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Shrimp Pad Thai served on a plate

Shrimp Pad Thai

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Shrimp Pad Thai is a quick and flavorful weeknight meal featuring tender rice noodles, juicy shrimp, and a balanced tamarind sauce. The key is soaking the noodles until pliable and cooking the shrimp last to keep it tender and juicy.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Thai

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb shrimp peeled and deveined
  • 2 eggs beaten
  • 8 oz rice noodles soaked in warm water until flexible but firm
  • 3 tablespoon tamarind paste provides signature sour flavor
  • 3 tablespoon fish sauce adds umami depth and saltiness
  • 2 tablespoon brown sugar balances the sour and salty
  • 1 cup bean sprouts added at the very end to keep crisp
  • 3 green onions sliced
  • 0.33 cup peanuts crushed roughly
  • 1 lime cut into wedges

Equipment

  • Wok or large skillet Used for scrambling eggs and stir-frying noodles and shrimp
  • Large bowl For soaking rice noodles in warm water

Method
 

  1. Soak the rice noodles in a large bowl covered with warm water for 25 minutes until they are flexible but still firm to the touch.
    8 oz rice noodles
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a wok or large skillet over medium heat. Add the beaten eggs and scramble them gently for 1-2 minutes until just set. Remove eggs to a plate and set aside.
    2 eggs
  3. Add another 1 tablespoon oil to the same pan and heat over medium-high. Add shrimp in a single layer and cook for 2-3 minutes, flipping once, until shrimp are opaque and pink. Remove shrimp to the plate with eggs.
    1 lb shrimp
  4. Drain the soaked noodles and add them to the hot pan with tamarind paste, fish sauce, and brown sugar. Toss constantly for about 2 minutes until noodles soften slightly and absorb the sauce.
    8 oz rice noodles, 3 tbsp tamarind paste, 3 tbsp fish sauce, 2 tbsp brown sugar
  5. Return the cooked shrimp and scrambled eggs to the pan along with bean sprouts and green onions. Toss everything together for 30 seconds to combine and heat through. Serve immediately topped with crushed peanuts and lime wedges.
    1 lb shrimp, 2 eggs, 1 cup bean sprouts, 3 green onions, 0.33 cup peanuts, 1 lime

Notes

  • Soak rice noodles in warm water until pliable but not mushy to maintain texture.
  • Cook shrimp last and briefly to keep it tender and prevent rubberiness.
  • Toast peanuts separately for extra crunch and to avoid burning during stir-fry.

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