Mishry Rating
SUPERB!
Summary
Team Mishry loved the Original Ching’s Secret Pad Thai noodles. Bang-on taste, texture, and proportions, we recommend this for days you crave for some exciting flavors.
It’s chilly on a Friday evening, the cozy weekend is waiting to be welcomed. Nothing better to take the chill off a cold day than something warm and delish.
Pad Thai is a rice-noodle based dish native to Thailand that is loaded with flavor, is usually spicy and contains crunchy peanuts and sprouts. Easily available in most urban cities in India, it’s become a favorite amongst people who love Oriental flavors. What is the same flavors are packed in a box and delivered to you?
Adding another review to our list of tasty, innovative instant foods, here’s our Ching’s Secret Pad Thai noodles review. We reviewed two flavors. Our cooking process, the time required, our choice of toppings, are all covered in this review.
Related Reading- These 4 Ching’s Secret Noodles variants are YUM
Variants We Reviewed
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Table of Contents
Ching’s Secret Pad Thai Noodles Review – What You Need To Know
This section covers everything you need to know about Ching’s Secret Pad Thai noodles.
1. Available Variants
Ching’s Secret Pad Thai noodles are available in four flavor variants. These are Original, Extra Hot Thai Chilli, Lemon Grass & Chilli, and Green Curry.
We reviewed the first two variants.
2. Available Sizes
Single serving boxes hold 130 grams of stir-fried noodles.
3. Price Range
A 130-gram box is priced at Rs 200.
4. Shelf Life
The noodles have a shelf life of 18 months.
In 2021, we reviewed Saffola Oodles that are made of healthier flours like oats and semolina. Taste, texture, and visual appeal were all remarkable.
Ching’s Secret Pad Thai Noodles – Our Review Factors
Pad Thai noodles are prepared with rice, so naturally, the taste, texture, and appearance of these noodles will be different when compared to instant noodles that are made of refined wheat flour.
In addition to this, we also judged in our review the aroma and taste of the seasoning, seasoning to noodles proportion, and whether or not this is a beginner-friendly product.
1. Packaging
A pack holding the rice noodles and another holding the seasoning/gravy mix are packed inside a carton.
2. Main Ingredients
The Pad Thai noodles are prepared with rice and water.
Original Seasoning: Sugar, Mixed Spices 26% (garlic, pepper, chilli, lemon grass, onion), Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Salt, Dehydrated Vegetables 5.5% (spring onion leaf, fried shallot), Tamarind Powder, Disodium 5’ Guanylate, Disodium 5’ Inosinate (Flavor Enhancers, E627, E631)
Extra Hot Thai Chilli Seasoning: Sugar, Mixed Spices 25% (chilli (12%), garlic, onion, pepper), Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Peanut, Dehydrated Vegetables 6% (spring onion leaf, fried shallot, chilli), Salt, Disodium 5’ Guanylate, Disodium 5’ Inosinate (Flavor Enhancers, E627, E631), Tamarind Powder.
3. Taste
Asian dishes, specifically Pad Thai, are known for exciting all taste buds on your tongue. There are salty, sweet, tangy, spicy, nutty flavors. Since the noodles aren’t flavored, the primary focus under this parameter was the seasoning mix.
Does it add a desirable taste to the bowl of Pad Thai? Are there any differences in the seasoning mix, does the Extra Hot variant pack more heat?
4. Flavor
Though Pad Thai is a blend of all flavor profiles, traditionally, sweet and sour play the most prominent roles. Do Ching’s Secret Pad Thai noodles come close to the authentic counterpart in terms of flavor?
5. Texture
Pad Thai noodles are made of rice. They do not need to be cooked in boiling water. Soaking for 3-5 minutes does the trick. Within this duration, the noodles would reach the al dente stage and are further stir-fried with veggies/protein source and sauces.
Pad Thai is known for the prominent, chewy firm bite it has. When compared to instant noodles (refined wheat), Pad Thai should feel slightly (0.5%) undercooked.
6. Appearance and Color
When raw, these noodles looked thicker and flatter than vermicelli and had an off-white appearance.
7. Nutritional Information
Following are the calories per serve for Ching’s Secret Pad Thai Noodles-
Original-460 Kcal, 0 grams of fat, 105 grams of carbohydrates, and 9 grams of protein.
Extra Hot Thai Chilli- 470 Kcal, 0 grams of fat, 103 grams of carbohydrates, and 9 grams of protein.
Also Read- Ching’s Secret Cook Up Soups
Ching’s Secret Pad Thai Noodles Flavours – Detailed Review
There are two packs inside the carton. A transparent pack that holds the rice noodles and a silver wrapper with the seasoning. The packaging and cooking instructions are identical for both variants.
| Ching’s Secret Pad Thai Noodles | Original | Extra Hot Thai Chilli |
| Price | Rs 200 | Rs 200 |
| Quantity | 130 grams | 130 grams |
| Calories | 460 Kcal | 470 Kcal |
1. Original
These are strip-shaped noodles and are considerably thicker. The seasoning is a fine powder with some dehydrated vegetables. We could also see bits of garlic, lemon leaves, spring onion, and some sugar in this aromatic seasoning mix.
