How to Make Authentic Pad Thai at Home
Pad Thai is known as one of Thailand’s most iconic dishes, and it has become a staple meal in homes all over the world. People enjoy Pad Thai for its delicious balance of flavours, its rich tangy sauce, and its simplicity to make.
However, if you’re new to cooking Pad Thai, you might be unsure about the ingredients or how to make it properly for an authentic Thai experience. In this post, we help you master the art of making Pad Thai by sharing the essential ingredients, our recipe, and some useful cooking tips to make it perfect every time.
What Ingredients Make a Pad Thai?
To make a flavourful Pad Thai, you need to know all of the ingredients so you’re prepped and ready to start cooking. These ingredients and seasonings combine to create Pad Thai’s signature sweet, salty, sour, and spicy flavour profile.
Here’s a list of key ingredients to make Pad Thai — and we stock most of them at Thai Food Store:
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Rice noodles
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Protein source (chicken, shrimp, or tofu)
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Eggs
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Garlic, spring onions, bean sprouts, onions, peppers
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Tamarind paste
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Fish sauce
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Palm sugar
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Chilli paste or fresh chillies
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Optional – lime wedges, peanuts
Pad Thai typically takes around 20–30 minutes to cook, with some prep time needed for the noodles, making it a quick and satisfying dish.
Prepare the Noodles and Sauce
Start by soaking the rice noodles in a bowl of warm water for around 20–30 minutes. Soak them until they’re soft but still firm to the bite — you want them to hold up well during stir-frying. Once ready, drain the noodles and set them aside.
To make the sauce, combine tamarind paste, fish sauce, palm sugar, and chilli paste (if you like spice) in a small bowl with a little water. Adjust the balance of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy to your taste. Remember — it’s easier to add more flavour than to take it away.
Cook the Protein and Vegetables
Next, cook the protein and vegetables. Common options include chicken, shrimp, tofu, or a mix of all three. Slice into bite-sized pieces, heat oil in a wok or frying pan over medium-high heat, and cook until golden brown. Remove from the pan and set aside.
In the same pan, stir-fry your vegetables — garlic, bean sprouts, carrots, peppers, and spring onions — for a couple of minutes until softened but still slightly crisp. Avoid overcooking, as you want them to keep their texture.
Combine and Serve
Add the noodles and cooked protein back into the pan, then pour the sauce over the top. Toss everything together until evenly coated. Push the mixture to one side of the pan, crack in an egg, and scramble it. Once cooked, mix it through the rest of the ingredients.
Transfer your Pad Thai to a bowl, garnish with lime wedges, crushed peanuts, and fresh coriander — and enjoy a truly authentic Thai meal!
Tips for Cooking the Perfect Pad Thai
Use High-Quality Ingredients
The ingredients make all the difference. Always use authentic Thai rice noodles, as they provide the perfect texture for stir-frying and absorb flavours beautifully. Fresh vegetables add both taste and crunch.
Perfect Your Stir-Fry Technique
Keep ingredients moving in the pan to avoid burning and ensure even cooking. Don’t overcrowd the pan — this helps noodles fry evenly and stay firm.
Balance the Flavours
Pad Thai is all about harmony — the balance of sweet, salty, sour, and spicy. Adjust tamarind paste, fish sauce, palm sugar, and chilli carefully so that no single element overpowers the rest.
Buy Pad Thai Ingredients at Thai Food Store
Here at Thai Food Store, we stock authentic Thai ingredients delivered straight from Thailand. You’ll find everything you need to make traditional Pad Thai — including rice noodles, sauces, spices, seasoning powders, and fresh or frozen protein options such as shrimp, chicken, tofu, and seafood.
We also provide quick delivery across the UK, so you can experience the rich, authentic taste of Thailand from the comfort of your kitchen.