This gluten free and Paleo Shrimp Pad Thai gives the Thai classic dish a low carb makeover using spiralized carrots for the noodles!
Pad Thai is one of those dishes that I really love at Thai restaurants. There’s something about that salty and sweet combo that is just so addicting. However, being gluten free, I sometimes get nervous about ordering Pad Thai when I’m dining out since I’m never sure about the ingredients they use in the sauce and the noodles. This is why I haven’t had it in a long time at a restaurant, and it’s just not worth the stomach bloat and pains that I experience if I’m exposed to gluten.
Well, I’m not too sad about it because I’ve been making variations of it at home that’s healthier and cleaner, and I’ve been having so much fun recreating and experimenting with the flavors that I love so much. One of my favorite grain free and low carb versions is this Paleo Shrimp Pad Thai that’s packed with so much umami and yumminess and I’m so excited to share the recipe with you.
The noodles are made with spiralized carrots, and it couldn’t be easier to prepare with the Green Giant® Veggie Spirals that you can find at the freezer section of Walmart. They are the perfect, gluten free swap-in for traditional pasta, and most importantly, they are made with 100% vegetables and no other preservatives or weird ingredients.
I especially appreciated the simple cooking instructions: You can either microwave the noodles or sauté them, and then they are ready to eat in soups, salads, or as an entree, easily substituted into any dish that use noodles. I used and followed the sauté method for this recipe and it was perfectly cooked by the end of it.
There are 4 different vegetables that are currently sold under Green Giant® Veggie Spirals: zucchini, carrots, butternut squash, and beets. While I will definitely be trying out all of them, I thought the spiralized carrots would fit best with the flavor profile of this Paleo Shrimp Pad Thai and I wasn’t wrong. This dish came out fabulous and my husband asked for seconds, so it’s definitely a winner!
If you are want to check out Green Giant® Veggie Spirals, you can learn more about where you can find them, along with other fun recipes ideas, here. Because if you are like me, you love cooking with spiralized veggies, but they can be a pain in the butt to prepare and they add to more dishes you have to do. I always appreciate finding out about these new products that make healthy cooking at home so easy and convenient!
Paleo Shrimp Pad Thai
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup almonds
- 2 tbsp coconut oil divided
- 1 lb raw peeled and deveined shrimp preferably wild-caught
- 1 package of Green Giant® Veggie Spirals Carrot or about 4 cups of spiralized carrots
- 1/2 onion sliced
- 2 eggs whisked
- 2 green onions cut into 1 inch pieces
- Cilantro for garnish
- 1 cup mung bean sprouts
Pad Thai Sauce
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tbsp honey omit for Whole30
- 1 tsp coconut aminos
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1-2 bird's eye chili pepper, chopped finely omit if you don't like spicy
Instructions
- Whisk together the ingredients for the Pad Thai Sauce and set aside.
- Heat a large skillet over medium low heat.
- Add the almonds to the skillet and toast them while stirring frequently until they are golden brown and smell fragrant, about 4-5 minutes.
- Remove the almonds from the skillet and chop them roughly. Set aside.
- Heat 1 tbsp of coconut oil in the skillet over medium high heat.
- When the pan is hot, add the shrimp and onions to the pan. Stir fry for 3 minutes until the shrimp are opaque and the onions are somewhat translucent.
- Remove the shrimp and onions from the pan and set aside.
- Add 1 tbsp of coconut oil in the same skillet.
- Add Green Giant® Veggie Spirals Carrot. Cover the skillet and let it cook for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure even cooking.*
- Push the carrot spirals aside and add the eggs and green onions and let them cook while stirring occasionally until the eggs are almost cooked through, about 1 minute.
- Add the the shrimp and onions back in to the pan, with mung bean sprouts and Pad Thai Sauce. Stir together for about 30 seconds.
- Remove from heat and toss chopped toasted almonds and cilantro.
- Serve immediately.
Tessa Simpson says
i was thinking when i first saw this…how does she spiralize carrots successfully!? I have a hard time finding huge carrots that would make it easier, but then I saw the ready made carrot spirals…awesome!!! Pad Thai is laded with all my favorite flavors, super excited to try this!
Jessica DeMay says
I’m loving that all these veggies are easier to find prepped in the store already. I have’t tried these carrots, but they sound great and the dish you made with them looks amazing! I know my husband would also ask for seconds 🙂
STACEY CRAWFORD says
Wow, Jean, this looks incredibly tasty! I will sure look for those spiralized carrot noodle packs. How awesome is that!
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish says
This is such a cool idea!!! I’ve never used sprialized carrots before but now I’m going to have to give it a try. I bet they’re so yummy with this Shrimp Pad Thai!
Melissa @Real Nutritious Living says
Pad Thai is one of my favorites! Thanks for a great variation.
Megan Stevens says
My family will love this! Thank you! 🙂
Holley @ ThePrimalDesire.com says
Carrot spirals! I never order pad thai anymore either, now I can satisfy my craving!
Tina says
Yum! I love Pad Thai! This one looks super delicious – also love that it’s paleo!
Katja says
YUM! I love all of the colors. And I love that it’s paleo.
cristina says
Spiralized carrot!!! Amazing! Love the spicy nutty flavors with them too. Fantastic recipe!
ChihYu says
Love Pad Thai and also love that you use carrot noodles. How Fun !
Kari - Get Inspired Everyday! says
I love Pad Thai, (who doesn’t after all) and it’s even better when it’s convenient and packed with veggies!
Kelly says
This was so quick, easy and tasty and of course the added bonus HEALTHY.
I used my lime essential oil instead of the lime juice.
Definitely be making this again.
Jean Choi says
So glad you enjoyed it. Thank you so much!!
Tom says
I used spiralized squash, my grocery does not have the corrots. This was super tasty. It was not like traditional Pad Thai, but the flavors were delicious!
Jean Choi says
Thank you! SO glad you enjoyed it 🙂