I warmed it on the stovetop (not microwave) and found it lacking, but acceptable.

After adding:

  • tamarind paste,
  • onions,
  • bell peppers,
  • a thai hot pepper,

and then topping with:

  • cilantro,
  • fresh lime, and
  • some chopped up roasted peanuts,

… the additions (standard ingredients) made it much better.

Still, it was missing the contrast of bean sprouts. It isn;t the same without them and if I’d had bean sprouts, I would have added, but at that point I might have opted to just make my own pad thai – which would have tasted better for almost the same amount of cook/prep time.

  • huck@lemm.eeEnglish
    2·
    6 days ago

    We tried it and found it nothing like the pad Thai we’ve had. Couldn’t finish it unfortunately. At least I think it was that brand.

    • memfree@lemmy.mlOPEnglish
      3·
      10 days ago

      If you mean the dry-shelf instant noodle bowls, then yes. I think of those as an alternative to ramen noodles since they don’t need refrigeration and cook in a similar manner. In both cases, there’s no pretense of either having fresh ingredients or being anything like a complete dinner-style meal. I like instant ramen (especially with an egg and some greens in it) and I like the instant pho (also preferred with greens, but no egg).

      While I expect dry instant noodles to be a minimal affair that one might opt to dress up, I thought the Pad Thai would be more of a complete meal – and it is, but it didn’t taste much like Pad Thai. I understand that bean sprouts are impossible to keep shelf-stable, but Snapdragon could have included little packets of peanuts and chill flakes to improve the meal.

    • CarbonatedPastaSauce@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      10 days ago

      I like the Snapdragon Pho, although I can’t stand the chili oil they put in it. Instead, I use a spoon of Chili Crisp and/or throw some kimchi in it after the noodles are cooked. It’s not really pho, but it is really good for how easy it is to prepare!

  • zerosignal@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    9 days ago

    I have this sitting in my fridge waiting to be cooked. I was looking forward to it, but now I’m not. My 8 year old really wants to try it, so hopefully it will at least be something a kid likes.

    • memfree@lemmy.mlOPEnglish
      2·
      9 days ago

      It is easy insta-food, so just look at it as a day without needing to plan or cook. That said, if you have roasted peanuts and/or cilantro to use as garnish, I think both will improve the meal.

      • zerosignal@lemmy.worldEnglish
        3·
        9 days ago

        I’ll have to pick up some cilantro the next time I go to the grocery store. I have lime juice I can add, and we’re peanut free at home, so I’m not going to add those.

        My son is excited to try it because he has a peanut allergy and any pad Thai we’ve found anywhere always has peanuts, and this one doesn’t.

        I should also look on the bright side, it will still be better than the nonexistent pad Thai near where I live.