What to Serve With Pad Thai: 15 Best Side Dishes

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Looking to enhance your Pad Thai meal? Fresh Spring Rolls, bursting with crisp vegetables and tangy peanut sauce, make a vibrant start. Enjoy the invigorating Thai Mango Salad, with its zesty dressing and ripe mangoes. Tom Yum Soup offers a rich, spicy, and sour contrast, while Thai Papaya Salad balances flavors with its zesty lime and crunchy peanuts. Steamed Jasmine Rice provides a soothing, aromatic base. Other delightful options include Fried Tofu, Thai Basil Chicken, and smoky Grilled Shrimp Skewers. Each side dish complements Pad Thai beautifully, creating a harmonious and tasty experience. Discover these and more for a delightful meal.

Fresh Spring Rolls

colorful and refreshing appetizer

Fresh spring rolls are an excellent accompaniment to pad thai, providing a revitalizing contrast with their crisp vegetables and delicate rice paper wrapping.

Filled with fresh spring herbs, they offer a burst of flavor and freshness.

Paired with a peanut dipping sauce, the rolls deliver a delightful combination of textures and tastes, enhancing the overall dining experience with their light and vibrant presence.

Thai Mango Salad

delicious and refreshing dish

Thai mango salad provides an invigorating and tangy complement to pad thai, balancing the dish's savory and nutty flavors. Made with ripe mangoes and a spicy dressing, this salad offers a revitalizing burst of sweetness and heat.

The combination of fresh ingredients and vibrant flavors makes it an ideal side dish, enhancing the overall dining experience with its crisp texture and delightful taste.

Tom Yum Soup

spicy thai soup favorite

Complementing the vibrant flavors of the Thai mango salad, Tom Yum soup offers a spicy and sour counterpart that enriches the dining experience with its aromatic complexity.

Its spicy broth, infused with the zesty tang of lemongrass and lime, harmonizes beautifully with the rich shrimp flavors. This beloved Thai soup provides a warming, flavorful contrast to Pad Thai, making it an excellent choice for any meal.

Thai Papaya Salad

spicy tangy green papaya

A quintessential addition to any Thai meal, papaya salad combines crisp, shredded green papaya with a zesty dressing of lime juice, fish sauce, and chilies.

The spicy dressing brings a delightful heat, while crunchy peanuts add texture and richness.

This vibrant salad offers an invigorating contrast to the savory flavors of Pad Thai, making it a perfect side dish to balance your meal.

Steamed Jasmine Rice

perfect for asian cuisine

Steamed jasmine rice, with its aromatic fragrance and fluffy texture, provides a neutral base that enhances the complex flavors of Pad Thai. This versatile side pairs wonderfully with other Thai favorites like steamed dumplings, creating a balanced meal.

Sipping on jasmine tea alongside can further elevate the dining experience, offering a soothing complement to the vibrant and tangy notes of Pad Thai.

Chicken Satay

tender skewered chicken dish

Chicken Satay is a popular dish consisting of succulent grilled skewers marinated in aromatic spices. The rich and complex flavors of the marinade seep into the tender chicken, creating a delightful culinary experience. It is often served with a variety of dipping sauces, such as spicy peanut or tangy tamarind, which complement the dish perfectly.

This dish offers a delightful contrast to the tangy and savory flavors of Pad Thai, making it a popular choice for those looking to explore the diverse flavors of Thai cuisine.

Thai Cucumber Salad

refreshing and tangy salad

Thai Cucumber Salad is a perfect palate cleanser to accompany the rich flavors of Pad Thai. With its rejuvenating crunch and tangy dressing, this invigorating side dish highlights cucumber benefits such as hydration and essential vitamins.

Salad variations can include ingredients like red onions, chili, and peanuts, adding layers of flavor and texture. It's an easy, yet delightful addition to your meal.

Fried Tofu

crispy tofu appetizer recipe

Crispy fried tofu, with its golden exterior and tender interior, serves as a versatile and protein-rich accompaniment to Pad Thai.

Mastering tofu preparation is simple: press to remove excess moisture, cut into cubes, and fry until crisp.

Pair with flavorful dipping sauces like soy-ginger or sweet chili for an extra burst of taste, enhancing the dining experience and complementing the main dish perfectly.

Coconut Soup

thai coconut lime soup

A warm and aromatic coconut soup serves as a comforting and flavorful starter to complement Pad Thai.

This delightful soup can be prepared with spicy variations for those who enjoy a bit of heat or with vegetarian options, making it versatile for various dietary preferences.

The creamy texture and fragrant spices harmonize beautifully with the savory profiles of Pad Thai, enhancing your dining experience.

Green Papaya Salad

tangy thai cuisine delight

Following the savory richness of a coconut soup, Green Papaya Salad offers a crisp and tangy contrast that perfectly complements Pad Thai.

This invigorating dish, known for its papaya benefits, is both healthy and flavorful.

Salad preparation involves shredding unripe papaya, then mixing it with lime juice, peanuts, and chili.

The result is a vibrant, zesty side that enhances every bite of Pad Thai.

Thai Fish Cakes

delicious thai street food

Thai Fish Cakes bring a delectable blend of spices and textures that pair exquisitely with the flavors of Pad Thai. This delightful dish involves fish preparation, where minced fish is combined with red curry paste and herbs, then fried to perfection.

Serve with a tangy dipping sauce for an added burst of flavor. They provide a crispy, savory complement to your Pad Thai meal.

Thai Peanut Sauce

tasty thai peanut sauce

One of the most versatile and flavorful accompaniments to Pad Thai is a rich, creamy peanut sauce. This delectable sauce adds a savory depth, enhancing the dish's overall taste.

For those with peanut allergies, there are sauce variations using alternative ingredients like sunflower seed butter. These options guarantee everyone can enjoy a delicious, allergy-friendly version of this classic Thai condiment.

Thai Basil Chicken

delicious thai basil dish

A delightful companion to Pad Thai, Thai Basil Chicken offers a fragrant and spicy contrast that enhances the meal's complexity.

The chicken marinade, infused with garlic and soy sauce, deepens the flavor. Utilizing stir fry techniques, the dish is quickly cooked, preserving the freshness of Thai basil.

This side dish adds a savory and aromatic element, perfectly complementing the noodle-based main course.

Thai Vegetable Soup

colorful spicy nutritious soup

Delightfully light and nourishing, vegetable soup offers a harmonious balance to the rich and bold flavors of Pad Thai. A spicy broth, brimming with fresh vegetables, invigorates the palate without overshadowing the main dish.

Finished with a fragrant herb garnish, this soup enhances the dining experience, providing an invigorating contrast and a touch of warmth that complements the meal beautifully.

Are the Best Side Dishes for Naan also Suitable to Serve with Pad Thai?

Yes, the best side dishes for naan, such as raita, chutney, and tandoori vegetables, can also be suitable to serve with Pad Thai. The flavors and textures of these dishes complement the bold and complex flavors of Pad Thai, making them a perfect accompaniment to the dish.

Grilled Shrimp Skewers

tasty seafood barbecue option

Marinated in a blend of garlic, lime, and chili, grilled shrimp skewers introduce a smoky and tangy element that pairs exquisitely with Pad Thai.

Utilizing simple marinade recipes and basic grilling techniques, these skewers offer a delightful contrast in both flavor and texture.

The charred exterior and succulent interior of the shrimp complement the complex, savory notes of Pad Thai, creating a harmonious dining experience.