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Pad thai
Soak noodles in warm water until bendy but still firm, 20โ40 minutes depending on brand. Drain. Mix tamarind, fish sauce and palm sugar into a sauce. Taste: sour, salty, sweet, in that conversation.
Questions about this dish
Answers taken from this dish's times, amounts, swaps and tips โ not a chatbot.
How long does Pad thai take?
40 min all in โ 25 min prep, 15 min cook. That is the time on this recipe, not a guess.
How many does it serve?
The recipe is written for 2 plates. Scale the ingredient list on the page if you are cooking for a different number.
How hard is it?
Medium.
How spicy is it?
Mild.
What allergens should I watch?
This recipe is labelled for Fish, Eggs, Peanuts, Shellfish, Soy. Labels are informational โ check the packets in your kitchen. This is not medical advice.
Does it fit a diet?
The published recipe is labelled Pescatarian, Gluten-free, Dairy-free.
What does it cost to cook?
Weeknight budget โ about $8โ16 USD, as a grocery budget for this recipe, not a restaurant price.
What equipment do I need?
Wok, Mixing bowl.
How much salt do I put in?
This recipe does not list salt as its own ingredient. Saltiness comes from Fish sauce โ 1ยฝ tbsp. Taste at the end rather than adding a number we did not write.
How much fish sauce?
1ยฝ tbsp of Fish sauce.
What can I use instead?
Palm sugar โ Light brown sugar. A little less complex. Fine. Prawns โ Pressed tofu only. A common stall option. Check fish sauce if you need it vegetarian โ there is no true substitute, only omission.
What should I watch for?
Overcrowding makes steam, not wok flavour. Cook two portions max.
Any tips from this recipe?
The sauce should be mixed before the wok is hot. Pad thai is not the moment to hunt for palm sugar. If it tastes flat, it needs tamarind or lime, not more ketchup. Ketchup pad thai is a different, sweeter diaspora style โ name it if you cook it.
Can I use an air fryer?
This method is not written for an air fryer. The core technique on the page still applies.