Basic Vegetarian Pho Recipe

For my fiancé who is a vegetarian, I modified a classic Hmong recipe to create this Asian pho dish. The broth is extremely basic, but each person adds their own seasonings and garnishes to suit their preferences. There is no correct way to season and garnish this dish. Feel free to add your own spin and to be inventive. Use red pepper paste, soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, and sesame oil as flavorings.

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 30 mins

Additional Time: 10 mins

Total Time: 1 hr

Servings: 8

Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

Broth:

• 3 (32 fluid ounce) containers vegetable broth
• 6 stalks lemon grass, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 2 tablespoons vegetable bouillon (such as Better Than Bouillon®)
• 5 whole star anise pods

Noodles and Garnish:

• 1 (16 ounce) package dried thin rice noodles
• 1 (8 ounce) package bean sprouts
• 1 (8 ounce) package sliced fresh mushrooms
• 2 limes, sliced, or as desired
• 1 bunch fresh cilantro
• 1 (.75 ounce) package fresh basil
• 1 bunch green onions, sliced

Flavoring:

• ¼ cup teriyaki sauce, or to taste
• ¼ cup soy sauce, or to taste
• ¼ cup chile paste, or to taste
• ¼ cup sesame oil, or to taste

Directions

Step – 01

• Combine vegetable broth, lemon grass, vegetable bouillon, and star anise pods in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer until flavors are combined, 30 to 45 minutes. Remove lemon grass and star anise with a slotted spoon and discard.

Step – 02

• Place rice noodles in a bowl and cover with hot water to soften, about 10 minutes. Drain and cut into shorter pieces with kitchen shears; divide noodles equally between soup bowls. Fill bowls with hot broth to cover noodles.

Step – 03

• Place bean sprouts, mushrooms, limes, cilantro, basil, and green onions into separate bowls. Place teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, chile paste, and sesame oil in separate bowls. Serve soup alongside garnishes and flavorings.

Cook’s Note:

You can use Thai basil if desired.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Calories	387
Fat	9g
Carbs	71g
Protein	8g