We love Pad Thai and usually have it with Shrimp and Chicken. The other day we were really hungry for some homemade Pad Thai and decided to see if we could make it with fewer calories. So we decided to use cauliflower as a replacement. I mean why not try cauliflower Pad Thai??? After all, we've used cauliflower to substitute for Rice, pizza crust, Mexican Casserole, and in Cheese Gratin.
Making it SPICY
You guys know we love all things spicy and I'm one of these people that believes Pad Thai is a dish best served SUPER spicy 😁! Like most of our recipes, this is completely customizable and we have marked the recipe with the "optional spicy" ingredients that you can leave out completely or just add a little/a lot depending on how your taste buds are feeling.
TIPS for Spicy Cauliflower Pad Thai:
- When making this recipe, measure the oils and sugar. It's important to measure to keep the calories down. We find by adding spices and herbs you can save a ton of calories. Spices add flavor, and when you add flavor with the spices you don't need the oil to add the flavor.
- Prior to starting to cook make sure to:
- Place the Rice Noodles in hot water (according to package directions)
- Chop Garlic, Shallot, Peppers, Onions, and Cilantro
- Measure the sauce into one bowl
- Beat the Eggs
- Cut the Cauliflower into bite-size pieces
- Cooking the Pad Thai is very quick so prepping the ingredients prior to cooking makes this a stress-free dinner
- For a really easy dinner everything, except for the eggs and the Rice Noodles, can be chopped and measured a day earlier.
- If you want, the Rice Noodles could be cut from the recipe. Serve this as a side dish.
Other fun recipes using Cauliflower
Spicy Cauliflower Pad Thai
Ingredients
- 8 Ounces Pad Thai Noodles
- 1 Tablespoon Peanut Oil Or Vegetable Oil
- 1 Shallot
- 1 ½ Tablespoons Ginger
- 3 Cloves Garlic
- 4 Peppers Optional. We used Thai peppers
- 1 Cauliflower Approximately 4 cups
- 2 Eggs
- 1 Tablespoon Red Pepper flakes Optional if you want it spicy
Sauce
- 3 Tablespoons Soy Sauce
- 2 Tablespoons Fresh Lime Juice
- ¼ Cup Brown Sugar
- 1 Tablespoon Fish Sauce
- 2 Tablespoons Rice Vinegar
Additional Ingredients - Final Touches
- ½ Cup Cilantro Or Parsley if you don't like Cilantro
- 4 Green Onions
- ¼ Cup Dry Roasted Peanuts or more for taste
Instructions
Prep items before starting to cook
- Place the noodles in VERY Hot Water or boiling water. Follow the directions on the container. We placed ours in hot water for 10 minutes
- Peel Ginger. We found using a potato peeler works great
- Chop the following: Shallots, Garlic, Ginger and Peppers
- Cut the Cauliflower into small florets (bite-size pieces)
- Whisk the eggs lightly with a fork or whisk
- Slice the Onion into small strips
- Chop the Cilantro
- Coarsely Chop Peanuts
Sauce
- In a small bowl stir to combine the following: Soy Sauce, Lime Juice, Fish Sauce, Rice Wine Vinegar, Brown Sugar
Stir Fry
- Heat Oil in a Large pan or Stir Fry pan. Add Shallots, Garlic, and Ginger. Cook for a minute
- Add the Cauliflower. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add ¾ cup of water to Cauliflower. Cook until water has evaporated and the cauliflower has softened.
- Add the eggs and stir
- When eggs have coated the cauliflower add the red pepper flakes
- Add the Sauce (soy sauce, lime juice, fish sauce, rice wine vinegar, and brown sugar) and stir to coat the cauliflower
- Add the drained Pad Thai noodles
- Toss the Pad Thai noodles in the sauce with the Cauliflower
- Stir in ½ of the sliced onions and ½ of the cilantro
Final Touches
- Sprinkle the rest of the cilantro, onions, and peanuts over the noodles
- Serve with sliced Lime
Krešimir Bonačić-Krešić says
Love Pad Thai, looks so yummy!
Amy says
Me too!!!! Thank you so much! Let us know if you try the recipe.