After sending out a newsletter about all the different Pad Thai recipes I made in one weekend, I decided to this step-by-step easy Pad Thai for beginners roundup, with a bit more instructions for anyone who needs some visual photos. You can also bookmark or Pin this post for future reference, if you so need to have the steps handy. I’ve also included variations in ingredients and techniques for each recipe, catering to different dietary preferences and skill levels.
Thai
Pad Thai Sauce Recipe Without Tamarind
I created this Pad Thai sauce recipe without tamarind because tamarind is so difficult to find unless you order it on Amazon. I live right near an Asian grocery story, and I still can’t find it. Really, who needs to have yet another bottle hogging up space in the fridge? Totally not necessary! This sauce is the perfect balance of sweet, tangy, spicy, and savory, and it is enough for one family meal (1 pound of meat and 16 ounces of rice noodles). Why not skip that Thai takeout?
Vegetarian Tofu Pad Thai Recipe
The Kid has been a vegetarian for several years, so I created this vegetarian tofu Pad Thai recipe for her. It features pan-fried, crispy tofu sautéed in sesame seed oil, with all the traditional Pad Thai accompaniments. It’s totally delicious, and I think you won’t even miss the meat in it. This recipe is great for meatless Monday, or anytime that you want to sneak some healthy, vegan proteins into your diet. If you want to make it 100% vegan, then omit the scrambled eggs and fish sauce.
Simple Crab Salad Recipe With Old Bay Seasoning
Today, I am remaking a lobster salad into a simple crab salad recipe with some of that Old Bay seasoning. Crabs weren’t a thing in Massachusetts. It was lobster, lobster, and more lobster with an occasional side of lobster. But when I moved to Pennsylvania, it’s all about the crabs and Old Bay seasoning. So this crab salad sandwich was made to remind me of home, but with crab instead of lobster. :) I made it with mayonnaise, lump crab meat, and a good healthy dose of Old Bay.
Delicious Pad Thai With Ground Beef Recipe
Food prices are through the roof right now! I try to cut out as much costs as possible, so this is why I created this delicious Pad Thai with ground beef recipe. Pad Thai isn’t usually made with hamburger meat, so this recipe isn’t “authentic” in any sense. But it is still quite yummy, and since it uses rice noodles, it is also gluten-free. (Just make sure to use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari as well.) You can cook up a whole pot of Pad Thai for a fraction of the cost.
Shrimp Pad Thai Recipe
I absolutely love shrimp. Maybe it’s because I grew up surrounded by the ocean. Or maybe it’s because shrimp is just delicious. This shrimp Pad Thai recipe features those large, raw shrimp that you can buy in a big bag on sale at the local grocery store. But you can use any kind of shrimp, prawn, or even scallops, either raw or cooked, frozen or fresh. Regardless of your choice, the seafood adds a wonderful flavor and texture to the dish, complementing the tangy flavors of the Pad Thai.
Classic Chicken Pad Thai Recipe
This recipe is for the classic chicken Pad Thai. It’s a favorite for lots of people because chicken is versatile, cheap, and plentiful. If you use boneless, skinless chicken breast, it can also be healthy and a good source of protein because it is a lean cut of meat. I love chicken, but let’s face it. It can get a little repetitive to eat it all the time. This Pad Thai variation uses familiar ingredients in an exciting way, transforming the ordinary chicken to add to your dinner rotation.
Crab Pad Thai Recipe
Crab has been an acquired taste for me, but now I love it. Today, I am making some delicious crab Pad Thai to satisfy my crab cravings before I get to take a trip to Annapolis, MD for the bestest crab shack in the world. You can use imitation crab if you can’t find canned real crab, but the real deal is worth it. You don’t need a full pound can to make this recipe, either. I used a smaller can (about 5 ounces), and there was more than enough crab to make this dish tasty.
Pad Thai With Pork Recipe
I’ve made the entire rounds of different Pad Thai recipes with different meats, and now it’s time for Pad Thai with pork. I’m not the biggest fan of pork, but it cooks up much the same way as chicken and in this recipe, it’s surrounded by all those delicious Thai flavors. With this recipe, I made use of some pre-cooked rotisserie pork that I bought on a grocery store special. The pre-cooked rotisserie pork from the grocery store adds a flavorful twist to this Pad Thai recipe.
Savory Beef Pad Thai Recipe
This beef Pad Thai recipe features thinly sliced pieces of cooked beef, rice noodles, and my special Pad Thai sauce without tamarind. It’s very similar to my chicken and shrimp Pad Thai, but made for beef lovers. Although beef can be expensive, this recipe has just one pound of it, so it goes a long way. Fresh vegetables like bean sprouts, carrots, and green onions add crunch and color, making the dish both visually appealing and nutritionally balanced, but also to help counteract the salt.