Pad Thai

Pad Thai

Almost a national dish of Thailand, Mary Cadogan's simplified take makes it easy to shop for - and very authentic tasting

Difficulty and servings

Easy

Serves 2-3

Preparation and cooking times

Total time

Ready in 25-30 minutes

Method

  1. Put the noodles in a large heatproof bowl, pour boiling water over them and leave for 4 minutes, then drain and refresh under cold running water.
  2. Put the lime juice, cayenne, sugar and fish sauce in a bowl and mix well. Have all the other ingredients ready by the cooker.
  3. Heat the oil and fry the prawns until warmed through. Add the spring onions and noodles and toss around. Tip in the lime juice mixture, then stir in the beansprouts and half the peanuts and coriander. Cook for 1 minute until everything is heated through.
  4. Pile into a large dish, scatter with the rest of the peanuts and coriander, and serve with lime wedges and sweet chilli sauce.
Try

Using rice noodles

If there are two thicknesses of noodle available in your local shop, go for the thicker ones for this recipe.

Nutrition per serving for two

531 kcalories, protein 27g, carbohydrate 62g, fat 20 g, saturated fat 3g, fibre 2g, sugar 5g, salt 3 g

Recipe from Good Food magazine, September 2002.

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Latest comments and suggestions

Results 1-20

  • 2007-11-04 10:29:32.496487

    annemiek commented on this recipe

    This is very yummy. I did omit the prawns because people in my family including myself are vegetarians. But I fried some eggs to go with, and everyone loved it.

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  • 2008-01-13 14:53:06.297237

    coby rated this recipe

    4 stars

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  • 2008-01-28 20:16:08.246109

    GlastoGirl commented on this recipe

    I was going to serve it on a bed of bok-choi but there wasn't any on the supermarket. So I added spinach and a little extra chili. Superb!

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  • 2008-03-20 11:57:13.504423

    Moley rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    Fantastic recipe..added a couple of chopped basil leaves too - superb recipe and so quick and easy!!

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  • 2008-03-20 16:44:19.076796

    T0xicCandy commented on this recipe

    Brilliant recipe, really fresh and delicious. A great easy and quick recipe for a weeknight!

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  • 2008-05-08 11:31:42.653182

    heather's rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    So easy, so tasty. I make it again and again

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  • 2008-06-02 16:07:24.817532

    Naomi rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Definitely all the stars for this pad thai - really easy, really yummy. Added an egg at the end, like you do with fried rice, was brilliant.

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  • 2008-06-11 08:20:30.463666

    aitchelle rated and commented on this recipe

    3 stars

    I thought it was okay... not great, though.

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  • 2008-12-07 14:18:40.990778

    Preya rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    This recipe was yummy, I added eggs and recommend others to do the same.

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  • 2009-01-28 20:24:43.68228

    The Mac rated and commented on this recipe

    2 stars

    I thought this was very average Mary. I feel this recipe should be called thai prawn noodle salad....bit disappointed.

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  • 2009-03-27 12:49:43.170567

    Doc83 commented on this recipe

    Really good recipe. Quick, easy and tasty. I added some chicken and egg, spot on.

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  • 2009-04-05 18:19:03.821199

    Simpkins rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    Easy to make and very tasty. A real family pleaser!

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  • 2009-04-27 12:22:54.680569

    glitterysparkle rated and commented on this recipe

    2 stars

    Bit bland - not a favourite for me.

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  • 2009-04-28 14:46:15.085634

    Girl Flower rated and commented on this recipe

    3 stars

    This was very easy to make and ideal for after work. I added an egg as lots of you suggested. It was a good dinner but not amazing - I will make again though as I think I can improve on my first attempt. I did use the thin rice noodles as I could not find the thick ones and I think thick would be far better.

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  • 2009-05-12 19:46:34.830741

    Costa Restauranteur commented on this recipe

    This recipe is missing a key ingredient, tamarind pulp. I don't think I'd call it Pad Thai without it. No doubt some found it bland. You can buy it at an Asian market, already pressed and strained in a jar. Mix it with the fish sauce, chili and sugar, in a pot over low heat for 10 minutes or so, then proceed as directed.

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  • 2009-06-18 18:59:42.296276

    Heather commented on this recipe

    I added egg, red onion and red pepper and would probably add some mangetout next time. I found the sauce to be the perfect balance and I like things with a bit of kick.

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  • 2009-08-20 20:30:56.351382

    margaret hughes commented on this recipe

    Doesn't say how many servings it makes

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  • 2009-08-20 20:32:16.347194

    margaret hughes commented on this recipe

    Sorry my mistake !!!

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  • 2009-09-02 21:59:04.477987

    s.hallett rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    Tasty although I added a little too much cayenne...would add some extra veg in next time though, may not be quite so traditional but would make it more balanced and a bit more varied to the eye.

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  • 2009-12-06 14:02:23.665283

    Chris commented on this recipe

    Quick question, would i still have to use the fish sauce if i was using chicken instead of prawns? and if not what would be the best substitute to use?

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Difficulty and servings

Easy

Serves 2-3

Preparation and cooking times

Total time

Ready in 25-30 minutes

Wonderful and authentic

Ingredients

  • 125g (half a 250g pack) rice noodles
  • 3 tbsp lime juice (about 2 limes)
  • ½ tsp cayenne pepper
  • 2 tsp light muscovado sugar
  • 2 tbsp fish sauce (nam pla)
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 200g cooked and peeled tiger prawns , tails left on
  • 4 spring onions , sliced
  • 140g beansprouts
  • 25g salted peanuts , finely chopped
  • a small handful of coriander leaves

TO SERVE

  • 1 or 2 limes , cut into wedges
  • sweet chilli sauce
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Nutrition per serving for two

531 kcalories, protein 27g, carbohydrate 62g, fat 20 g, saturated fat 3g, fibre 2g, sugar 5g, salt 3 g

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