Pad Thai

Pad Thai is one of the most famous dishes from Thailand. It is made with thin rice noodles that are stir-fried with eggs, tofu or shrimp, and a tangy, slightly sweet sauce. Pad Thai is topped with crushed peanuts, bean sprouts, and a squeeze of lime. It is loved by people all over the world for its amazing mix of flavors.

How Pad Thai Is Made

Pad Thai starts with thin, flat rice noodles that are soaked in water until soft. A special sauce is made from tamarind paste, fish sauce, and sugar. The noodles are stir-fried in a hot wok with eggs, tofu, or shrimp. The sauce is added, and everything is tossed together quickly. Bean sprouts and green onions are stirred in at the end.

The Story of Pad Thai

Pad Thai became a national dish of Thailand in the 1930s. The Thai government promoted it as a way to create a sense of national pride and use up rice. Street vendors across Thailand started making it, and it became wildly popular. Today, Pad Thai is the most ordered Thai dish in restaurants around the world.

Fun Facts

• Pad Thai means "Thai-style stir-fried noodles."
• The Thai government promoted Pad Thai as a national dish in the 1930s and 1940s.
• Tamarind paste gives Pad Thai its special tangy-sweet flavor.

Did You Know?

Pad Thai was promoted by the Thai government during World War II to help save rice, since noodles use less rice than eating rice directly!