How to Make Pad Thai Noodles With Sauce From Scratch

Pad Thai is delicious and hearty.

Pad Thai is an exotic noodle dish garnished with crushed peanuts and lime juice. The Asian dish has a signature savory sauce that is tossed with rice noodles and stir fried along with the meat or protein of choice, often chicken and shrimp. If you are craving Pad Thai and want to make it at home, bottled sauces are supposed to make the job easier. However, whipping together a homemade sauce from scratch isn't nearly as hard as it sounds and will have an authentic taste well worth the effort.

Things You'll Need

• 1/2 cup Asian fish sauce
• 3 tbsp. soy sauce
• 3 tbsp. brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tbsp. water
• Dried pepper flakes
• 1/8 tsp. crushed ginger
• Small bowl
• Whisk
• 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 2 tbsp. vegetable or olive oil
• Large skillet or wok
• 8 large shrimp
• 4 fresh diced garlic cloves
• 1 cup thinly sliced carrots
• 3/4 cup chopped green onion
• 1 cup cubed zucchini
• 1 cup fresh sprouts
• 1/2 lb. cooked rice noodles
• Chopped peanuts
• Fresh lime juice

Instructions

1. Combine 1/2 cup Asian fish sauce, 3 tbsp. soy sauce, 3 tbsp. brown sugar, 1 1/2 tbsp. water, a pinch of dried pepper flakes, and 1/8 tsp. crushed ginger in a small bowl. Whisk the ingredients together well and set the sauce aside.

2. Cut two large boneless chicken breasts into bite-sized chunks and cook on medium high on a large skillet or wok that has been coated with 2 tbsp. olive or vegetable oil for three minutes on each side or until the inside is no longer pink.

3. Add eight large shrimp to the hot wok and cook for an additional three minutes, turning them over halfway through.

4. Increase the temperature to high. Add four fresh diced garlic cloves, 1 cup thinly sliced carrots, 3/4 cup chopped green onion, 1 cup cubed zucchini, and 1 cup of fresh sprouts. Toss the vegetables with the chicken and shrimp in the hot pan for two minutes.

5. Add 1/2 lb. cooked rice noodles to the hot stir fry and toss well.

6. Drizzle the Pad Thai with the homemade sauce, toss well, and immediately remove from the heat.

7. Serve the Pad Thai garnished with crushed peanuts and/or fresh lime juice if you wish.