Pad Thai is a traditional Thai street food dish, prized for its blend of salty, sweet, and tangy flavors. It has conquered the world. This balanced dish combines stir-fried rice noodles with shrimp, tofu, and eggs, all enhanced by a rich tamarind and lime sauce. Pad Thai is naturally gluten-free when using suitable ingredients, such as gluten-free soy sauce. Perfect for a quick and tasty dinner, this dish will transport your taste buds to the heart of Bangkok.
Cooking the noodles: Cook the rice noodles according to the package instructions, drain them, rinse them under cold water, and set aside. I usually boil water, cover the noodles with hot water, and wait for them to soften (about 10 minutes). They shouldn't be fully cooked, otherwise they'll be mushy when finishing the pad Thai. Then I rinse them under cold water to stop the cooking process.
Prepare the sauce: In a bowl, mix the tamarind sauce, gluten-free soy sauce, coconut sugar, fish sauce, and chili sauce. Set aside.
Preparing the vegetables: Add a little more oil to the wok, stir-fry the garlic and green onions until fragrant. Add the carrots (if using) and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
To assemble the Pad Thai: Return the shrimp and tofu to the wok, add the pre-cooked noodles and mung bean sprouts, and pour over the prepared sauce. Add a glass of water. Mix everything well for a few minutes, until the sauce evenly coats the ingredients.