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?

30-minute quick and easy vegan pho recipe - Rhubarbarians (4)

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!

30-minute quick and easy vegan pho recipe - Rhubarbarians (5)

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

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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 vegan pho broth made of? ›

The most comforting Vegan Pho (Phở Chay) is here! The broth is flavorful, light, and packed with lots of aromatic spices. The broth is made from charred vegetables and toasted spices to create that complex flavor. It's then served with rice noodles along with a variety of herbs and fresh mung bean sprouts.

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.

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.

What herbs do you put in pho? ›

Spices: There are 5 important spices in pho broth — star anise, whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, and coriander seeds.

Why is pho so healing? ›

Probably because the broth is made with beef bones and marrow, which are high in vitamins and minerals. Some of the herbs and spices are also medicinal. Why is pho such a good hangover meal? Pho is an awesome aftereffect food.

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? ›

Cinnamon or cassia bark is another crucial spice and infuses the broth with a wonderfully warm and earthy aroma. Most of us associate the fragrant combination of star anise and cinnamon as the intoxicating pho aroma.

What does pho mean in Vietnamese? ›

Pho is a type of Vietnamese soup that usually consists of bone broth, rice noodles, spices, and thinly sliced meat (usually beef). Though “pho” technically refers to the noodles and not the soup itself, most people consider the dish a singular unit.

What makes pho broth clear? ›

For the most flavorful and clear broth, your pot needs to be in a constant simmer. Take your time in the first 15 minutes or so to make adjustments to your temperature. This ensures that you have true simmering in the next 3-5 hours; no rolling boiling water, no dead still water either.

Is Campbell's pho broth vegan? ›

Campbell's® Pho Broth is a full-flavoured vegetarian broth with a traditional, aromatic blend of star anise, clove, ginger, and cinnamon.

Which noodles to use for pho? ›

Noodles: I use an 8 oz. package of dried rice vermicelli noodles, but you can use any kind of THIN rice noodles. Meat– chicken, pork, steak or raw shrimp. It's important to slice the meat as thinly as possible, against the grain.

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? ›

Add Whole Spices

Spice up store-bought stock with whole peppercorns, bay leaves, star anise, or a cinnamon stick. Whole spices can add tremendous flavor to a stock. You might not think that bay leaves do much, but those dried leaves add an herbal flavor that helps make your stock more complex.

Why is pho broth so good? ›

The broth is the soul of pho, easily the most important component. Though chicken variants exist, pho broth is typically made from beef, onions/shallots, ginger, yellow rock sugar, fish sauce, and spices. The broth is where the flavor is and It's what makes pho, pho.

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