Nothing beats the comfort of a classic stir fry that comes together in a flash. This Quick Thai Pad See Ew Stir Fry Recipe delivers those chewy wide rice noodles coated in a savory-sweet sauce, perfect for busy weeknights when you want my favorite Thai street food without the wait.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
This recipe has quickly become a staple for me because it combines simplicity with bold flavors. Plus, it’s super adaptable—so you can tweak it to suit whatever you have in your fridge or cravings in your heart.
- Speedy and Easy: You can have dinner on the table in under 20 minutes, perfect for hectic days.
- Authentic Flavors: The mix of Thai sweet soy sauce, fish sauce, and oyster sauce creates a perfectly balanced umami punch.
- Flexible Ingredients: Whether you prefer chicken, beef, shrimp, or tofu, this recipe welcomes them all.
- Perfect Texture: The wide rice noodles get that signature slight char and chew, just like from your favorite street vendor.
Ingredients & Why They Work
The ingredients in this Quick Thai Pad See Ew Stir Fry Recipe come together not just for the taste, but also for their textures and balance. Each one plays a vital role—from noodles to sauce, creating that ultimate harmony.
- Wide rice noodles: These noodles give you the chewy, slippery texture that soaks up the sauce beautifully—be careful not to overcook them or they’ll become mushy.
- Chicken (or alternative protein): Adds a hearty element; you can easily swap for shrimp, tofu, or beef depending on your mood or pantry.
- Chinese broccoli (gai lan): Provides a satisfying crunch and slight bitterness that cuts through the sweet sauce—trust me, it’s the green punch your dish needs.
- Eggs: Scrambled in the stir fry, they add richness and a soft texture contrast.
- Avocado oil: Ideal for stir-frying because of its high smoke point and neutral flavor.
- Thai sweet soy sauce: The backbone of the sauce—thick, sweet, and luscious, it defines the dish’s flavor.
- Fish sauce: Adds saltiness and a characteristic depth—but use it sparingly if you’re sensitive to strong flavors.
- Oyster sauce: Brings sweetness and umami without overpowering the dish.
- Dark soy sauce: Key for that gorgeous dark color and a subtle earthiness.
- Garlic: Always a must for that punch of aromatics.
- Sugar (optional): Balances out the saltiness and sour notes, but adjust to your preference.
Make It Your Way
One of the things I love most about this Quick Thai Pad See Ew Stir Fry Recipe is how easy it is to switch things up. Whether you’re aiming for a vegetarian meal or just fancy some extra veggies, it’s all fair game!
- Vegetarian Variation: I often skip the meat and add a colorful mix of bell peppers, carrots, and snap peas, swapping fish sauce for vegetarian fish sauce and oyster sauce for mushroom soy sauce. It’s just as flavorful.
- Protein Swap: When I’m short on time, shrimp cooks incredibly fast and adds a lovely sweetness that’s a nice change of pace.
- More Greens: Feel free to bulk it up with bok choy or spinach for a fresh twist.
- Heat It Up: If you like a little spice, try tossing in some sliced Thai chilies or a dash of chili flakes at the end.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Quick Thai Pad See Ew Stir Fry Recipe
Step 1: Prep Your Noodles Just Right
I start by boiling the dried wide rice noodles—but here’s the trick: I pull them out of the water a minute or two before the package says. They’ll finish cooking in the wok and stay perfectly chewy instead of mushy. Then, rinse them under cold water and drain really well. This step is key to prevent the noodles from sticking together or falling apart when stir-fried.
Step 2: Mix the Flavor-Packed Pad See Ew Sauce
While the noodles are soaking, I whisk together the sauce ingredients: Thai sweet soy sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce, dark soy sauce, minced garlic, a touch of sugar, and white pepper powder. It’s a simple bowl of magic that transforms the noodles into the dish you’ll crave.
Step 3: Stir-Fry Protein and Eggs
Heat a tablespoon of avocado oil in my wok on medium-high heat. I add my choice of chicken, shrimp, or tofu, stirring it quickly until nearly cooked. Then, I push it aside and crack in my eggs, scrambling them gently. Watching the eggs cook right in the wok adds a lovely softness to the finished dish.
Step 4: Toss it All Together
Next up: Chinese broccoli goes straight into the wok with the noodles, sauce, and remaining oil. I crank the heat to high and give everything a fast toss. Here’s a crucial tip—leave the noodles undisturbed against the pan for about 15 to 30 seconds to let them caramelize and develop those irresistible charred bits. Then flip and stir briefly before serving.
Top Tip
After making this Quick Thai Pad See Ew Stir Fry Recipe many times, I’ve picked up a few things that take it from good to restaurant-quality. These tips will save you frustration and boost flavor every single time.
- Don’t Overcook Noodles: Slightly undercooking the wide rice noodles before stir fry is the secret to that perfect chew and prevents breaking.
- High Heat is Key: Using a super hot wok or pan helps get that caramelized char on the noodles, creating more depth and texture.
- Oil Matters: I swear by avocado oil for its neutral flavor and high smoke point—it lets everything cook quickly without burning.
