Vegan Pho Recipe | One Ingredient Chef (2024)

byAndrew Olson

This recipe is really pho-nominal. “Pho” (pronounced more like FUnny than PHOne) is a Vietnamese noodle soup made with rice noodles steeped in an insanely flavorful broth, topped with lots of fresh aromatic veggies.

Traditionally, pho is made with beef broth and garnished with raw flanks of steak, but this version is completely vegan, of course, and you won’t be missing a thing – with the deep licorice flavors, smokey onions, and bright herbs on top, it’s like culinary heaven.

This recipe has been on my list for a long, long time. Way back in October, I found star anise (a classic spice used in pho) at a local market for the first time and took an Instagram poll to see what I should do with it. Pho was the overwhelming consensus. The people asked for a vegan pho and they’re getting a vegan pho!

Vegan Pho Recipe | One Ingredient Chef (2)

Makes 4-5 servings

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • 3 cups water
  • 1 large white onion
  • 1/4 cup fresh ginger
  • 3 pods of star anise
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon whole cloves
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • (optional) 1 serving nori or wakame seaweed
  • 12 oz flat rice noodles
  • 1/4 cup fresh mint, basil, and/or cilantro
  • 1-2 red or green chilies
  • 4 green onions
  • 3 limes

Vegan Pho Recipe | One Ingredient Chef (3)

Making pho is really, really simple. It’s basically three steps: 1) create a broth, 2) add rice noodles, and 3) garnish with the right toppings.

Making a Pho Broth

At least 90% of pho’s awesomeness comes from the broth. There are a lot of ingredients that go into creating this distinctive flavor, but the process couldn’t be simpler.

First, cut a white onion into quarters and loosely chop about 1/4 cup of fresh ginger root. Add these to your oven’s broiler until the outside layers are nearly charred. You could just throw these raw ingredients into the broth, but taking this extra step develops much deeper and more complex flavors in the final broth. Trust me, it’s worth it.

Then, throw all the following ingredients into a large stockpot and allow to simmer for 60-90 minutes: 4 cups of vegetable broth, 3 cups of water, the charred onion, the charred ginger, 3 whole star anise, 1 whole cinnamon stick, 1 teaspoon fennel seeds, 1/2 teaspoon whole cloves, 3 tablespoons of soy sauce, and 1 sheet of nori or another type of seaweed (these last two ingredients help emulate the flavors of fish sauce, which we’re obviously not adding in our vegan version).

Finally, let this simmer for an hour or more, uncovered, before giving the broth a taste. If it needs more salt or anything else, don’t be afraid to add it here. Lastly, use a kitchen strainer to pour the broth into a separate container, discarding the vegetables and spices.

Vegan Pho Recipe | One Ingredient Chef (4)

The Rice Noodles

This is the easiest part. Just before the broth is finished and you’re ready to serve, cook the rice noodles according to the package instructions. Likely, this will mean steeping them in a bowl with hot water for 8-10 minutes until softened. About 12 oz of noodles should be enough pho the whole family.

Toppings

While the broth is still simmering, prepare a large platter of toppings so that everyone can choose what they want to include in their soup. Tear up any combination of mint, basil, and/or cilantro leaves. Rinse some bean sprouts. Slice some red/green chilies and some green onions. Oh, and don’t pho-get to quarter some limes – they add a lot of brightness to the dish and should be squeezed over each serving bowl at the last minute.

Assemble

To assemble the bowls, add a generous spoonful of rice noodles to the bottom of a large soup bowl, ladle the broth over top, and then allow each person to add whichever toppings they’d like to include in their bowl.

Vegan Pho Recipe | One Ingredient Chef (5)

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26 Comments

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  1. Looks yummy. I pho out a lot. I live in a city with lots of Vietnamese restaurants. Its easy to veg there. I like that your broth has color. It seems when I eat it out, the veg broth is clear, so when you add the chili sauce, it turns it pink, which I do not like.

