Vegan Pad Thai

Servings: 4 · Prep: 20 min · Cook: 15 min · Total: 35 min

Ingredients

  • 8 oz pad Thai rice noodles
  • 12 oz extra-firm tofu
  • 2 tablespoons neutral cooking oil
  • 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon garlic
  • 1 1/2 cups carrots
  • 2 cups bean sprouts
  • 1/3 cup unsalted roasted peanuts
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro

Equipment

Whisk; Measuring Cups; Measuring Spoons; Knife; Cutting Board; Large skillet; Tongs; Small mixing bowl; Large heatproof bowl; whisk; measuring cups; measuring spoons; knife; cutting board; large skillet; tongs; small mixing bowl; large heatproof bowl

Steps

  1. Prep ingredients. Press and cube the tofu, julienne the carrots, rinse and drain the bean sprouts, chop the roasted peanuts and cilantro, and measure the sauce ingredients.
    • 12 ounces tofu — pressed and cubed
    • 1 1/2 cups carrot — julienned
    • 2 cups bean sprouts — rinsed and drained
    • 1/3 cup peanuts — chopped
    • 1/4 cup cilantro — chopped
    • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
    • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
    • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
    • 3 tablespoons lime juice
    • 1 tablespoon garlic — minced

    Keep fingers clear of the knife blade while cubing tofu, julienning carrots, and chopping garnishes.

  2. Soak noodles. Place the pad Thai rice noodles in a large heatproof bowl, cover with very hot water, and soak until pliable but slightly firm, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain and rinse briefly with cool water.
    • 8 ounces rice noodles

    Use caution when pouring very hot water into and out of the heatproof bowl.

  3. Make sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, maple syrup, rice vinegar, lime juice, and minced garlic until smooth and combined, then set the vegan sauce near the stove.
    • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
    • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
    • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
    • 3 tablespoons lime juice
    • 1 tablespoon garlic — minced
  4. Cook tofu. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the tofu in a single layer and cook until golden on several sides and lightly crisp, 6 to 8 minutes.
    • 2 tablespoons cooking oil
    • 12 ounces tofu — pressed and cubed

    Keep tofu as dry as possible before frying to reduce hot oil splatter.

  5. Stir-fry noodles. Add the carrots and stir-fry until bright and just tender, about 2 minutes. Add the drained noodles and sauce, then toss until the noodles are coated and the sauce is mostly absorbed, 2 to 3 minutes.
    • 1 1/2 cups carrot — julienned

    Use tongs carefully when tossing noodles in the hot skillet.

  6. Add sprouts and peanuts. Fold in the bean sprouts and half of the roasted peanuts, then cook until the sprouts are warm but still crunchy, about 1 minute.
    • 2 cups bean sprouts — rinsed and drained
    • 2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons peanuts — chopped
  7. Garnish and serve. Remove from heat, then sprinkle with cilantro and the remaining roasted peanuts. Serve immediately.
    • 1/4 cup cilantro — chopped
    • 2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons peanuts — chopped

Notes

Soak the rice noodles only until pliable but still slightly firm so they do not turn mushy during stir-frying.

The peanuts are intentionally included and should be omitted only for a peanut-free adaptation.

Serving suggestions

Serve immediately with extra lime wedges or chili flakes if desired.

Pair with a crisp cucumber salad for a refreshing side.

Cooking safety

Keep tofu as dry as possible before frying to reduce hot oil splatter.

Use tongs carefully when tossing noodles in the hot skillet.

Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours and reheat until steaming before serving.

https://plumtally.com/recipes/vegan-pad-thai-riqywb1jxrjg

Vegan Pad Thai

Vegan Pad Thai

Thai-inspired vegan rice noodle stir-fry with tofu, bean sprouts, carrots, roasted peanuts, and lime juice. This plant-based dish is suitable for lunch or dinner.