- Sauce Adjustments: Taste your sauce before adding it to the wok and tweak the sweetness or saltiness — brands can vary widely.
How to Serve Quick Thai Pad See Ew Stir Fry Recipe
Garnishes
I usually top my Pad See Ew with a few fresh lime wedges and a sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes. The citrus brightens up the deep flavors beautifully. Sometimes I throw on a handful of chopped cilantro or green onions for freshness and color, too.
Side Dishes
To keep things balanced, I love pairing this with a simple Asian cucumber salad or a bowl of hot miso soup. Light, cooling sides help round out the rich stir fry perfectly.
Creative Ways to Present
Once, for a casual dinner party, I served this dish in individual banana leaf bowls to add a fun, authentic vibe. For a family night, I spread out all the ingredients buffet-style so everyone could customize their bowls — it was a hit!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge, and they stay fresh for up to 3 or 4 days. Before storing, make sure it’s cooled to room temperature to preserve the texture of the noodles and greens.
Freezing
While freezing isn’t my go-to for this dish because the noodles can get a bit soggy after thawing, I have done it on occasion. If you plan to freeze, flash cool the stir fry quickly then package in freezer-safe containers. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat gently.
Reheating
I recommend reheating leftovers in a hot pan rather than the microwave. Toss the noodles in a drizzle of oil over medium-high heat to revive that slightly crisp texture. Adding a splash of water or more sauce helps loosen things up if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! Fresh wide rice noodles work beautifully in this pad see ew recipe. Just be gentle while cooking since they’re softer than dried noodles and don’t need boiling first. Stir fry them straight away for best results.
While Thai sweet soy sauce is ideal because of its unique thick, caramel-like sweetness, you can substitute it with regular dark soy sauce mixed with a bit of molasses or brown sugar. Adjust sweetness to your liking to keep that rich flavor.
For a vegetarian or vegan version, simply replace the chicken with tofu or extra veggies, use vegetarian fish sauce or soy sauce instead of fish sauce, and swap oyster sauce for mushroom-based vegetarian oyster sauce. It stays just as flavorful and delicious.
Definitely! You can chop your veggies and prep the sauce a day ahead to save time. Just keep noodles dry and store separately so they don’t get soggy. Cook the stir fry fresh for the best texture.
Final Thoughts
This Quick Thai Pad See Ew Stir Fry Recipe holds a special place on my weekly menu—it’s like a warm hug from Thai street food, fast enough for tonight’s dinner but rich with authentic flavors. Once you try it, you’ll understand why I keep coming back to this simple, delicious dish to satisfy both my craving and my busy schedule. I can’t wait for you to experience it too!
Print
Quick Thai Pad See Ew Stir Fry Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 3 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian, Thai
Description
A quick and delicious 15-minute Pad See Ew recipe featuring wide rice noodles stir-fried with chicken, Chinese broccoli, and a savory-sweet homemade sauce. Perfect for a weeknight meal with restaurant-style caramelized noodles.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 8 oz dried wide rice noodles
- 6 oz chicken (or beef, shrimp, tofu, pork)
- 1 ½ cups Chinese broccoli (gai lan), cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 large eggs
- 3 tablespoons avocado oil, divided
Pad See Ew Sauce
- 2 ½ tablespoons Thai sweet soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 2 teaspoons dark soy sauce
- ⅛ teaspoon white pepper powder
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon sugar (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: In a small bowl, combine Thai sweet soy sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce, dark soy sauce, white pepper powder, minced garlic, and optional sugar. Mix well and set aside.
- Cook the noodles: Boil the dried wide rice noodles for 1 to 2 minutes less than the package instructions to avoid overcooking. Drain and rinse with cold water, then drain well to prevent sogginess.
- Stir-fry the protein: Heat 1 tablespoon of avocado oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the chicken (or your choice of protein) and stir-fry until nearly cooked through.
- Scramble the eggs: Push the cooked protein to one side of the pan. Add the eggs to the empty side and scramble them until just set.
- Add vegetables and noodles: Add the Chinese broccoli, drained noodles, the prepared Pad See Ew sauce, and the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil to the pan. Increase heat to high.
- Stir-fry and caramelize: Quickly stir-fry everything together until the noodles are well coated and the sauce is absorbed. Add a tablespoon of water if needed to help with sauce distribution.
- Caramelize the noodles: For authentic restaurant-style Pad See Ew, let the noodles sit undisturbed for 15 to 30 seconds to allow them to caramelize and slightly char on the bottom. Then flip the noodles and serve immediately.
Notes
- Thai sweet soy sauce is thick and molasses-like; adjust sweetness to taste depending on brand.
- Cook noodles right before stir-frying to prevent them from becoming soggy or breaking apart.
- Use a good quality fish sauce to avoid overpowering flavor.
- Oyster sauce adds sweet and savory umami without a strong oyster taste.
- Dark soy sauce gives the noodles their characteristic deep color.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 or 4 days.
- For a vegetarian Pad See Ew, use vegetarian fish sauce or soy sauce and replace oyster sauce with vegetarian mushroom oyster sauce.
- Add about 2 cups of mixed vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, zucchini, bell peppers, or onions for a vegetable version.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 125 mg
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