Authentic Shrimp Pad Thai

I love Thai food so much, but making it at home intimidated me until we went to Thailand. I learned to make delicious Shrimp Pad Thai at Thai cooking school and this easy, authentic recipe has become a favorite!

When Dane and I vacationed in Thailand, one of the activities we were most excited about was our time at a traditional Thai cooking school. We had anticipated it for months and it certainly did not disappoint. We toured a traditional market, learned about the meat and ingredients used in dishes, and then toured a huge farm.

At the farm, we were introduced to many of the vegetables and spices used in most Thai households. I loved that part the most because the recipes didn’t intimidate me anymore. I was seeing exactly where things were sourced, what we needed, and how to make it happen in my own kitchen.

Shrimp Pad Thai

One of the more popular recipes we learned to make was this authentic Shrimp Pad Thai recipe. It is so tasty and equally simple to make!

What is Shrimp Pad Thai?

Here in the U.S., Pad Thai is a popular dish at many restaurants. It is often recommended for people who are trying Thai food for the first time. I love this fried noodle dish because it can be made with any sort of protein (including tofu) or with the protein omitted entirely, making it perfect for vegetarian appetites.

Today I’m going to share one of my favorite ways to enjoy this meal – with fresh jumbo shrimp! I like to buy the jumbo shrimp, so I use fewer in the recipe, but if you’re working with smaller shrimp, feel free to add more than the 10-12 I recommend.

Authentic Shrimp Pad Thai Recipe

To make this delicious Pad Thai at home, you will need:

3 tbsp olive or coconut oil

4 cloves of crushed garlic

10-12 jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined

1 package rice noodles, pre-softened

1 tsp green onions, chopped

1 tsp of fish sauce

1 1/2 tsp sugar

2 tsp white vinegar mixed with 3 tbsp water

1 cup of bean sprouts

1 egg

Pinch of chili powder

Pinch of salt

1 tbsp crushed roasted peanuts

Lime wedge, for garnish

1. In a skillet over medium heat, heat olive or coconut oil and 1 crushed clove of garlic.

2. When aromatic, sauté shrimp until fully cooked.

3. Turn the heat down to low and add in the rest of the garlic, noodles, chili powder, and vinegar/water combination.

4. Turn the heat up to medium again.

5. When the noodles are soft, turn the heat back down to low.

6. Move the noodles and shrimp to one side of the skillet.

7. Crack and scramble the egg on the empty side.

8. Mix egg with noodles and shrimp.

9. Add in fish sauce, sugar, salt, crushed peanuts, bean sprouts, and green onions.

10. Turn the heat to high and stir fry before serving.

11. Garnish with a lime wedge.

If you liked this recipe, you might also enjoy Vegetarian Thai Green Curry or Thai Noodle Soup