23% | |
| Total sugars | 22 g | ||
| Net carbs† | 72 g | ||
| Protein | 33 g | 66% | |
| Vitamin D | 1 mcg | 5% | |
| Calcium | 770 mg | 59% | |
| Iron | 5.7 mg | 32% | |
| Potassium | 661 mg | 14% | |
| Vitamin A | 96 mcg | 11% | |
| Vitamin C | 15 mg | 17% | |
| Vitamin E | 3.9 mg | 26% | |
| Vitamin K | 77 mcg | 64% | |
| Thiamin (B1) | 0.36 mg | 30% | |
| Riboflavin (B2) | 0.48 mg | 37% | |
| Niacin (B3) | 3 mg | 19% | |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.41 mg | 24% | |
| Folate | 118 mcg | 30% | |
| Vitamin B12 | 0.45 mcg | 19% | |
| Magnesium | 121 mg | 29% | |
| Zinc | 3.3 mg | 30% | |
| Selenium | 44 mcg | 79% |
Estimated, not verified. These numbers are calculated from typical ingredient data and haven't been checked against a lab or your brands. Check the labels of what you buy and confirm anything that matters to you, especially sodium, sugar and allergens.
* % Daily Value shows how much one serving adds to a 2,000-calorie day. † Net carbs is not on US labels; it is total carbs minus fiber, allulose, erythritol and half of other sugar alcohols. "To taste" amounts are counted as written. Counted items (eggs, cloves, spoons) use the rounded amount shown in the ingredient list. Vitamins and minerals are from raw ingredients; cooking lowers some, especially vitamin C and folate. How this is calculated.
Steps
Soak the noodles in hot tap water for 20 minutes, then drain.
Done looks like: Bendy enough to wrap round a finger, with a firm white core. While they soak, press the tofu and cut it into small cubes. Mince the garlic. Cut the green onions into 3 cm (1 in) lengths. Chop the peanuts.
Stir together the tamarind, tamari and sugar until the sugar dissolves.
Heat 1 tbsp oil in the pan on high. Fry the tofu 5 minutes until golden, then push it to the side. Crack in the eggs and scramble until just set.
Add the rest of the oil, the garlic, noodles and sauce. Toss with tongs or two spatulas for 2–3 minutes.
Done looks like: Noodles soft and chewy. Sauce absorbed, nothing pooling. Add the sprouts and green onion and toss 30 seconds. Serve with the peanuts and lime juice.
Equipment
Large frying pan or skillet, 30 cm (12 in) $25–60
What to look for
- Wide flat base so food cooks in one layer
- Stainless steel or cast iron for high heat
Skip: Woks on flat electric stoves; they do not heat evenly there.
Silicone spatula $5–12
What to look for
- One-piece (no seam where the head meets the handle)
- Stiff enough to scrape, safe on non-stick
Skip: Wooden spatulas for non-stick pans; they work but do not scrape as cleanly.
Chef's knife, 20 cm (8 in) $15–50
What to look for
- Comfortable handle that does not slip when wet
- Blade you can sharpen, or a cheap one you replace every few years
Skip: Knife blocks with 12 knives. A chef's knife and a small paring knife cover almost everything.
Cutting board $10–30
What to look for
- At least 30 × 40 cm (12 × 16 in), so food stays on it
- Wood or plastic; plastic goes in the dishwasher
Skip: Glass or stone boards. They dull knives fast.
What goes wrong
| What | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Mushy, broken noodles | Soaked in boiling water, or too long. | Hot tap water only. They finish cooking in the pan. |
| Stiff noodles | Under-soaked, or the pan is too dry. | Add 2 tbsp water and toss another minute. |
| Too sour or too sweet | Tamarind strength varies. | Balance with a little more sugar or more tamarind, a teaspoon at a time. |
Versions
| Version | Changes | Per serving |
|---|---|---|
| Original | As written. Hands-on 25 min, total 43 min. | 715 kcal 33 g protein 6.3 g fiber 72 g net carbs 32 g fat |
| Vegan | No eggs. Also egg-free. Hands-on 25 min, total 43 min. | 644 kcal 27 g protein 6.3 g fiber 72 g net carbs 28 g fat |
| Nut-free | No peanuts. Hands-on 25 min, total 43 min. | 662 kcal 31 g protein 5.6 g fiber 71 g net carbs 28 g fat |
Notes
Allergies: removing an allergen from the recipe does not remove it from your kitchen or from other products. Check labels for "may contain" warnings.
Pregnancy: Cook the eggs until firm.