Pad thai, literally "Thai style frying," is a Thai noodle dish made from stir fried rice noodles with ingredients including egg, peanuts, shallots, sprouts, tofu, and a choice of meat. It is one of the most well known Thai dishes, and can be found at Thai restaurants all over the world. In Thailand, the dish is readily available at roadside stands and in casual dining establishments. It has a lot of ingredients that come together in a symphony of hot, sweet, sour, and salty: the four cornerstones of Thai cuisine.
This dish is typically stir fried in a wok or heavy pan, and in Thailand, it is found in a light, relatively dry form. Outside of Thailand, it is frequently prepared with a large amount of oil, and tends to be greasier. By making pad thai at home, cooks can control the amount of oil used, making the dish to their taste.
Cooks can make pad thai at home by first soaking rice noodles in warm water. The noodles need to soak for at least 20 minutes so that they will become flexible and a little soft. While the noodles are soaking, the cook can prepare the other ingredients, starting with the sauce. A basic sauce mixes tamarind paste, fish sauce, sugar, lime juice, chilies, and a pinch of salt. The cook can also add soy sauce for a hint of darker color and flavor.