30-minute quick and easy vegan pho recipe - Rhubarbarians (2024)

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30-minute easy vegan pho recipe! This quick Vietnamese noodle soup has a flavorful broth and is the perfect vegetarian one-pot meal for busy weeknights.

30-minute quick and easy vegan pho recipe - Rhubarbarians (1)

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I received a copy of Weeknight One-Pot Vegan Cooking by Nicole Malik for review and am sharing this vegan pho recipe with permission. All opinions are my own.

Hey, Rhubarbarians! Another day, another easy yet fantastic vegetarian meal.

This recipe today is kind of a cheater vegan version of your favorite Vietnamese noodle soup. Pho! We've made it 3 times in the last month and it's definitely a go-to recipe for us now. So good. It comes from the pages of Nicole Malik's cookbook Weeknight One-Pot Vegan Cooking!

Bookmark our mega list of easy vegetarian dinner recipes here!

Jump to:
  • Quick and easy pho
  • Make the broth
  • The noodles
  • The toppings
  • Weeknight One-Pot Vegan Cooking cookbook review
  • FAQs
  • Recipe
  • Comments and reviews

Quick and easy pho

Sometimes, we just want a big bowl of pho without having to go out to a restaurant. And we also don't want to let a pot simmer on the stove all day.

Sometimes, we just want some EASY WEEKNIGHT PHO. Right? Yes.

Putting authenticity aside, you CAN make a super flavorful broth for this pho in a very short amount of time. This entire recipe only takes 30 minutes!

Have you tried our Thai curried butternut squash soup?

30-minute quick and easy vegan pho recipe - Rhubarbarians (2)

Make the broth

The broth is, in my opinion, is the most important part of a bowl of pho. Vegan or not, it needs to be rich with flavor. This broth gets tons of flavor from mushrooms, onions, and Chinese five-spice powder.

  • Heat some oil in a pot and saute all of your aromatics together. Everything will begin to soften and become very fragrant.
  • Add vegetable broth (I like Better Than Bouillon's seasoned vegetable base) and bring to a boil.
  • Move on to the next step to add the noodles!

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The noodles

You've just GOTTA have noodles in your pho. And they definitely have to be rice noodles. The noodles are cooked directly in the broth in this recipe, which gives them more flavor.

If you're looking for the noodles in restaurant pho, look for flat rice noodles!

The toppings

Aaaaah, the pho toppings. We all have our faves.

  • Bean sprouts
  • Red chile pepper
  • Jalapeno
  • Lime
  • Fresh cilantro
  • Fresh basil
  • Hoisin sauce
  • Sriracha or red chile sauce

Have you tried our easy vegan stir fry sauce?

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Weeknight One-Pot Vegan Cooking cookbook review

"Plant-based cooking just got easier than ever! Cleanup is a snap when your dinner cooks in one dish, and getting more plants into your diet is downright delicious with approchable yet inspired recipes."

You guys. This cookbook is AWESOME. Imagine "75 effortless recipes with maximum flavor and minimal cleanup." That's what you'll find in this book.

Weeknight One-Pot Vegan Cooking is written by Nicole Malik of Delicious Everyday. Her website is full of delicious and inspired vegetarian/vegan recipes. In this cookbook, she has compiled her favorite weeknight dinner recipes that are all made in just one dish.

Chapters include: Eat your veggies, Eat with your hands, Crowd-pleasing comfort food, Incredible grains, Bowls of deliciousness, Rise and shine, and Simply sweet one-pot treats.

You can find Nicole's cookbook on Amazon and don't forget to check out her website!

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FAQs

  1. Can I make this in the Instant Pot? Well, yes. But it's really not necessary. It really wouldn't save you any time and the noodles would turn to mush. So, maybe not.
  2. How can I store the leftovers? This recipe honestly doesn't make great leftovers. The noodles and the toppings are best when eaten right away. See below for meal prep options!
  3. Can I make this for meal prep? YEP! You'll want to cook the broth and keep the noodles and toppings separate. When you're ready to eat, heat the noodles with the broth and then add the toppings.

Got more questions? Let me know in the comments below!

30-minute quick and easy vegan pho recipe - Rhubarbarians (6)

Recipe

30-minute quick and easy vegan pho recipe - Rhubarbarians (7)

Quick and easy vegan pho recipe

Nicole Malik

30-minute easy vegan pho recipe! This quick Vietnamese noodle soup has a flavorful broth and is the perfect vegetarian one-pot meal for busy weeknights.

4.80 from 15 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course dinner, entree, Main Course, Soup

Cuisine American, Vietnamese

Servings 4 servings

Calories 242 kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small onion, thinly sliced
  • 5 oz sliced shiitake mushrooms
  • 2 medium scallions, sliced, greens and whites separated
  • 1 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
  • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 teaspoon ginger paste
  • salt, to taste
  • black pepper, to taste
  • 6 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 5oz package rice noodles

For serving

  • ¼ cup bean sprouts (optional)
  • sliced red chili pepper (optional)
  • fresh cilantro (optional)
  • hot sauce, such as Sriracha (optional)

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add the onion, mushrooms, scallion whites, Chinese five-spice powder, red pepper flakes, ginger paste, salt and pepper. Cook for 4-5 minutes, until the mushrooms begin to soften.