  • 35-minute meal
  • bean sprouts
  • carrots
  • cilantro
  • dairy-free
  • dinner
  • egg-free
  • family-friendly
  • high protein
  • lime juice
  • lunch
  • main course
  • noodle stir-fry
  • pad thai
  • peanut topping
  • plant-based
  • rice noodles
  • roasted peanuts
  • savory
  • shellfish-free
  • soy sauce
  • stir-fry
  • stovetop
  • tangy
  • thai inspired
  • Thai-inspired
  • tofu
  • vegan
  • vegan pad thai
  • vegetarian
  • weeknight

Per Serving

Prep

20 min

Cook

15 min

Difficulty

medium

Ingredients and shopping

Servings

— to buy · — you have

  • 12 oz extra-firm tofu

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  • 8 oz pad Thai rice noodles

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  • 2 cups bean sprouts

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  • 1 1/2 cups carrots

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  • 1/3 cup unsalted roasted peanuts

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  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro

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  • 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce

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  • 3 tablespoons lime juice

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  • 2 tablespoons neutral cooking oil

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  • 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup

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  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar

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  • 1 tablespoon garlic

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Steps

Centered stainless-steel balloon whisk on a light neutral background.Whisk
Centered nested set of four clear measuring cups with handles on a neutral light background.Measuring Cups
Centered studio photograph of a set of stainless steel measuring spoons on a pale neutral background.Measuring Spoons
Centered studio photograph of a complete kitchen knife with a steel blade and dark handle on a light neutral background.Knife
Centered rectangular wooden cutting board photographed against a plain light background.Cutting Board
Large matte cast-iron skillet shown fully in frame against a neutral light background.Large skillet
Centered pair of stainless-steel kitchen tongs on a light neutral background.Tongs
Centered small stainless-steel mixing bowl on a light neutral background with soft studio lighting.Small mixing bowl
Large clear heatproof glass bowl centered on a neutral light background.Large heatproof bowl
1

Prep ingredients

Centered nested set of four clear measuring cups with handles on a neutral light background.Measuring Cups
Centered studio photograph of a set of stainless steel measuring spoons on a pale neutral background.Measuring Spoons
Centered studio photograph of a complete kitchen knife with a steel blade and dark handle on a light neutral background.Knife
Centered rectangular wooden cutting board photographed against a plain light background.Cutting Board

Press and cube the tofu, julienne the carrots, rinse and drain the bean sprouts, chop the roasted peanuts and cilantro, and measure the sauce ingredients.

Keep fingers clear of the knife blade while cubing tofu, julienning carrots, and chopping garnishes.

2

Soak noodles

Large clear heatproof glass bowl centered on a neutral light background.Large heatproof bowl

Place the pad Thai rice noodles in a large heatproof bowl, cover with very hot water, and soak until pliable but slightly firm, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain and rinse briefly with cool water.

Use caution when pouring very hot water into and out of the heatproof bowl.

3

Make sauce

Centered stainless-steel balloon whisk on a light neutral background.Whisk
Centered small stainless-steel mixing bowl on a light neutral background with soft studio lighting.Small mixing bowl

In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, maple syrup, rice vinegar, lime juice, and minced garlic until smooth and combined, then set the vegan sauce near the stove.

4

Cook tofu

Large matte cast-iron skillet shown fully in frame against a neutral light background.Large skillet

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the tofu in a single layer and cook until golden on several sides and lightly crisp, 6 to 8 minutes.

Keep tofu as dry as possible before frying to reduce hot oil splatter.

5

Stir-fry noodles

Large matte cast-iron skillet shown fully in frame against a neutral light background.Large skillet
Centered pair of stainless-steel kitchen tongs on a light neutral background.Tongs

Add the carrots and stir-fry until bright and just tender, about 2 minutes. Add the drained noodles and sauce, then toss until the noodles are coated and the sauce is mostly absorbed, 2 to 3 minutes.

Use tongs carefully when tossing noodles in the hot skillet.

6

Add sprouts and peanuts

Large matte cast-iron skillet shown fully in frame against a neutral light background.Large skillet
Centered pair of stainless-steel kitchen tongs on a light neutral background.Tongs

Fold in the bean sprouts and half of the roasted peanuts, then cook until the sprouts are warm but still crunchy, about 1 minute.

7

Garnish and serve

Remove from heat, then sprinkle with cilantro and the remaining roasted peanuts. Serve immediately.

8

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Recipe facts

Cuisine
Thai-inspired

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