Raw Vegan Pad Thai Recipe (2024)

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Raw Vegan Pad Thai Recipe (1)

I’m so over this week.

It’s been a hairy one, to say the least, but fortunately, tomorrow is Friday, and that’s my cue to head north to the bay area for a little much-needed girl time.

Have you ever moved to a city and just clicked with it immediately? That was my experience when I moved to Silicon Valley in the dead of winter from my hometown of Toronto. It was miserably cold when I left TO, but when I landed at San Francisco airport, the sun was shining all the way down 101 as I drove to my temporary abode in Milpitas, CA. I was so full of hope and excitement about my new life and it was awesome.

I lived in the bay area from 2006 to 2009. I adored it there, met some amazing friends and completely transformed who I was into a better being on all fronts. I knew that was my home and I would never go back to Toronto.

But then the hubs and I decided to take an adventure to SoCal, and we’ve been here ever since. After a 4-month stay in Solana Beach (which was more like an extended vacation), we ended up buying a home in LA, and now here we are. We’ve been here 4 years this month.

The crazy thing is, I’ve never felt at home here. It’s always felt like a place where I’m “staying” until we get ourselves back home to the Bay Area. I’ve met some really great people here and my best friend moving here from Toronto is just a cherry on top of a great experience, but really, it’s always felt like a transitional city to me.

The reality is that we’re not leaving LA for a while (much to my chagrin). Maybe never. So every once and awhile, I feel a need to head north to my “real home” and reconnect with dear friends, enjoy the gorgeous outdoors and just soak up the vibe of an amazing corner of the world.

I can’t wait!!!

Have you ever felt totally connected to a city?

On to the Pad Thai

I actually made this a few weeks ago, but I’m only now doing a camera dump from my photo shoot. The lighting was not the greatest, so I’m not super happy about the images, but the pad thai was out of this world!!

Now as the weather is starting to warm up (okay, that’s one point in favor of LA living), I’m dabbling in the raw stuff that I promised you back in January.

The noodles do require a Spiralizer, but I highly recommend having one of these in your kitchen anyway. They are way too much fun to use (says the girl who clearly doesn’t get out much)!

Why Raw Pad Thai?

There are some that argue that eating a raw food diet can be beneficial to your health as it aids with digestion and food loses some of it's nutritional value in the cooking process. While both of these facts might be true, I personally believe that it depends on your constitution and where you live. Obviously, eating a raw food diet in January when you live in Canada, might not be the best idea.

I can't even bring myself to eat salads during the winters in California. My body craves the warmth of cooked foods, so I go with it. The problem with scientific evidence is that there's a study out there to prove anything and everything, which makes all food rules either untrue or all true. Either way, it makes no sense, so listening to your body while aiming to eat whole and unprocessed is the best thing you can do for yourself. BTW, I have zero studies to back that up, so feel free to question me, too.

Raw-some in the Summer!

Now, that said, I do love eating raw food in the summer. One of the great things about living in LA is that I have about 6 amazing raw food restaurants within a 10 mile radius of my house and I love them all. Have you ever tried Cafe Gratitude? Oh, that's by far my favorite place to eat in the world. It's not all raw food, but a ton of it is. I am never disappointed when I go there.

Don't have a spiralizer?

No worries, many grocery stores are now selling pre-spiralized (is that a word?) veggies, so you can buy them frozen or fresh. Also, if you're not as concerned on the "raw" front, this recipe would be equally as amazing with miracle noodles. These are a calorie free noodle made with (gosh, I don't know what), but you can find them in the same area of your store that you'd buy tofu and tempeh. Typically in the produce section.

[nutrifox id="64001"]

Raw Vegan Pad Thai Recipe (2)

Raw Vegan Pad Thai Recipe

Yield: 2

A quick and easy meal with a VERY impressive taste. A great way to get your veggies in!!

Ingredients

  • 2 large zucchini
  • 2 large carrots
  • 1 T ponzu or soy sauce
  • 1 T lemon or lime juice
  • 1 t hot sauce, optional
  • 1 T mustard, I used a flavored one to be fancy
  • 1 t fish sauce, optional
  • 1 T of PB2 powdered peanut butter, or the real stuff
  • 2 T raw, unsalted cashews
  • 1 t minced ginger
  • 1 t minced garlic
  • 1/3 cup cilantro

Instructions

  1. Spiralize your zucchini and finely chop the carrot (I just popped it in the food processor for a quick second)
  2. Chop the cilantro
  3. Make the sauce
  4. Add all the remaining ingredients (except cashews and cilantro) to a small bowl and mix well. until fully combined.
  5. Add the sauce to the zucchini and carrot mixture and garnish with cilantro and cashews.

Did you make this recipe?

What did you think of the recipe? Leave a comment below or click on the Instagram icon to share a picture of your creation! Be sure to tag me in your picture so I can share it too.

