--- title: "Meatless Friday: Poor Man's Pad Thai" description: Try this Thai-inspired recipe from Rebecca Recznik for your Meatless Friday meal. It's budget-friendly and gluten-free too! --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/07/22/meatless-friday-poor-mans-pad-thai#) # Meatless Friday: Poor Man's Pad Thai Jul 22, 2016 8:00:22 AM  |  by [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) [![meatless friday redesign](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/meatless-friday-redesign-125.png?width=720&height=340&name=meatless-friday-redesign-125.png)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/meatless-friday-redesign-125.png) We looove Pad Thai over here. There is just something about that amazing combination of sweet & salty, crunchy & savory! Plus, it is naturally gluten-free which is a big plus around here since my husband and kids are gluten-free eaters. My husband and I joke that we would go broke if we ate this dish as often as we wanted to since the rice noodles are so expensive. Plus, I was looking for another easy meatless meal to fill up our Friday menu. So, I made a few alterations to the typical recipe to bring you this: Poor Man's Pad Thai! Cooked from scratch with no store-bought bottles of pre-made sauce, this recipe is also made with rice instead of noodles for all those people love to eat this but don't love the price of rice noodles. I hope you enjoy this as much as we do! [Tweet "Try this gluten-free, budget-friendly #padThai #recipe for #MeatlessFriday!"] ![Michele Anliker Photography 2016. Used with permission. All rights reserved.](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/PadThai-CM-post.jpg?width=720&height=300&name=PadThai-CM-post.jpg) Michele Anliker Photography 2016. Used with permission. All rights reserved.   **Poor Man's Pad Thai** 2 c.  Rice, uncooked 4 Eggs 2 Tbl. Coconut Oil 3/4 c. Sugar 1/4 c. water 1/4 c. Rice Vinegar 1 Tbl. Garlic, minced 3/4 tsp. crushed Red Pepper Flakes 1 tsp. Siracha 1/2 tsp. Salt 1 Tbl. Cornstarch 1 Tbl. Water 1/2-3/4 c. Peanut Butter- crunchy! 1 Tbl. White Vinegar, *optional* 1 Tbl. Fish Sauce, *optional* Bean Sprouts, *optional* 1-2 tsp. lime juice (or squeezed from one lime) Green Onions, *minced* Cilantro, *minced* Cook the rice according to package directions. While it is cooking, scramble and cook the eggs. Set aside. In a saucepan, combine the rice vinegar, 1/4 c. water, and sugar. Bring to a boil until sugar is dissolved. Add red pepper flakes and garlic and turn the heat down to a simmer for 2 minutes. Add the siracha  and salt. In a separate bowl, combine the cornstarch and water, then add this to the saucepan. Stir frequently. It should thicken after a few minutes. Then, add the peanut butter and stir until it is melted and smooth. In a large skillet, heat the cooked rice and coconut oil. Add the eggs and bean sprouts. Pour the saucepan mixture over it all and stir to combine completely. Add white vinegar and fish sauce if desired. You can add more peanut butter to taste if necessary. Prior to serving, squeeze the lime juice over it and garnish with green onions and cilantro. Enjoy!   **[You can find all our Meatless Friday featured recipes here](http://catholicmom.com/tag/meatless-fridays/).** *Copyright 2016 Rebecca Recznik* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F07%2F22%2Fmeatless-friday-poor-mans-pad-thai%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F07%2F22%2Fmeatless-friday-poor-mans-pad-thai%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F07%2F22%2Fmeatless-friday-poor-mans-pad-thai%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Meatless%20Friday%3A%20Poor%20Man%27s%20Pad%20Thai) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F07%2F22%2Fmeatless-friday-poor-mans-pad-thai%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2016%2F07%2F22%2Fmeatless-friday-poor-mans-pad-thai%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Profile%203.jpg) ### [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) We welcome guest contributors who graciously volunteer their writing for our readers. 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To inquire about serving as a guest contributor, contact editor@CatholicMom.com. ## Related Blog Articles [ Meatless Friday: Gluten-Free Sweet Tuna Pasta Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/03/11/meatless-friday-gluten-free-sweet-tuna-pasta) [ Meatless Friday: Gluten-Free Fiesta Rice Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/02/26/meatless-friday-gluten-free-fiesta-rice) [ Meatless Friday: Parmesan Basil Quick Fish Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2015/07/03/meatless-friday-parmesan-basil-quick-fish) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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