Easy Pad Thai Sauce Recipe - how to make in 10 minutes (2024)

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This Pad Thai Sauce is super easy to make at home, naturally vegan, and gluten-free. You only need simple ingredients and have a sauce that tastes better than any store-bought version. Versatile for all easy meals like Pad Thai Noodles, rice noodles, or in a vegetable stir fry.

Easy Pad Thai Sauce Recipe - how to make in 10 minutes (1)

We all know that the one thing that makes a dish taste deliciously is typically the sauce. Or, if we are talking about salads, then it is the dressing. Anyway, it’s the same idea.

My regular readers know that homemade sauces are not new to this blog. Just think back to the Romesco Sauce or my Lemon Pasta Sauce. Where those come from, there are many more waiting for you. Simply use the search bar, type “sauce” and be sure you’ll find so many options that you will never go back to store-bought.

With this new Pad Thai Sauce recipe, I bring you the next addition to this list. Trust me when I tell you, it is a keeper in and out that the whole family loves, even the pickiest kids. It is fresh, homemade, versatile, super easy to make, perfectly seasoned, and all you need for noodle dishes or stir-fries.

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What’s in this vegan pad Thai sauce

  • Tamarind concentrate
  • Rice vinegar
  • Kecap manis
  • Tamari
  • Minced garlic
  • Maple syrup

As you can see, you just need 6 simple ingredients for this best pad Thai sauce. As usual, I’m not counting salt and pepper that you can use to taste.

Does Pad Thai sauce have sugar in it?

When you check out other recipes for Pad Thai sauce or buy some from the store, you will see that they often have a lot of sugar in them.

The most commonly used sugars are palm sugar, brown sugar, or coconut sugar.

As you can see from the list of my homemade sauce ingredients, I use maple syrup instead, which I think makes a great substitute.

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How to make Pad Thai sauce

In a small casserole or saucepan, add tamarind concentrate, tamari sauce, rice vinegar, minced garlic, kecap manis, maple syrup, and season with a pinch of salt and pepper.

Now heat your casserole or saucepan and turn from medium to full heat. Always keep stirring with a wire whisk, and bring to a simmer.

Turn to low heat for two minutes, then let it cool for 5 minutes. Fill in a jar with a top lid. If you store it airtight in the fridge, the sauce will stay good for 2 weeks.

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Note: If you need a larger batch for many dishes, just double or triple the ingredients and make a larger quantity to your own needs.

This easy and delicious Pad Thai sauce is such an amazing condiment. It works with any pasta dishes or rice bowls.

Stir fry veggies are really among all the delicious recipes to try for dinner, lunch, or meal prep.

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Variations on ingredients and flavors

Pad Thai Sauce without tamarind: If you can’t find tamarind (sometimes also called tamarind puree) or don’t like it, I have an option for you.

There is an amazing substitute that makes it as easy as it can get.

Read this “TAMARIND PASTE SUBSTITUTE” post for more details.

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Pad Thai peanut sauce: only recently I played around with this recipe and added 1 Tbsp peanut butter to it.

Tell you what, it turned out so amazing. This is something you should try, you won’t regret.

Of course, I find creamy peanut butter with a pinch of salt works best in the sauce. However, you can use what is in your cupboard.

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If you give this Pad Thai Sauce a try tag me on Instagram or Facebook.

Can’t wait to see all your remakes and dishes with a snapped picture.

Enjoy, Florian.

Easy Pad Thai Sauce Recipe - how to make in 10 minutes (8)

Pad Thai Sauce

Yield: 8

Prep Time: 2 minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

This Pad Thai Sauce is super easy to make at home, naturally vegan, and gluten free. You only need simple ingredients and have a sauce that tastes better than any store bought version. Versatile for all easy meals like Pad Thai Noodles, rice noodles, or in a vegetable stir fry.

Ingredients

  • 4 Tbs tamarind concentrate
  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 Tbs kecap manis (I used gluten free)
  • 2 Tbs tamari
  • 4 tsp maple syrup
  • salt, pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. In a small casserole or sauce pan, add tamarind concentrate, tamari sauce, rice vinegar, minced garlic, ketzap manis, maple syrup, and season with a pinch salt and pepper.
  2. Now heat your casserole or sauce pan and turn from medium to full heat. Always keep stirring with a wire whisk, and bring to a simmer.
  3. Turn to low heat for two minutes, then let it cool for 5 minutes.
Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8Serving Size: 1 Tbsp
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 29Total Fat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 83.7mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 0.2gSugar: 5.7gProtein: 0.2g

Easy Pad Thai Sauce Recipe - how to make in 10 minutes (2024)

FAQs

What is Pad Thai sauce made of? ›

Pad Thai Sauce is made with fish sauce, oyster sauce, brown sugar and tamarind. Tamarind is the ingredient that is the heart and soul of Pad Thai sauce, giving the sauce the sour flavour that Pad Thai is known for. It's an ingredient used in South East Asian cooking, like this Malaysian Beef Rendang.

