Pad Thai Recipe
Authentic Thai Stir-Fried Rice Noodles with Shrimp

What Is Pad Thai?

Pad Thai is one of Thailand’s most famous noodle dishes. It is made with thin rice noodles stir-fried together with shrimp, egg, bean sprouts, garlic chives, and a sweet-and-sour tamarind sauce.

Although many people outside Thailand think Thai food is always spicy, traditional Pad Thai is actually not a spicy dish. The flavor is balanced between sweetness, sourness, saltiness, and the rich aroma of stir-fried noodles.

Chili powder is usually added later at the table depending on personal preference. This is one reason why Pad Thai is popular with both Thai people and international visitors.

Ingredients (1 Serving)

Ingredient	Amount
Shrimp	4–5 pieces
Diced fried tofu	1 tbsp
Chopped pickled radish	1 tsp
Dried shrimp	1 tsp
Egg	1 piece
Bean sprouts	80 g
Garlic chives	40 g
Thin rice noodles	150 g
Tamarind sauce	80 ml

Tamarind Sauce Ingredients

Ingredient	Amount
Fish sauce	1 tbsp
Tamarind paste	1 tbsp
Palm sugar	1 tbsp
Chili powder	A little

How to Cook Pad Thai

1. Soak the thin rice noodles in water until slightly soft.
2. Heat oil in a pan, then stir-fry dried shrimp, chopped pickled radish, and diced fried tofu until fragrant. Remove and set aside.
3. Stir-fry the shrimp until cooked.
4. Add the egg and lightly scramble it.
5. Add the rice noodles and tamarind sauce, then stir-fry until the noodles are evenly coated.
6. Return the tofu mixture to the pan and stir-fry everything together.
7. Add bean sprouts and garlic chives at the end, then quickly stir-fry over high heat.
8. Serve with lime and crushed peanuts.

Nutrition Information (Approximate)

Nutrition	Approximate Amount
Calories	About 720 kcal
Protein	About 26 g
Fat	About 24 g
Carbohydrates	About 92 g

Nutrition values may vary depending on the amount of oil, noodles, and shrimp used.

Thai Food Culture: Why Pad Thai Uses Thin Rice Noodles

Thailand has many different types of rice noodles. Thai noodle dishes use different noodle sizes depending on the recipe and cooking style.

For example:

• Thin rice noodles are used for Pad Thai.
• Wide rice noodles are commonly used for Pad See Ew and Rad Na.
• Small round noodles are often used in Thai noodle soup.

Traditional Pad Thai specifically uses thin rice noodles because they absorb the tamarind sauce well while staying light and slightly chewy. Using thick noodles changes the texture and overall balance of the dish.

How Thai People Actually Eat Pad Thai

In Thailand, Pad Thai is often served with lime, crushed peanuts, chili powder, and sometimes sugar on the side. Thai people usually adjust the flavor themselves before eating.

Some people add extra lime for more sourness, while others add chili powder for more heat. This “customizing at the table” culture is very common in Thailand.

How Thai People Actually Order Pad Thai

Useful Thai Food Vocabulary

Final Thoughts

Pad Thai is one of the best examples of balanced Thai flavors. Sweet tamarind sauce, chewy rice noodles, fresh bean sprouts, and fragrant chives create a dish that feels simple but deeply satisfying.

Understanding how Thai people actually eat and customize Pad Thai also helps you experience Thai food culture more naturally. Next time you eat Pad Thai, try adding lime and peanuts little by little, just like people do in Thailand.