A delicious Pad Thai stir-fried and tossed in a flavorful sauce with shrimp, but chicken, beef, tofu or a combination works well with this noodle dish.
Soften the Rice Noodles - Heat a large pot of water until it becomes lukewarm, about 80 to 90°F (27 to 32°C), then turn off the heat. Add the rice noodles and soak until flexible yet solid but not completely cooked, about 5 to 10 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water.
Make the Sauce - In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the fish sauce, tamarind paste, palm sugar, lime juice, and rice vinegar. Set aside.
Cook the Eggs - Heat a wok or large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add oil. Once hot, add the garlic and stir for 15 seconds. Add the egg and quickly stir to break the yolk. Mix to scramble and break into smaller pieces. The egg should be slightly wet and uncooked before adding the shrimp.
Cook the Shrimp - Add the shrimp and mix. Cook until they just turn pink and the egg fully scrambles, about 1 minute.
Add the Noodles and Sauce - Add the softened noodles, stir to combine, and cook for 2 minutes. Add the sauce and stir to combine. Turn off the heat.
Toss with Paprika - Add the paprika and toss until the noodles turn slightly red in color. Add the green onions and allow them to wilt slightly.
Garnish and Serve - Transfer to a serving plate, top with bean sprouts and chopped peanuts, and serve with lime wedges.
Notes
Palm Sugar Substitutes: Brown sugar, granulated sugar, coconut sugar, honey or pure maple syrup.
Tamarind Paste Substitutes: Fruit jam, preserves, or marmalade like guava, strawberry, or orange. Tangy pomegranate molasses syrup. Dried fruit like apricots, dates, raisins, pineapples, prunes that have been soaked in warm water, drained and pureed into a paste. Balance the taste with lime juice and rice vinegar as needed.
Saucier Noodles: Double the sauce for more of a coating on the noodles.
Spicier Sauce: Use some hot paprika (reducing the amount of sweet paprika), sambal oelek, or Thai chili paste. Start with ¼ teaspoon and increase to desired spice level.
More Protein: Use 8 ounces of shrimp instead of 4 ounces for a heartier dish.