What makes Pad Thai taste so good? ›

If it's only made of those ingredients, what then makes it so unique? A Pad Thai has tamarind, fish sauce, garlic, dried shrimp, palm sugar, and red chili pepper. These simple ingredients make Pad Thai a bowl of five tastes—salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and umami.

How do you thicken Pad Thai sauce? ›

In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons cold water until smooth to make a slurry (see note). Whisk the slurry into the tamarind sauce and reduce the heat to low. Simmer, whisking continuously, for 2 minutes. As the cornstarch cooks, it will thicken up the sauce.

What should Pad Thai sauce taste like? ›

The dish is mixed with a tamarind sauce and served with lime. The flavors of this dish are centered around a sweet-savory fusion. Salty, nutty, and with that slightly sweet sauce, it's a treat for tastebuds!

Why is Pad Thai sauce orange? ›

When it's sold in restaurants outside Thailand, the noodles are sometimes bright orange – that's because sauces or spices, like paprika, have been used instead of tamarind. Authentic Pad Thai is a light reddish-brown colour.

How to cook 3 minutes noodles? ›

1 - Break noodles into bowl, add flavour sachet. 2 - Pour over 250ml boiling water, cover and leave for 3 min. 3 - Enjoy!

How to cook 2 minute noodles? ›

Cook in 1½ cups (375mL) of boiling water in an 850 watt microwave oven on HIGH for 2 minutes. Stir in contents of flavour sachet and enjoy! Serve with or without broth as desired. MAGGI 2 Minute Noodles also make a great base for a quick and delicious meal.

Should Pad Thai be wet or dry? ›

Real pad thai should be:

Stir-fried in a hot wok, so the noodles come out dry with a little smokiness, not wet.

Is Pad Thai junk food? ›

Although the ingredients in pad Thai are generally pretty healthy, the calories can still add up fast. Just one cup of a typical pad Thai has about 400 calories and 17 grams of fat, as well as loads of sodium.

What are the 5 flavors of Pad Thai? ›

The name of this establishment refers to the five flavors (ha/ห้า=five, roat/รส=flavors) which are present in a good pad Thai: salty, sweet, sour, spicy, and savory.

Why is my Pad Thai soggy? ›

Overcooked noodles are too soft...too soft noodles break into bits. This is why I stress so much that you should only cook pad thai in batches of 2 servings, and the most delicate fresh noodles should be cooked ONE portion at a time. There is a reason why street vendors cook them one order at a time!

How healthy is pad thai? ›

It can definitely be a part of a balanced, well-rounded diet. While pad thai includes many nutritious ingredients, its sodium content is considerably high. You can reduce its sodium by requesting the eatery go easy on the sauce and salt-contributing condiments.

How can I thicken a sauce quickly? ›

Use Flour and Water

Combine 2 tablespoons flour with every 1/4 cup cold water and whisk until smooth. Add the mixture to your sauce over medium heat, and continue to stir and cook until you've reached your desired consistency. Test with a spoon.

What gives pad thai its color? ›

Why is Pad Thai pink? The thing that has turned rice noodle into pink colour is a tamarind sauce and fish sauce that commonly use when cooke Pad Thai. So basically Tamarind sauces add to give a hint of sour and sweet.

Why is Pad Thai sauce red? ›

Authentic Pad Thai in Thailand is not red! Sometimes if they use a lot of Tamarind paste it can have somewhat of an orangish tinge. Many places that make Pad Thai especially in the States use Ketchup (disgusting) and that Pad Thai is red and taste nothing like authentic Pad Thai which is delicious!

Does Pad Thai always have soy sauce? ›

It is usually a mixture of fish sauce (condiment made of fish), oyster sauce (made from oyster extract), brown sugar and tamarind (tree seed), but can also include shrimp, garlic, shallots or red chili pepper. Some establishments or chefs may use soy sauce, which is traditionally made by fermenting soybeans and wheat.

Is Pad Thai sweet or sour? ›

Real pad thai should be:

A good balance of sweet, salty and sour, not leading with any one flavour. LOADED with beansprouts which lightens the noodles and add freshness.

Is Pad Thai sauce spicy? ›

You can make it in different ways, and you'll find variations from restaurant to restaurant and cook to cook, as it is with a lot of Thai food. It isn't traditionally spicy, but I like to give my own spicy spin to the dish. The key to a good Pad Thai recipe, to me, is the fresh ingredients.

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