Vegan Pho With Tofu & Herbs Recipe on Food52 (2024)

American

by: WoonHeng Chia

November23,2020

5

3 Ratings

  • Prep time 15 minutes
  • Cook time 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Serves 4

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Author Notes

This Vegan Pho recipe is so comforting and it's packed with the amazing aroma from the herbs and spices used. Although Pho is traditionally not vegan it's definitely possible to make it without meat while retaining the flavorful broth. A big thank you to my good friend for showing me how to make this soup from scratch.

This pho stock is made from a combination of vegetables, fruit, and spices that gives the broth a complex flavor. One important tip is to toast the spices and a few vegetables until they char for a more flavorful broth. The broth is then simmered for an hour until all the vegetables have released their flavor.

As for the toppings, they are easily customizable; I'm using pan-fried tofu seasoned with salt here. Some of the recommended garnishes for pho include culantro (sawtooth herb), cilantro, Thai basil, mung bean sprouts, mint, thinly sliced onion, green onions, and lime wedges. Check out the recipe below and make some to share with your friends and family today! —WoonHeng Chia

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • Pho Stock
  • 1 apple, cored and cut into big wedges
  • 1 yellow onion, peeled and cut into big wedges
  • 1 ear of corn, shucked
  • 4 1-inch pieces ginger
  • 3 carrots, cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 1 daikon, cut into round cubes
  • 1 leek, cut into large chunks
  • 1/2 medium jicama, diced into 2-inch chunks
  • 5 dried shiitake mushrooms, stems removed
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 teaspoonwhole black cardamom pods
  • 4 star anise pods
  • 1 teaspoonwhole cloves
  • 1 teaspoonwhole white peppercorns
  • 1 teaspoonwhole fennel seeds
  • 1 teaspoonwhole coriander seeds
  • 1 pinchumami seasoning of choice (such as Trader Joe's Mushroom & Company Multipurpose Umami Seasoning Blend), plus more to taste
  • 1 pinchkosher salt, plus more to taste
  • Toppings & Garnishes
  • 7 ouncesextra-firm tofu, cubed, seasoned with salt, and pan-fried
  • 8 ouncesrice vermicelli noodles, cooked according to the instructions on the packaged
  • 2 cupsmung bean sprouts
  • 1 jalapeño, sliced
  • 1 lime, sliced into wedges
  • 1 handfulmix of Thai basil, culantro, mint, thinly sliced onion, cilantro, green onion
Directions
  1. Pho Stock
  2. In a cast-iron pan over medium heat, toast spices until aromatic, about 1 minute, tossing frequently. Turn off the heat and let cool for a few minutes, then transfer the toasted spices into a spice bag and set aside.
  3. In the same (now-empty) pan, toast daikon, onion, and ginger until charred on all sides, 3 to 5 minutes.
  4. Fill a 5-quart pot with 12 cups of water. Place all the soup ingredients and the spice bag in the pot and cover it with a lid.
  5. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil, then lower the heat and simmer for an hour.
  6. Once it's ready, strain the broth, and season to taste with umami seasoning, plus salt as needed.
  1. Toppings & Garnishes
  2. To serve, divide the noodles into four bowls. Top with a few ladlefuls of broth, then with herbs and other garnishes of choice. Don't forget to squeeze on some lime juice! Serve warm and enjoy.

Tags:

  • Vietnamese
  • American
  • Dinner

See what other Food52ers are saying.

Recipe by: WoonHeng Chia

Popular on Food52

4 Reviews

FamilyandForks December 1, 2020

Love this recipe! We were lazy and only fished out the ginger (and obviously the spice bag) and it was fantastic. Will definitely make this again. I was short on time so I made it in an instant pot for 30 min. on high pressure and added fresh mushrooms at the very end, which softened quickly in the hot broth.

WoonHeng C. December 1, 2020

Thank you SO much, really appreciate your wonderful feedback and tips. The Instant pot is really a lifesaver to make soup stock. :-) Great addition of mushrooms at the end. Thanks again and have a wonderful day!

