Easy Vegetarian Pho Recipe

Vegetable broth: The base of the soup, providing a rich and savory flavor.

Onion: Adds depth and sweetness to the broth.

Garlic: Enhances the overall flavor with its aromatic qualities.

Ginger: Provides a warm, spicy undertone to the broth.

Star anise: A key spice that gives the broth its distinctive licorice-like flavor.

Cinnamon stick: Adds a sweet and woody note to the broth.

Soy sauce: Adds umami and saltiness to the broth.

Rice noodles: The main carbohydrate component, providing a chewy texture.

Bean sprouts: Adds crunch and freshness to the soup.

Lime: Provides acidity and brightness to balance the flavors.

Fresh herbs: Cilantro, basil, and mint add a burst of freshness and aroma.

Jalapeno: Adds a spicy kick to the soup.

When preparing the broth, make sure to toast the star anise and cinnamon stick in a dry pan for a few minutes before adding them to the pot. This will enhance their flavors and give your pho a deeper, more aromatic profile.

• vegetable broth - Substitute with mushroom broth: Mushroom broth provides a rich, umami flavor that enhances the depth of the pho.

• onion - Substitute with shallots: Shallots offer a milder and slightly sweeter flavor, which can complement the other spices well.

• garlic - Substitute with garlic powder: If fresh garlic is unavailable, garlic powder can provide a similar flavor profile, though it may be less pungent.

• ginger - Substitute with galangal: Galangal has a similar spicy and aromatic quality to ginger, making it a good alternative.

• star anise - Substitute with fennel seeds: Fennel seeds have a similar licorice-like flavor, though they are milder than star anise.

• cinnamon - Substitute with cassia bark: Cassia bark is often used interchangeably with cinnamon and provides a similar warm, sweet flavor.

• soy sauce - Substitute with tamari: Tamari is a gluten-free alternative to soy sauce and has a similar savory taste.

• rice noodles - Substitute with glass noodles: Glass noodles have a similar texture and are also gluten-free, making them a good substitute.

• bean sprouts - Substitute with snow peas: Snow peas offer a similar crunch and fresh flavor, though they are slightly sweeter.

• lime - Substitute with lemon: Lemon can provide a similar acidic brightness, though it has a slightly different flavor profile.

• fresh herbs - Substitute with parsley and dill: While not traditional, parsley and dill can offer a fresh, aromatic quality similar to cilantro, basil, and mint.

• jalapeno - Substitute with serrano pepper: Serrano peppers have a similar heat level and flavor, making them a good alternative to jalapenos.

• Allow the broth to cool completely before storing. This helps to maintain the flavor and prevent any bacterial growth.
• Store the broth separately from the noodles and toppings. This ensures that the noodles do not become mushy and the fresh ingredients retain their crispness.
• Pour the cooled broth into an airtight container. It can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• For longer storage, freeze the broth in freezer-safe containers or ziplock bags. Lay the bags flat in the freezer for easy stacking and quicker thawing. The broth can be frozen for up to 3 months.
• When ready to use, thaw the broth in the refrigerator overnight or use the defrost setting on your microwave.
• Reheat the broth on the stove over medium heat until it reaches a simmer. Avoid boiling to preserve the delicate flavors.
• Store cooked rice noodles in a separate airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To prevent them from sticking together, toss them with a small amount of sesame oil or olive oil before storing.
• Fresh toppings like bean sprouts, herbs, and jalapeno slices should be stored in separate containers in the refrigerator. Use them within 2-3 days for the best flavor and texture.
• To reassemble, simply reheat the broth, warm the noodles briefly in hot water or the microwave, and combine with fresh toppings as per the original recipe instructions.

• Gently reheat the broth on the stovetop over medium heat until it reaches a simmer. Avoid boiling to preserve the delicate flavors of the spices.
• While the broth is warming, place the rice noodles in a heatproof bowl and pour boiling water over them. Let them sit for a few minutes until they are warmed through, then drain.
• Divide the reheated noodles into serving bowls.
• Pour the hot broth over the noodles.
• Top with fresh bean sprouts, lime wedges, herbs like cilantro, basil, and mint, and jalapeno slices just before serving to maintain their freshness and crunch.
• If you prefer using a microwave, place the broth in a microwave-safe container and heat in 1-minute intervals, stirring in between, until hot. Warm the noodles separately by covering them with a damp paper towel and microwaving for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

• Large pot: A large pot is essential for simmering the broth and ensuring all the flavors meld together.

• Strainer: Use a strainer to remove the solids from the broth, leaving you with a clear, flavorful liquid.

• Knife: A knife is needed to halve the onion, smash the garlic, and slice the ginger.

• Cutting board: A cutting board provides a safe surface for chopping and slicing ingredients.

• Measuring cups: Measuring cups help ensure you use the correct amount of vegetable broth and soy sauce.

• Wooden spoon: A wooden spoon is useful for stirring the broth as it simmers.

• Tongs: Tongs are handy for handling the cooked rice noodles and placing them into bowls.

• Bowls: Bowls are needed to serve the pho, holding the noodles, broth, and toppings.

• Ladle: A ladle is perfect for pouring the hot broth over the noodles in each bowl.

• Saucepan: A saucepan can be used to cook the rice noodles according to the package instructions.

Prep ingredients in advance: Chop the onion, garlic, and ginger the night before to save time.

Use pre-made broth: Opt for a high-quality store-bought vegetable broth to cut down on simmering time.

Quick-cook noodles: Choose rice noodles that cook in just a few minutes.

Ready-to-use herbs: Buy pre-washed and pre-chopped fresh herbs to save on prep time.

Microwave lime: Warm the lime wedges in the microwave for a few seconds to make them juicier and easier to squeeze.