Raw Vegan Pad Thai Recipe (3)

Caren

Caren is a certified yoga teacher, fitness instructor and ADHD Coach. As the founder of The Fit Habit, she shares ADHD-friendly self-care, food & fitness inspiration, along with practical ways to foster mind + body wellness.

Raw Vegan Pad Thai Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is vegan pad thai sauce made of? ›

The sauce is usually made simply with palm sugar, tamarind, and fish sauce or soy sauce.

Can I eat kelp noodles raw? ›

As an added benefit, they are low in carbohydrates and calories, with only 6 calories per serving. Kelp noodles are considered a raw food and can be eaten warm or cold.

Why do you put egg in pad thai? ›

The crisp vegetables, savory noodles, and tangy sauce come together for its distinct taste. The eggs add a dash of protein. You'll get a helping of many foods, all in one dish. If you're looking for a delicious new meal to make for dinner soon, you'll love our spicy pad thai recipe.

Why does pad thai taste so good? ›

There is a scientific reason why Pad Thai is so delicious. It follows a Thai culinary tradition of using all five tastes which are salty, sour, sweet, spicy and bitter. That is why the dish is so tantalizingly tasty!… It hits all five flavor profiles in the mouth!

What is authentic pad thai sauce made of? ›

Pad Thai Sauce is made with fish sauce, oyster sauce, brown sugar and tamarind. Tamarind is the ingredient that is the heart and soul of Pad Thai sauce, giving the sauce the sour flavour that Pad Thai is known for. It's an ingredient used in South East Asian cooking, like this Malaysian Beef Rendang.

What is a substitute for palm sugar in pad thai? ›

If you cannot find palm sugar, the best substitute is brown sugar (1-1).

Are shirataki noodles raw vegan? ›

Making Raw Vegan Ramen is very simple. You start with putting your noodles into a bowl. Spiralized zucchini is an easy and cheap raw vegan noodle option. Or you can use store-bought raw vegan seaweed noodles, such as kelp or shirataki noodles.

Is kelp noodles too much iodine? ›

Kelp contains iodine, and can prevent hypothyroidism. Be careful, though — too much iodine can cause your thyroid to malfunction. Don't eat too much kelp or take a kelp supplement without talking to your doctor.

Are kelp noodles anti inflammatory? ›

Kelp noodle nutrition and health benefits

A healthy food in its own right, kelp has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory abilities and is rich in disease-fighting phytonutrients that help support your immune system. It's also a good source of calcium, an important mineral for bones, muscles, and nerve function.

What is a substitute for tamarind in Pad Thai? ›

The vinegar-sugar mix works well in dishes like pad thai chicken. If your recipe calls for 1 tablespoon tamarind paste, substitute with 1 tablespoon vinegar mixed with 1 tablespoon brown sugar. If using fresh lime juice, substitute 2 tablespoons lime juice for every 1 tablespoon tamarind paste.

What are the red things in Pad Thai? ›

Tamarind concentrate: This is the starring ingredient in pad Thai that gives the sauce its signature tangy, sweet, and fruity flavor. Granted, some American Thai restaurants have switched to using ketchup in its place, which gives the dish a notably different and less-tangy flavor.

Is Pad Thai healthy? ›

It can definitely be a part of a balanced, well-rounded diet. While pad thai includes many nutritious ingredients, its sodium content is considerably high. You can reduce its sodium by requesting the eatery go easy on the sauce and salt-contributing condiments.

What is a fun fact about Pad Thai? ›

What's the back story? Siam was renamed Thailand in 1939 and soon after a competition was run to create a “national dish”. Pad Thai was the dish picked by Prime Minister Phibun, partly because the noodles made it a thrifty (and filling) choice during those tough World War II years.

Is Pad Thai actually eaten in Thailand? ›

Pad thai is a noodle dish that has its roots in Thailand. However, it is also a dish that is popular around the world. In fact, you may have even eaten pad thai at a restaurant outside of Thailand before.

Why is my Pad Thai soggy? ›

Cooking rice noodles is not actually hard, but most people misunderstand how they need to be treated. The #1 reason why your rice noodle stir fries are a soggy mess is that you're cooking them before cooking them.

What are the ingredients in Thai taste vegan fish sauce? ›

Ingredients: salt solution (water, salt), sugar, soybean protein, yeast extract, seaweed extract, distilled vinegar.

What is vegan in Thai? ›

The word for vegetarian is mangsawerat (มังสวิรัติ). The word for vegan is jey (เจ).

What is a vegan substitute for fish sauce? ›

Liquid aminos are a fish sauce and soy sauce alternative that are made from non-GMO soybeans and water. They're gluten-free and have a similar umami flavor to fish sauce. Liquid aminos can be found in health food stores or online. Coconut aminos are a great alternative for fish sauce for several reasons.

Is Thai oyster sauce vegan? ›

Although traditional oyster sauce is not vegan, some companies produce vegan versions made with organic, plant-based ingredients. If vegan-style oyster sauce isn't available to you, alternatives like coconut aminos, hoisin sauce, and teriyaki sauce may do in a pinch.

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