Pad Thai:Fresh, Delicious and Versatile

One of my favorite Asian meals (besides sushi) is Pad Thai. This amazingly flavorful dish is so versatile. You can use any protein you want in it, and also sub in different vegetables to match your preferences. When I make this dish I usually precook the protein and keep it to the side until the very end, then I take a portion of the finished product out for myself so it's still vegetarian (maybe add some tofu or my favorite  Mandarin Orange Chick'n, available at Target. YUM!) and then I add the meat in for the rest of the family I also saute the veggies in the order of . Pair this meal with an Asian soup or crispy spring rolls and date night will never involve take out again!

Pad Thai has been around for centuries but became widely popular in Thailand in the 1930's when the Prime Minister of Thailand made it the national dish, to discourage the country's dependence on rice exports. Since then not only is it still a staple in Thailand but has become extremely popular in the United States as well.

Ingredients:


4 T extra virgin olive oil
2 minced garlic cloves
1/4 c diced onion
1-2 beaten eggs (omit if you want a vegan dish)
Bean sprouts (I add them at the very end so they stay crunchy)
(I also add mushrooms, peppers and any other veggies I like or have in the fridge)

Sauce:
4 T lime juice
3 T soy sauce or fish sauce
3 T sugar (or a sugar substitute)
1/2 t red pepper flakes OR 1 t garlic chili sauce (or more for extra spice)

Garnish:
Fresh cilantro (I like to use basil instead)
Roasted peanuts
scallions
lime slices ( I love to squeeze them over the dish right before my first bite)
sesame seeds sprinkled on top seriously take any Asian dish to the next level

I love these pad thai noodles by Annie Chun's. They are gluten free and only contain 2 ingredients: brown rice flour and water. How awesome is that?!

Mmmm! Notice my soy "chik'n" that I prepare first and then add in meat for the rest of the family after I take my portion out

The finished product! 

If you have never made (or tried) Pad Thai give it a shot and let me know what you think!