Pad Thai

Pad Thai (or Phad Thai, _th. ผัดไทย, IPA2|pʰàt tʰāj, "Thai style frying") is a dish of stir-fried rice noodles with eggs, fish sauce (Thai น้ำปลา), tamarind juice, red chilli pepper, plus any combination of bean sprouts, shrimp, chicken, or tofu, garnished withcrushed peanuts and coriander. It is normally served with a piece of lime, the juice of which can be added along with Thai condiments. In Thailand, it is also served with a piece of banana flower.

There have evolved two different styles of Pad Thai: the version most often found in the streets of Thailand, which is relatively dry and light, and the version that seems dominant in many restaurants in the West, which is heavier and may be covered in red oil.Fact|date=August 2008

Though the dish had been known in various forms for centuries – it is thought to have been brought to the ancient Thai capital of Ayuthaya by Vietnamese traders – it was first made popular as a national dish by Luang Phibunsongkhram when he was prime minister during the 1930s and 1940s, partly as an element of his campaign for Thai nationalism and centralization, and partly for a campaign to reduce rice consumption in Thailand. The Thai economy at this time was heavily dependent on rice exports; Phibunsongkhram hoped to increase the amount of it available for export by launching a campaign to educate the poor in the production of rice noodles, as well as in the preparation of these noodles with other ingredients to sell in small cafes and from street carts. [ [http://madammam.com/articles/pudthai.html Madam Mam Articles ] ]

Outside of Thailand, Pad Thai is one of the best-known Thai dishes, and is very popular in Thai restaurants in the United States and Australia.Fact|date=September 2008

ee also

*Shahe fen

References

External links

* [http://videos.importfood.com/PadThai8.html Bangkok Street Vendor Pad Thai, Video and Recipe]
* [http://thaifoodtonight.com/thaifoodtonight/recipes-PadThai.htm Video showing how Pad Thai is made]
* [http://thaifood.about.com/od/oodlesofnoodles/ss/chickenpadthai.htm Perfect Pad Thai, Step-by-Step (with pictures)]