Cultural Care is celebrating its 30th anniversary, and to help mark the occasion the au pair agency has collected delicious recipes from around the world! Pad Thai is a surefire favorite for the whole family.
Shrimp Pad Thai
As popular on the streets of Bangkok as it is in small villages around the country, pad thai is perhaps the most universally known Thai dish—and features savory, sour, and sweet ingredients.
Ingredients
4 servings
Cook time: 25m
8 oz. uncooked flat rice noodles
2 Tbsp. dark brown sugar
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 1/2 Tbsp. fish sauce
1 1/2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
1 Tbsp. tamarind paste
3 Tbsp. canola oil
1 cup green onion pieces
8 oz. large shrimp, peeled and deveined
5 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup fresh bean sprouts
1/4 cup chopped unsalted
dry-roasted peanuts
3 Tbsp. fresh basil, thinly sliced
Directions
- Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain.
- In a small bowl, combine sugar, soy sauce, fish sauce, lime juice, and tamarind paste.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil to the skillet. Add green onions, shrimp, and garlic. Sauté for 2 minutes, until shrimp is almost done.
- Add cooked noodles and toss to combine.
- Stir in the sauce and cook for 1 minute while stirring constantly.
- To serve, divide among serving plates and top with bean sprouts, peanuts, and basil.
A Piece of Thai History
During World War II, Thailand suffered from a rice shortage due to the war and the flood. The Thai government under Prime Minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram promoted eating rice noodles to reduce domestic rice consumption and helped to establish the identity of Thailand. As a result, a new stir-fried noodle with tofu, egg, bean sprouts, chives, and dried shrimp was created. Because of the perfect combination of seasoning—sweet from palm sugar, sour from tamarind sauce, salt from fish sauce, and spicy from chili powder—pad thai has since become the most popular Thai national dish.”
—Sirikarn, au pair from Thailand
