Pad Thai Sauce

also called nam pad thai · pad thai tamarind sauce · tamarind palm sugar sauce · phat thai sauce · sauce for pad thai

Three ways to read this recipe

The table

Pad Thai Sauce: ingredients down the left, what to do with them across. Tap any cell to cross it off.
6 oz(170 g; shaved off the disc)palm sugarmelt to a dark caramelsimmer 5 minstir in off the heat, cool 20 min
2 Tbswater
3 oz(85 g; half a block)seedless tamarind pulpsoak 20 min, press through a sieve
1 cup(240 mL)hot water
1/2 cup(120 mL)fish sauce
1/2 tspkosher salt
1 Tbsrice vinegar
Tap anything to cross it off.

What to lay out

Everything the recipe asks for, sitting under the step that eats it. Tick each one as you measure it.9 things to get out.

Pans and tools

1melt to a dark caramel

2soak 20 min, press through a sieve

3simmer 5 min

goes in with what steps 1 and 2 made

4stir in off the heat, cool 20 min

goes in with what step 3 made

Cooking it

Tap a step when it is done; the next one lights up.

The clock

Start to finish
at least 45 min1 of 4 steps gives no time
Needs you
none given
  1. soak 20 min, press through a sieve

    20 minwalk awayfrom the start

  2. melt to a dark caramel

    not timedfrom the start

  3. simmer 5 min

    5 minwalk away20 min in

  4. stir in off the heat, cool 20 min

    20 minwalk away25 min in

You'll need saucepan · sieve

Goes with

See how it is written
>> title: Pad Thai Sauce
>> category: Sauces & Gravies
>> tags: tamarind, thai, sauce, noodles, make-ahead
>> counters: Thai Kitchen
>> aka: nam pad thai, pad thai tamarind sauce, tamarind palm sugar sauce, phat thai sauce, sauce for pad thai
>> servings: 8
>> time: 45 min

>> step: soak 20 min, press through a sieve
Soak @seedless tamarind pulp{3%oz}(85 g; half a block) in @hot water{1%cup}(240 mL) for ~soak{20%min}, mashing it with your fingers, then press it through a #sieve{} and throw away the fibres.

>> step: melt to a dark caramel
Melt @palm sugar{6%oz}(170 g; shaved off the disc) with @water{2%Tbs} in a #saucepan{} over low heat until it darkens to the colour of maple syrup.

>> step: simmer 5 min
Simmer @&(~1)palm sugar caramel{} with @&(~2)tamarind water{}, @fish sauce{1/2%cup}(120 mL) and @kosher salt{1/2%tsp} for ~simmer{5%min}, until it coats a spoon thinly.

>> step: stir in off the heat, cool 20 min
Stir @rice vinegar{1%Tbs} into @&(~1)sauce{} off the heat and ~cool{20%min}.