How we cooked-
For a fair and unbiased review, we followed the recipe and instructions as provided on the carton. We started by soaking the noodles in a pan of hot water for 25 minutes.
While these noodles were soaking, we blanched and chopped the veggies (french beans and carrots). As mentioned, you can add a protein source of choice like deveined prawns, boneless chicken, paneer, or tofu.
For the cooking process, we used the star cookware from 2021, our AmazonBasics Cast Iron Wok and heated 2 tbsp of oil before adding the veggies. In almost two minutes, the veggies looked well cooked, and we proceeded to the next step.
The seasoning mix with 1 tbsp of water was added next and it was stirred with the stir-fried veggies. Finally, we added the soaked Pad Thai Noodles (that had become soft after soaking) and stirred the contents at regular intervals. Ensure stir-frying until the seasoning has evenly coated all noodles and veggies. To garnish, we added some fresh coriander with a handful of crushed peanuts and served hot!
Our experience – First things first, our bowl of noodles looked IDENTICAL to the image on the carton. Thumbs up for that! Moreover, the cooking instructions were quite easy to follow. Similarly, the nutritional label and ingredient list are easy to read.
The noodles are cooked through and have the firm, springy bite Pad Thai is known for. In one word, the taste was marvelous! The ratio of seasoning to noodles was adequate too. As discussed above, Pad Thai noodles showcase a blend of multiple flavors. And this is exactly what we tasted- spicy, tangy, sweet, and salty. These flavors were well-rounded and each one shone through. We didn’t feel the need to add any extra spices.
The only ingredients we used from our pantry were coriander leaves, peanuts, and lemons. The crushed roasted peanuts added a nutty crunch, elevating our experience.
We prepared this meal in under one hour, including the prep.
Features
- A 130-gram pack is priced at Rs 200.
- It has a shelf life of 18 months.
- Main Ingredients- Rice, water, Sugar, Mixed Spices 26% (garlic, pepper, chilli, lemon grass, onion), Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Salt, Dehydrated Vegetables 5.5% (spring onion leaf, fried shallot), Tamarind Powder, Disodium 5’ Guanylate, Disodium 5’ Inosinate (Flavor Enhancers, E627, E631)
Pros
- One pack yields two serves.
- This is a quick and convenient meal option.
- The seasoning mix is spot-on, needs no adjustments.
- It comes quite close to its authentic counterpart in terms of taste and texture.
Cons
- None!
Best Suited For
Quick and convenient, Ching’s Secret Original Pad Thai noodles make for a flavorful bowl. Short on time? Give these noodles a go.
2. Extra Hot Thai Chilli
There are not too many differences in the noodles and seasoning visually. Our cooking process, choice of cookware and veggies, and toppings were exactly the same. Let’s jump to the taste test.
Our experience
Before adding the noodles to the stir-fried veggies and seasoning, we tasted them after soaking. As expected, the noodles by themselves are bland but they have a slightly undercooked (not raw) but springy, firm bite. The noodles turn marginally softer when stir-fried.
Like the Original variant, Extra Hot Thai Chilli featured a flavorful blend but it was dominant on the chilli. This heat is too intense and hits us in the back of the throat. Overall, the flavor packs a lot of spiciness and a peppery kick, as claimed.
The texture was the same as the above variant.
Features
- Net weight, price, and shelf life are the same as the above variant.
- Main Ingredients- Rice, Water, Sugar, Mixed Spices 25% (chilli (12%), garlic, onion, pepper), Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Peanut, Dehydrated Vegetables 6% (spring onion leaf, fried shallot, chilli), Salt, Disodium 5’ Guanylate, Disodium 5’ Inosinate (Flavor Enhancers, E627, E631), Tamarind Powder.
Pros
- Minimal ingredients and cookware are needed.
- Excellent serving suggestions are provided.
- Thumbs up for the texture of the noodles.
- It is extra hot, as claimed.
Best Suited For
Ready to test your spice tolerance? This Ching’s Secret Pad Thai Noodles seasoning is going to be challenging!
Our Top Picks & Recommendations
From the Original and Extra Hot Thai Chilli variants, we liked the former better. Original shows a spot-on blend of sour, sweet, spicy, and savory flavors.
That said, Extra Hot Thai Chilli would be a better pick for those with a high spice tolerance.
Final Words
Comforting, convenient, and a delight to your taste buds!
Ching’s Secret Pad Thai noodles make for a decent alternative to the one we get at restaurants. Taste and texture, this packaged variant hits the spot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some interesting FAQs on Ching’s Secret Pad Thai noodles
1. Are the Thai noodles fried?
Yes, the rice noodles are stir-fried.
2. Is consuming these noodles healthy?
Mindful eating, more protein, and fiber are some ways to make the noodles more nutritious.
3. Which is the best flavor of Ching’s Thai noodles between these two?
We liked Original Ching’s Secret Pad Thai noodles better.
4. Do these noodles have additional flavor enhancers?
Yes, the seasoning mix contains flavor enhancers E627 and E631.
5. Are these noodles made of maida?
No, the noodles are made of rice and water.
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