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 vegan pho broth made of? ›

Vegetable stock: In order to save us all an extra few hours of cooking veggie stock from scratch, I've written this recipe using store-bought vegetable stock as a shortcut. Spices: There are 5 important spices in pho broth — star anise, whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, and coriander seeds.

What makes pho so delicious? ›

Simmering beef or chicken bones make traditional phở broth for several hours. The slow cooking process releases the bones' flavours and nutrients, resulting in a deep and complex broth. A combination of spices and aromatics such as star anise, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and onion is added to enhance the flavor profile.

What are the worms in pho? ›

In Hanoi-style pho, dehydrated peanut worms are often the broth's main source of flavor. Also known as sipuncula, or sa sung in Vietnamese, these worms come from the ocean, and are therefore considered a seafood.

What gives pho its distinct flavor? ›

Outside of the meat, the basic flavors of pho are pretty simple: charred onions and ginger (or a bit of sweetness, smoky depth, and pungency), star anise, cinnamon, cloves, and occasionally other spices (for aroma), fish sauce (for salt and its savory umami qualities), sugar (for sweetness, duh), and a slew of stir-in ...

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 there soy sauce in pho broth? ›

Is pho gluten-free? Yes, this pho soup is gluten-free because the broth contains fish sauce and not soy sauce and the rice noodles are made of rice flour and water, and occasionally small amounts of tapioca or cornstarch as well. This means they are gluten-free, fat free, and vegan.

Is Ramen broth the same as pho broth? ›

If you compare the two soups side by side, the noodles in pho are soft and translucent, and the noodles in ramen are firm and chewy. Pho broth is thin and clear, and ramen broth is usually dark and cloudy.

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 crunchy stuff in pho? ›

Crunchy flank is also called ve don in Vietnam. If you see that on a menu when ordering pho, you will instantly know it is crunchy flank. When the crunchy flank is cooked properly, it will have a crispy and slightly chewy texture. Of course, the taste will always be amazing and quite flavorful.

What are the crunchy things in pho? ›

Bean sprouts are put in raw for the crunchy factor. Add a little at a time to maintain the crunchiness as you eat, or add them all while the broth is hot to cook them. The downside here is it takes heat to cook your sprouts, and as a result your broth will cool before you finish your bowl of pho.

Why do I feel better after eating pho? ›

Pho is a traditional Vietnamese street food and has the same magic ingredient as chicken soup — bone broth — but incorporates more herbs and spices to naturally boost your immune system, and speed up your body's recovery time. It's the perfect comfort food — warm, hearty, and healing.

Why do I get hungry after pho? ›

Chinese meals tend to be rather low in protein. They are also low in fiber, which seems to decrease hunger. Fiber is the indigestible component of grains, vegetables and fruits and fills the stomach before it is eliminated, and a full stomach decreases the release of ghrelin.

Does garlic go in pho? ›

Pho's unique flavours can be attributed to the spices: star anise, cloves, and cinnamon. Often used as a sweet combination, but pair them with onion, garlic, and soy sauce, and oooeeee is that the yummiest savoury, aromatic soup ever!

What is special about pho broth? ›

Pho broth is traditionally made with beef or chicken bones and a variety of spices and aromatics, including star anise, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, and onions. This gives Pho broth its unique flavor and aroma, which sets it apart from other types of broth.

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 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 makes pho broth clear? ›

Temperature control. 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.

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