Jconrad22 November 30, 2020

I am making this now, but am so confused. Do you strain the soup after? Those are huge chunks of ginger, carrots, and apple. And you don’t see any of that in the photo. Carrots are also listed twice. Hmmm. I’m puzzled.

WoonHeng C. November 30, 2020

Hi there, yes, you will strain the mixture and then season it to taste. Thanks for the feedback. Let me know if you have any questions at all.

Vegan Pho With Tofu & Herbs Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

What is vegan pho broth made of? ›

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. The recipe is delicious and naturally gluten-free.

How many calories in a bowl of pho with tofu? ›

Generic Vietnamese Tofu Pho (1 serving) contains 43g total carbs, 39g net carbs, 12g fat, 20g protein, and 380 calories.

Can you eat pho as a vegetarian? ›

Vegetarian Pho Tips

Traditionally, pho is made with strips of beef, and the broth is flavored with fish sauce. To make mine vegetarian, I substituted shiitake mushrooms for the beef and used tamari (or soy sauce) instead of the fish sauce.

How many calories is pho without meat? ›

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.

What is the secret ingredient in pho broth? ›

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

Is vegan pho good for you? ›

Vegan Pho, a super comforting Vietnamese food, nutritious and full of protein. Perfect for a cozy day, this dish is tasty, healthy and delicious!

Is tofu pho healthy? ›

Pho is a Vietnamese soup made with broth, rice noodles, herbs, and meat or tofu. Due to its nutritious ingredients and high protein content, it may offer several benefits, including reduced inflammation and improved joint health. Still, it can be high in sodium and calories, so portion size is important.

Can you eat pho everyday? ›

To avoid imbalanced nutrition, you should not eat pho too often, and you should switch up diet with other food products. Any food, no matter how good it is, won't be good for your body if consumed too much.

Is pho healthy for losing weight? ›

Protein increases the presence of hormones which make you feel full. The fuller you are, the less you eat. The more protein you have, the fewer carbs you're going to consume. Pho is a great weight loss dish with the only real concern being sodium.

Is pho considered junk food? ›

Any nutritionist will tell you eating pho is a healthy act, for the most part. In fact, pho is being increasingly used as a post-workout meal.

Can Muslims eat pho? ›

Halal pho commonly features halal beef or chicken, prepared with the same care and attention to detail as the original meat components. The broth, a cornerstone of pho, is often made with halal bones and infused with spices such as star anise, cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom to create a rich and aromatic base.

What herbs are in Vietnamese pho? ›

There are typically 4-5 herbs used in pho broth, including:
  • Cilantro: Cilantro is a common herb used in Vietnamese cuisine. ...
  • Mint: Mint is another common herb used in Vietnamese cuisine. ...
  • Thai basil: Thai basil is a type of basil that has a slightly licorice-like flavor.
Jun 14, 2023

What is the healthiest pho option? ›

What's the Best Pho to Order?
  • Chicken pho generally has the least fat and is a good source of lean protein.
  • If you're just here for the beef, round cuts are the leanest, followed by brisket and flank.
  • If you like pho with the more traditional tripe, you'll be happy to know that it's quite lean and low in calories.

Is vegan pho low calorie? ›

Pho is Low in Calories

Stick to the vegetables and the veggie broth, and you can lower this calorie count further too. For anyone on a diet or anyone looking to better control their weight for health reasons, adding pho into your meal plans is a great way to stay energized yet keep the calorie count low.

Does pho spike blood sugar? ›

But ultimately if the base of the meal, like a pho or a ramen or a noodle dish, or a lo mein, is a noodles it's going to just be, that's like a naked carb. It's just so much, turn straight into sugar in the bloodstream.

What is veggie pho stock concentrate? ›

Our Gluten Free, Clean Label Pho Vegetable Broth Concentrate infuses vegetable juice concentrates such as carrots, onions, and celery with Natural Flavors to obtain an Asian inspired pho flavor and aroma.

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!

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.

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.

References

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