  • Add the vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Add the rice noodles and simmer for 5 minutes.

  • Top with the sprouts, red chili pepper and cilantro (if using). Garnish with the reserved scallion greens and serve with hot sauce.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bowlCalories: 242kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 1gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 1416mgPotassium: 168mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 826IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 16mgIron: 1mg

Keyword vegan, vegetarian

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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30-minute quick and easy vegan pho recipe - Rhubarbarians (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret ingredient in pho broth? ›

Sa sung—dried peanut worms—have been described as the secret ingredient of great pho.

What is vegetarian pho made of? ›

Directions. Place vegetable stock, onion, soy sauce, garlic, cinnamon sticks, ground ginger, star anise, and bay leaves in a large pot; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until flavors combine, 30 to 45 minutes.

What makes pho so delicious? ›

Pho delights the palate with a savory broth infused with aromatic spices and a medley of fresh toppings. The result is a harmonious and flavorful culinary experience that captures the essence of Vietnamese cuisine.

What's the difference between beef broth and pho broth? ›

One of the key differences is the spices used in the broth. Pho broth typically contains a combination of cinnamon, star anise, cloves, coriander, fennel seeds, and ginger, which give it a warm, aromatic flavor that is unique to this type of broth.

What are the sea worms in pho? ›

The secret flavor bomb in that bowl of Phở

What are Sá Sùng (peanut worms)? They're marine (sea) worms that were first described in 1827 by a French zoologist. There are over 140 different kinds of these delicious flavor bombs, and some are teeny tiny (2 millimeters long) while others can be as long as 28 inches.

Is pho broth anti inflammatory? ›

Pho is very nutritious. From its ingredients, it's been shown to reduce inflammation and improve joint health. If you suffer from something like chronic pain or arthritis, you may want to entertain the idea of enjoying more pho. The broth particularly can be very anti-inflammation.

How healthy is vegan pho? ›

Vegan Pho, a super comforting Vietnamese food, nutritious and full of protein. Perfect for a cozy day, this dish is tasty, healthy and delicious! Pho soup is a traditional Vietnamese dish prepared with beef, rice noodles, broth, and some other ingredients.

Is veggie pho healthy? ›

"Fresh vegetables added to pho are a nutritious addition," says Syn. "Vegetables are low in calories and high in vitamins, minerals and filling fiber." The one thing to be extra conscientious with pho is that it's very high in sodium, which can cause increased blood pressure and contribute to cardiovascular issues.

Do vegans eat pho? ›

This noodle soup, eaten everywhere throughout the country, can easily be made vegan and believe us when we say that there aren't many things as satisfying as a good bowl of vegan pho. Beware that 'pho with vegetables' may well not be vegan or even vegetarian for that matter as meat stock would normally be used.

What is the brown stuff in pho? ›

Another pho signature spice, star anise, is a brown eight-pointed pod that lends a hint of licorice to the broth.

What gives pho its smell? ›

A really good pho has nice aromatics. In particular there should have a subtle undertone of ginger and onion as when you make pho, you initially char it when you start the stock. Spice wise, there is an interplay between star anise, coriander, smoked cardamom, and saigon cinnamon.

What gives pho its distinct flavor? ›

Spices: There are 5 important spices in pho broth — star anise, whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, and coriander seeds. I really recommend using the whole (not ground) spices if possible, which we will briefly toast to bring out extra flavor.

Is it OK to drink pho broth? ›

Thirdly, it is important to remember that the broth of pho is the show's star and should be appreciated. Don't rush through your meal – take your time to savor all the flavors and enjoy every sip of the soup.

Is pho broth good for your gut? ›

I would argue, absolutely. Not only are the benefits of bone broth numerous, including digestive repair, skin and joint health, but adding in healing spices and herbs boosts the benefits even more.

What makes pho broth clear? ›

The first thing I always do when making pho at home is parboil my beef bones. It's easy and helps achieve a crystal-clear broth. Toss the bones in your stockpot, add water, and boil for a few minutes. As the bones simmer, they release impurities, making the water scumy and foamy.

How do you make pho broth taste better? ›

For the most interesting flavor, use a variety.
  1. Onion and fresh ginger: I love the onion and ginger in this broth. ...
  2. Pho spices: Our broth simmers with cinnamon sticks, whole coriander seeds, fennel seeds, star anise, cloves, and a black cardamom pod. ...
  3. Rock sugar: Sugar balances the savoriness of our beef broth.

What makes pho broth different? ›

Pho Broth Spices and Other ingredients

The spices are toasted to bring out the flavour before adding into the pot. And the ginger and onion are charred to add a subtle smokey flavour into the broth – a secret little step that adds that extra something-something to make this pho recipe authentic and traditional!

How do you enhance store bought pho broth? ›

Adding whole spices will add an earthiness to stock without overpowering the mixture—just look at the power of anise, cloves, and cinnamon in pho. Cardamom pods, allspice berries, cumin, coriander, yellow mustard, fennel, and peppercorns are all fair game.

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