    Reply

    • Thanks, Vicky! No pink broth here! :p

      Reply

    • The traditional broth must be clear, regardless vegan or not. Pho has to smell onion and ginger. We do not use chili sauce with Pho, only fresh hot chili slices. (South VN use siracha and hoisin sauce but North VN don’t) The broth is important, so are the herbs. Thai basil, fresh bamboo shoot, mint leaves, spring onions, fresh chili and fresh lemon wedges are the must. Without them, the taste is not completed. For the vegan version, I often saute fresh oyster or sh*take mushroom to top up the soup. No vegetable in Pho. This is for a traditional version.
      The recipes are changed if proper materials/herbs can’t be found.

      Reply

  2. Love the Pho jokes! 😉 Can’t wait to make this!

    Reply

    • Not only the jokes, but the restaurant names such as Pho King and What the Pho!

      Reply

    • I try… 🙂

      Reply

  3. Well, now I have a great (and delicious) project to look forward to this weekend! Thanks for choosing Pho to highlight star anise – cannot wait to make this! 😀

    Reply

    • I can think of no greater weekend project than Pho 😀 haha, I hope you like it, Amber!

      Reply

  4. I’ve been looking for a vegan pho recipe for a while and this sounds good! Do you ever add hoisin and sriracha to it at the end?

    Reply

    • Hi Lindsay! Those sauces are great, and they do add to the flavors for sure. I do use them on occasion, but didn’t didn’t include them here because I try to stay away from including overly-processed ingredients.

      Reply

      • Sriracha sauce isn’t hard to make.

        Reply

        • Ooh Andrew ! One ingredient Srirachi recipe?!

          Reply

          • I might have to give that a shot this week :p

            Reply

  5. I made like a triple batch of this cuz I didn’t want to make the same mistake as I did when making your miso soup recipe and not make enough!! But it’s been a busy week and haven’t had time to have the leftovers I’ve kept it in a jar in the fridge for a week now how long do you think it’s good for?

    Reply

    • Hey LaReine! Good question.. If it still smells and tastes the same, I’d say it’s good for quite a while. There’s nothing super perishable in the ingredients; just cooked veggies and spices.

      Reply

  6. Hi,
    Thank you for the amazing recipe! I am dying to try it, just onde questionar, do you Have a good recipe for the base vegetable broth? Thanks a lot!

    Reply

    • Hi Anni! I sure do 🙂 https://oneingredientchef.com/homemade-vegetable-broth/

      Reply

  7. Is there a good substitute for star anise? I have yet to track this spice down in my grocery store. Thanks!

    Reply

    • Hmm, that’s a good question Ambroisa… Star anise has a strong licorice flavor that isn’t really matched by any other spices. The closest substitute would to fennel seeds and those might work okay in this pho if star anise is completely out of the question.

      Reply

  8. This was quite awful. Way to much cinnamon & star anise, overpowered the dish. Next time I’ll try to cut those way down and increase the umami factor with shallot instead of plain old onion. Hopefully my family will try it next time because last night’s pho was pho-gettable. Ha.

    Reply

  9. I made this tonight. So delicious! I found a small container of star anise at my Wegmans along with all the other spices. I added tofu and decided to let it simmer in a small pan with broth instead of cooking it a different way. Also delicious! My meat eating parents enjoyed it as well.

    Reply

  10. How to make the vegetables broth

    Reply

    • You can either use store bought broth or, I do have a recipe for vegetable broth as well: https://oneingredientchef.com/homemade-vegetable-broth/

      Reply

  11. I made this for dinner tonight and it was delicious! The only thing I did differently was I cooked the broth in the crockpot (because I was going to be gone most of the day). Super easy and really hit the spot. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply

  12. How long do you think in the Instantpot for the broth?

    Reply

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Vegan Pho Recipe | One Ingredient Chef (2024)

FAQs

What is vegan pho made of? ›

PHO SOUP INGREDIENTS:

1 tablespoon olive oil (or any neutral-flavored oil) 8 ounces shiitake mushrooms, thinly sliced. 2 heads baby bok choy, halved. optional: 1-2 cups extra veggies (such as sliced carrots, broccoli florets, snow peas, etc.)

