I view my gluten free Pad Thai recipe as the Thai version of leftover night, only unlike a typical leftover dinner, this is a dish everyone can get excited about. Open your refrigerator and start throwing in ingredients – literally, just toss them into the wok or large skillet and sauté with yummy Thai sauces until all the flavors aromatically permeate your house and call everyone to the meal.
There are many commercially available Pad Thai sauces you can pick up at an Asian grocery or even your regular grocery store. Brands like Thai Kitchen® are easy to find, just always double check to see that there are no ingredient changes (like adding wheat-containing soy sauce). The Pad Thai sauce I particularly love is Maesri from Thailand – I get it at my local Asian Market. My favorite San-J Thai Peanut Sauce is also wonderful in many recipes, adding spice and flavor to any rice, egg, fish, chicken or vegetable dish you like; mix in with Pad Thai sauce and it’s truly something to behold!
As for noodles, you can get those at Asian markets as well, or choose a readily available American brand like Annie Chun’s Brown Rice Noodles if you want some extra fiber (4 grams of fiber and protein in every serving). There is no taste difference between white rice noodles and brown rice noodles, so I opt for the brown rice whenever I can! Also consider new black bean noodle options for extra protein.
Another great option is to use spaghetti squash for your noodles. You’ll need less sauce, so go easy on that until after you’ve added in the spaghetti squash “noodles,” since they won’t absorb the sauce like rice noodles will.
Get creative with your leftover night, but be sure to write down what you do so you can repeat what is sure to be a new favorite dish! I usually double the recipe I’ve written for you, so we have plenty of leftover-leftovers for another night! It’s delicious reheated (or, dare I say, cold?!), so if you want to be sure to have some for later, double the recipe below!
Gluten Free Pad Thai Recipe
Ingredients
Pad Thai
- 8 oz. rice noodles or one large spaghetti squash
- 1 Tbs. toasted sesame oil
- 14 oz.+ cubed, unflavored tofu or chicken, or uncooked, deveined shrimp
- 1 Tbs. granulated cane sugar
- 6-9 oz. gluten-free Pad Thai sauce (e.g. Maesri or Thai Kitchen®) – add more if the final dish is too dry
- 1/8-1/4 cup San-J Thai Peanut Sauce (or may use additional Pad Thai sauce)
- 1 ½ cups chopped mushrooms or other chosen veggies (e.g. green beans, carrots, diced zucchini, okra …)
- ½ cup bok choi, spinach, kale or other greens
- 1 cup bean sprouts, rinsed well
- 2 tsp. peeled and chopped, fresh ginger (optional)
- chopped peanuts for garnish (optional)
Instructions
Prepare noodles according to package directions. Cook, drain and set aside.
Preheat a large wok or skillet and heat the sesame oil over medium-high heat.
Add your chosen protein (tofu or chicken – do not add the shrimp at this point or it will over-cook and be tough) and sprinkle with sugar. Sauté until lightly browned at the edges, then add the sauces (add shrimp at this point, if using) and the mushrooms or other chopped vegetables of your choice. The longer you can cook your protein in the sauces, the more rich the flavor; just be sure not to let them burn!
When cooked through, add the greens, bean sprouts and ginger, tossing until heated, approximately 2 minutes.
Serve warm with chopped peanuts for garnish.
Pin it for later!
I pinned the recipe on Pinterest. I do like the Thai Peanut Sauce – I just bought it 2 weeks ago!
I put that Thai Peanut Sauce on everything, Valerie!!
Love the new recipe. Bought the ingredients to make it this weekend.
Fantastic Helga!
We love the noodles, but haven’t tried the peanut sauce yet. I really like the addition of it in this recipe!
I like you on FB
I pinned the recipe on Pinterest:)
I WOULD LOVE TO WIN AND LEARN HOW TO COOK SOME THAI AND ASIAN NOODLES AND SAUCES. I AM VERY INTERESTED.
I’ve liked your blog on Facebook. Please enter me for the contest. I’ve tried Annie’s Chung Noodles before, but I’m kind of intrigued about the peanut sauce. Thanks
This recipe looks amazing!..
Already like you on facebook
Just liked you on facebook! I’m a celiac college student and winning this contest would be amazing!
Can’t wait to try this recipe. I am looking for a source for gluten-free wanton wrappers. Any suggestions?
Glenda, here are some GF Wan Ton Wrapper ideas for you: use spring rolls skin (Banh Trang) which is made with rice flour: http://www.templeofthai.com/food/noodles/springroll-3540000167.php
or here’s a recipe to make from scratch: http://www.glutenfreeda.com/cooking_class_feb03-0997.asp.
I liked your blog! Hope I win because I havent had Chinese since my diagnosis. Yum!
I pinned, tweeted, & like your FB page
Pinned you
I like you on Facebook, and thanks for all the great glutenfree recipes!
I liked your facebook page
Love the website. Add me to the giveaway
I pinned the recipe, follow your blog, AND liked you on Pinterest Thanks for such a wonderful recipe!
Thanks Jill! I hope you get to make it soon!
I love Pad Thai & I am new to gluten-free so I will give this a try. I liked you on facebook, tweeted (https://twitter.com/#!/cfulcher/status/162224616956366849), and pinned the recipe (so I can make it).
Thanks for the giveaway!
Already like you on FB, just pinned on Pinterest. This looks great! Will try it with chicken.
Sounds delicious! I can’t wait to make it!!