Description
This Pad Thai sauce recipe delivers an authentic balance of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy flavors, perfect for transforming weeknight dinners into a special meal. It provides essential ingredients and simple steps for a quick, nutritious, and budget-friendly base.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 Tbsp tamarind paste (seedless block or concentrate)
- 3 Tbsp fish sauce (or low-sodium version)
- 2 Tbsp palm sugar (30g)
- 2 Tbsp fresh lime juice (30ml)
- 1–2 tsp Tamarind Chili Shine
Instructions
- Gather Ingredients: Collect all your tamarind paste, fish sauce, palm sugar, fresh lime juice, and Tamarind Chili Shine.
- Combine & Whisk: In a medium bowl, combine the tamarind paste, fish sauce, palm sugar, fresh lime juice, and Tamarind Chili Shine. Whisk vigorously until the palm sugar completely dissolves, aiming for a smooth consistency. (If palm sugar is clumpy, microwave for 15 seconds to help it dissolve).
- Taste & Adjust: Taste the sauce and adjust as needed for a rich, aromatic blend of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy. Add more tamarind for sourness, palm sugar for sweetness, or Tamarind Chili Shine for a bolder kick.
Notes
For best results, look for quality tamarind paste at Asian markets or specialty online stores. Fresh-squeezed lime juice is essential. To deepen flavors and thicken slightly, gently simmer the sauce for 2-3 minutes in a small saucepan. For busy nights, whisk everything directly in a measuring cup to minimize dishes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 minutes
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Whisking
- Cuisine: Thai
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 Tbsp sauce
- Calories: 75 calories
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 0.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg