Pad Pak Thai is SUCH a tasty & easy meal you can whip up in just 15 minutes. A great way to use up any leftover veggies.
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What is pad pak? It's a Thai take on stir-fried vegetables, usually served with a side of rice or noodles.
Why I Love This Recipe
- So easy to customize - pack it with all your favorite veggies
- One pan, 15 minutes, minimal effort
- Entirely homemade
- So many ways to serve it - on its own, with rice, noodles, etc.
- The leftovers keep for days
The best part? I've prepared step-by-step photos & great expert tips to make sure you can nail this recipe on your first try!
Ingredients
You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make this recipe.
Ingredient Details
Veggies - Use whichever frozen or fresh vegetables you like. I chose carrots, red bell peppers, mangetout & tenderstem broccoli.
Sesame oil - Adds a nutty flavor. Can be replaced with other cooking oil like olive, coconut, and sunflower oil.
Lemon juice - Freshly squeezed works best.
Maple syrup - Or a different liquid sweetener such as agave syrup. You can also use brown sugar.
Rice vinegar - For best results, use Japanese rice vinegar. Replace with white vinegar if needed (although this changes the taste a little!).
Soy sauce - Originally, this recipe uses coconut aminos sauce. It can be a little pricey and hard to find. This is why I've subbed it for low-sodium soy sauce.
Spices - ground ginger, chili flakes.
In a rush? Use precut vegetables to save some extra time.
Steps
There are just a few super simple steps to this recipe.
Hint - This is just a quick visual overview. Find the exact measurements & instructions at the bottom.
1 - In a small bowl, mix all your sauce ingredients using a whisk or a fork. Set aside.
2 - Heat oil in a large frying pan on high heat. Once hot, add the veggies and turn down to medium heat.
3 - Gently fry for approx. 10 minutes* until tender but not soft.
4 - Add the sauce, stir well to heat it through & turn off the heat.
Sprinkle with optional toppings (sesame seeds, chili flakes). Serve it with a side of rice (or noodles) & enjoy!
* Tip - Cooking times vary depending on which veggies you’re using and how thinly you cut them.
Equipment
- Knife & chopping board - to cut the veggies
- Small bowl/mug - to make the sauce
- Frying pan/saucepan - to cook the veggies
- Spatula - to stir
Top Tips
- Make sure the veggies are cut into bite-sized pieces.
- Don't forget to stir regularly to prevent the veggies from sticking.
- Adjust the seasoning to taste.
- Serve with a lime wedge.
- Add more/less ginger and chili flakes depending on your preference.
- Serve piping hot.
Extra tip? A great way to add more flavor & aroma is to sprinkle pad pak with cilantro/coriander before serving!
FAQ
It simply means 'fried'. Pad pak simply translates to stir-fried vegetables.
Cut them into similar-sized pieces. If you use veggies that take longer to cook (like carrots), slice them extra small or thin.
Yes.
Variations
You can replace the vegetables I used with practically any other veggies.
I recommend baby corn, water chestnut, snow peas, snap peas, green onions, and green beans...
If you use garlic, make sure to slice it, not mince it - this would make it very likely to burn.
Serving
What makes pad pak one of my favorite dishes is how versatile it is.
You can serve it with:
- Noodles: I love rice or udon noodles.
- Rice: Jasmine rice works well.
- Broccoli or cauliflower rice: For a low-carb alternative to rice (& extra veggies)
- Tofu: if you want some extra plant protein source (these miso tofu cubes are perfect for it)
- Roasted lentils: for a light crunch & more protein
- Nuts or seeds: sprinkle some sesame seeds on top for extra crunchiness.
OR
- On its own
- As a side dish
Storing
If you have any leftovers, make sure they've cooled down first. Then transfer them to an airtight container.
Store in the fridge for 4-5 days and make sure to reheat thoroughly before serving.
Similar Recipes
If you love healthy & veggie-based recipes, why not try out my:
That's all - I hope you loved this recipe!
Got questions? I tried to make this recipe as simple & clear as possible. However, don't be afraid to get in touch if you have any questions. Simply leave a comment below.
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🍴Recipe
Pad Pak Thai (Stir-Fried Veggies)
Equipment
- 1 Knife & chopping board to cut the veggies
- 1 Small bowl/mug to make the sauce
- 1 Large frying pan to cook the veggies
- 1 Spatula to stir
Ingredients
Sauce
- 2 tablespoon lower sodium soy sauce or coconut aminos
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1.5 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon ginger powder
- red chili flakes to taste
Veggies
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1.5 cups broccoli chopped
- 1 cup carrot thinly sliced
- ½ red bell pepper chopped
- 2 cups mangetout
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix all your sauce ingredients using a whisk or a fork. Set aside for later.2 tablespoon lower sodium soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sesame oil, 1.5 tablespoon rice vinegar, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, 1 teaspoon ginger powder, red chili flakes
- Heat oil in a large frying pan on high heat. Once hot, add the veggies and turn down to medium heat.1 tablespoon sesame oil, 1.5 cups broccoli, 1 cup carrot, ½ red bell pepper, 2 cups mangetout
- Gently fry for approx. 10 minutes until tender but not soft. Cooking times vary depending on which veggies you’re using and how thinly you cut them.
- Add the sauce, stir well to heat it through & turn off the heat.
- Sprinkle with optional toppings (sesame seeds, chili flakes). Serve it with a side of rice (or noodles) & enjoy!
Notes
- Make sure the veggies are cut into bite-sized pieces.
- Don't forget to stir regularly to prevent the veggies from sticking.
- Adjust the seasoning to taste.
- Serve with a lime wedge.
- Add more/less ginger and chili flakes depending on your preference.
- Serve piping hot.
- To serve - serve hot with noodles, rice, cauliflower rice, tofu, roasted lentils, nuts, seeds or on its own.
- To store - keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days.
Nutrition
Disclaimer: The nutritional information above is calculated automatically. The author of this post cannot guarantee 100% accuracy of this data.
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