05/12/2022
Tofu Pad Thai
Pad Thai should be a balance of three flavors: sweet, salty, and sour from palm sugar, fish sauce, and tamarind, respectively. You can find these ingredients in nearby Asian supermarkets but if need be, you can substitute, palm sugar with light brown sugar and tamarind with ketchup. I love using high quality fish sauce from These substitutions are cost efficient and have been used in many Thai restaurants when adapting to local ingredients and pallets but I strongly recommend using the authentic ingredients if possible.
Ingredients
8 oz dried rice noodles (1/2-inch thickness), soaked
Pad Thai Sauce
4 oz palm sugar, shaved
1/4 cup fish sauce
3 tbsp tamarind
3 tbsp vegetable oil
32 oz firm tofu, pressed
6 eggs
3 clove garlic, minced
1 large white onion, thinly sliced
3 oz bean sprouts
3 stalk scallion, thinly sliced
Garnish
1/4 cup roasted peanuts, crushed
1 lime, wedged
Preparation
2. In a pan, combine palm sugar, fish sauce, and tamarind over medium heat until combined. Set aside.
3. In a pan, add oil and heat it over high heat for 1 minute until it is just smoky.
4. Add firm tofu and sear for 3 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Don’t be afraid to let it sit untouched to develop sear, flavor, and color.
5. Set the tofu on one side of the pan and add in your eggs. Lightly scramble and let it cook for 3 minutes or until it is all set.
6. Add rice noodles, garlic, white onion, and sauce. Toss for 5 minutes or until rice noodles are cooked and sauce is absorbed.
7. Turn off heat. Add bean sprouts and scallions and toss for 1 minute, just until it is light softened.
8. Garnish with crushed peanuts and lime wedges. Enjoy!