What is the secret ingredient in pho? ›

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

What is the ingredient for pho? ›

Pho (pronounced “fuh”) is a Vietnamese noodle soup that's made with broth, rice noodles, meat, and fresh garnishes. Authentic versions take much more time and love than this recipe (here's a great cookbook with authentic recipes from Andrea Nguyen, or check out this authentic recipe).

What gives pho broth its taste? ›

Broth - the soul of Pho. Beef bones play a crucial role in influencing the quality of the broth. Combined with spices such as ginger, charred onions, star anise, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, and coriander seeds, the broth gains a distinct aroma.

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.

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.

What makes pho unhealthy? ›

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. 1 (Some bowls have more than 1,000 mg, which is practically the entire allotment of recommended sodium intake for the day.)

What is the rubbery stuff in pho? ›

Tripe is used in various forms of Asian cuisine, purposed in more than 100 dishes. In Vietnamese culture, we don't waste any part of the cow or any animal we use.

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.

Do you put fish sauce in pho? ›

Vietnamese pho is all about the broth! In this authentic recipe, beef bones, fish sauce, star anise, and ginger simmer for at least 6 hours, creating a complex, aromatic broth that may not be quick, but it's certainly delicious.

Do you put hoisin sauce in pho? ›

Adding sriracha and hoisin sauce can enhance the flavor of your pho. The spicy kick from the sriracha and the sweet and salty flavors add hoisin add an extra layer of complexity to your meal. The key is to add in moderation so that you don't overpower the delicate flavors of the broth and noodles.

What herbs are in pho? ›

Pho Soup Ingredients:

garnishes: fresh herbs (cilantro, mint, and/or Thai basil), bean sprouts, lime wedges, thinly-sliced chiles (Thai bird chiles or jalapeños), thinly-sliced onions (green onions or white onions), sauces (hoisin and/or sriracha)

What makes pho smell so good? ›

Star anise, cloves, and cinnamon are the aromatic trinity in traditional pho stock. Try adding a few whole spices to the store-bought stuff, along with fresh ginger and a glug of fish sauce.

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.

Why is my pho broth slimy? ›

Although it looks kind of weird, you want your pho broth to turn into this gelatin after being refrigerated. It's a sign the broth is of quality and cooked with meat bones. The collagen that's released will gelatinized.

What are the benefits of vegan pho? ›

Nutrient-Dense Ingredients: Vegetarian Pho is typically packed with a variety of nutrient-dense ingredients, such as fresh vegetables, herbs, spices, and plant-based proteins. These ingredients provide essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and dietary fiber, contributing to a well-balanced and nutritious meal.

Is vegan pho low calorie? ›

At the typical Vietnamese restaurant, a medium bowl of vegetable pho with tofu may contain between 400 and 510 calories. If you're making your own pho, one-sixth of a recipe that uses 1/2 pound of noodles and the same weight of tofu, along with broth and an assortment of vegetables, contains about 290 calories.

How much fat is in vegan pho? ›

vegan pho
Nutrition Facts
For a Serving Size of 1 serving (432.5g)
How many calories are in vegan pho? Amount of calories in vegan pho: Calories 168Calories from Fat 4.7 (2.8%)
% Daily Value *
How much fat is in vegan pho? Amount of fat in vegan pho: Total Fat 0.5g-
41 more rows

Do pho noodles have egg? ›

It does not contain eggs like other noodles. So, vegans, vegetarians, and non-vegetarians can enjoy rice noodles together. Many Vietnamese follow Buddhism, and they stick to the vegetarian diet. Therefore, rice noodles are widely used in making Pho noodle soup.

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