Enjoy the vibrant and tangy flavors of this delightful Vegetable Pad Thai. This recipe combines tender rice noodles with a medley of colorful vegetables, all tossed in a deliciously nutty and tangy Thai sauce. The traditional version includes fish sauce, but I'll provide adjustments below for making it vegetarian or vegan. It's a quick and easy dish that will transport your taste buds to the streets of Thailand. Let's get cooking!
2tablespoonsfish sauce, adjust for vegetarian or vegan options*
For the Pad Thai
2tablespoonsoil
2clovesgarlic, minced
1red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1carrot, julienned
1cupbroccoli florets
1cupbean sprouts
2spring onions, sliced
2tablespoonschopped peanuts
Fresh cilantro, for garnish
Lime wedges, for serving
Instructions
Instructions:
Cook the rice noodles according to the package instructions. Once cooked, rinse them under cold water and set aside.
Make the sauce
In a small bowl, whisk together the tamarind paste, soy sauce, brown sugar, vegetable broth, white vinegar, chili paste, and fish sauce*. Set the sauce aside.
Heat the oil in a large wok or skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and stir-fry for 1 minute until fragrant.
Cook the vegetables
Add the sliced bell pepper, julienned carrot, and broccoli florets to the wok. Stir-fry for 3-4 minutes until the vegetables are tender-crisp.
Push the vegetables to one side of the wok and add the cooked rice noodles to the other side. Pour the prepared sauce over the noodles and toss everything together until well combined.
Add the bean sprouts and spring onions to the wok. Stir-fry for an additional 1-2 minutes until the bean sprouts have slightly wilted.
Serving the Pad Thai
Remove the wok from heat and garnish the Vegetable Pad Thai with chopped peanuts and fresh cilantro.
Serve the Vegetable Pad Thai hot with lime wedges on the side for squeezing over the dish.
Notes
Soak the rice noodles in warm water for about 10 minutes until they become pliable before cooking.
Be sure to rinse the cooked rice noodles under cold water to prevent them from sticking together.
Customize your Vegetable Pad Thai by adding protein of your choice, such as tofu, cooked shrimp, or grilled chicken.
Adjust the spiciness level by adding more or less chili paste according to your preference.
For a vegetarian version, replace fish sauce with vegetarian fish sauce or use additional soy sauce for flavor.
For a vegan version, replace fish sauce with vegan fish sauce or use additional soy sauce for flavor.
Feel free to add more vegetables or swap them with your favorites to make the dish your own.