Description
A delightful and customizable homemade Pad Thai sauce bursting with authentic Thai flavors, perfect for elevating your Pad Thai dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons oil (neutral oils like canola or vegetable for sautéing)
- 1.75 oz chopped garlic (about 1 head)
- 4 oz chopped shallot (about 1 cup)
- 4.9 oz palm sugar (roughly chopped)
- 1/2 cup fish sauce (use high-quality for maximum flavor)
- 3/4 – 1 cup tamarind paste (adjust to taste for tanginess)
- Chili flakes (to taste, optional for those who love a kick)
Instructions
- Sauté the aromatics: In a medium-sized pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chopped garlic and shallots. Sauté until soft and translucent, about 5-8 minutes. Remove them from the pot and set aside.
- Melt the sugar: Lower the heat to medium. Return the pot to the stove and add the palm sugar. Allow it to cook until melted, breaking any chunks as you go. This should take about 3-5 minutes. Keep your eyes on it, as sugar can burn easily!
- Caramelize the sugar: After melting, let the sugar caramelize to a slightly darker brown for a more robust flavor, being cautious not to let it get too dark.
- Incorporate tamarind and fish sauce: Turn off the heat, then add the tamarind paste. Be ready—it will bubble vigorously; quickly turn the heat back on to low and stir until well combined.
- Add fish sauce: Slowly add the fish sauce while stirring. Turn off the heat once the sugar is mostly dissolved.
- Finish it off: Stir the sautéed garlic and shallots back into the sauce, and add chili flakes for that spicy flair if you desire.
- Measure: Pour your sauce into a liquid measuring cup. Divide the total volume by 8 to determine the serving size for Pad Thai.
Notes
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Thai
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 80
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Fat: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg