Vegan Pho With Carrots, Noodles and Edamame Recipe (2024)

By Martha Rose Shulman

Vegan Pho With Carrots, Noodles and Edamame Recipe (1)

Total Time
About 20 minutes
Rating
4(261)
Notes
Read community notes

When I was testing my vegan pho broth for a Recipes for Health series last spring I froze a few containers of the broth; I had forgotten how good it is. I didn’t have some of the traditional ingredients for pho – bean sprouts, cilantro, scallions, green chiles – so I used what I had and it was definitely pho. I used cayenne for heat and a chiffonade of romaine lettuce was a good stand-in for the bean sprouts, crunchy and fresh. Lots of chives stood in for scallions. I did without cilantro or Thai basil but had plenty of Italian basil and mint from my garden.

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Ingredients

Yield:6 servings

  • 1recipe phô broth (about 2½ quarts)
  • ¾pound rice noodles, preferably wide ones
  • 2medium or 1 large carrot (about 5 ounces) peeled and cut in 1½-inch julienne
  • 2cups edamame (can use frozen, thawed)
  • 6ounces tofu, cut in matchsticks
  • ½cup Asian or purple basil leaves, or Italian basil, slivered
  • 4scallions, chopped, or ¼ cup chopped chives
  • 1cup chopped cilantro (optional)
  • Several sprigs fresh mint

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)

290 calories; 4 grams fat; 0 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 1 gram monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 54 grams carbohydrates; 5 grams dietary fiber; 3 grams sugars; 11 grams protein; 189 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Vegan Pho With Carrots, Noodles and Edamame Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Have the broth at a simmer in a soup pot. Season to taste with cayenne if you are not using fresh chiles.

  2. Step

    2

    Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add the noodles. Cook until just al dente, firm to the bite, following the timing instructions on the package (my wide noodles take about 5 minutes). Drain and divide among 6 large soup bowls.

  3. Step

    3

    Add the carrots and edamame to the simmering broth and simmer until just tender, about 3 to 4 minutes. Ladle a generous amount of hot broth with the carrots and edamame into the bowls. Divide the tofu among the bowls. Sprinkle on half the cilantro, half the basil leaves and the scallions or chives. Pass the bean sprouts or lettuce, chopped chiles if using, the remaining basil and cilantro (if using), mint sprigs, and the lime wedges. Serve with chopsticks for the noodles and soupspoons for the broth.

Tip

  • Advance preparation: The broth will keep for a few days in the refrigerator and can be frozen. The noodles can be cooked several hours ahead. Rinse them after draining and keep in a bowl. They will stick together after they cool but will loosen up when yo

Ratings

4

out of 5

261

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

XP

Normally it is made with meat as a standard - however, if you go to the Buddhist temples -- you may find a version of it without meat.

The flavor used often comes from mushroom powder that gives the broth a velvety, almost meaty taste.

Kevin

This is titled as Vegan, but the recipe for the Pho Broth contains fish sauce....making it neither vegan or vegetarian.

Rosa

The fish sauce is optional

Maggie

This recipe was a lifesaver the day after my gallbladder surgery, when my husband was searching for something simple, low-fat, and meatless that didn't involve a shopping trip. We had a carton of Pho broth, tofu, rice noodles, fresh basil and mint, carrots, and scallions, subbed asparagus and bok choy for edamame, and added mushrooms for some extra umami. Easy and delicious, and just what I needed. Thanks for the inspiration!

lucy

I don’t see anywhere in the complete recipe or the pho broth about adding chiles. Am I missing something?

maeve

I think that if one doesn't add beef, then it would make sense to strengthen the broth with dried mushrooms (or mushroom powder as someone suggested below.

mel

Benefits a lot from some soy sauce and hot sauce.

Anne KW

Add mushrooms, shredded bok choy; garnish with basil, bean sprouts, sliced jalapeno, chopped peanuts and lime.

Kevin

This is titled as Vegan, but the recipe for the Pho Broth contains fish sauce....making it neither vegan or vegetarian.

Sharon Flynn

So it's pescetarian. I can't see the recipe for Pho Broth unless I subscribe, but have no problem substituting a hearty veggie broth.

Rosa

The fish sauce is optional

Marie

Is it firm tofu that is used?

Karen M

I enjoyed the combination of ingredients in this recipe and will experiment with different combinations of vegetables the next time. The disappointment was in the pho broth, which was rather bland. I may use cayenne plus chile peppers to spice it up even more.

Linda Criss

Does such a soup exist?? I'd love the pho spicy beef recipe from Hue. Divine.

XP

This is not an inventive recipe and I look forward to trying.

Traditionally, we don't use edamame or carrots.

Linda Criss

I've never made a vegan pho nor have I ever heard of one of the several times we have been to Vietnam. Just such a super exist? It seems to be a lot of work cannot have chicken or beef within it.

XP

Normally it is made with meat as a standard - however, if you go to the Buddhist temples -- you may find a version of it without meat.

The flavor used often comes from mushroom powder that gives the broth a velvety, almost meaty taste.

Private notes are only visible to you.

Vegan Pho With Carrots, Noodles and Edamame Recipe (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 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.

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!

What makes pho broth taste so good? ›

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.

What makes pho broth bitter? ›

Black Cardamom

Too much can make the broth bitter. Green cardamon has a different aroma, but black cardamom has a smoky taste and smell.

What is the brown stuff in pho? ›

What is the brown sauce in Vietnamese restaurants? Hoisin sauce! It's a sweet kind of "plum" sauce ish texture that's often used for dipping meat in. Many people use it to put into their pho to amp up the flavour as well.

What herbs do you put 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)

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.

What does pho do to your body? ›

Pho is nutritious and is high in protein, but does have high sodium and calories. It may help reduce inflammation and improve joint health. Pho (pronounced “fuh”) is a hearty Vietnamese soup usually made with a meaty broth, rice noodles, various herbs, and either beef, chicken, or tofu.

Is it OK to eat pho everyday? ›

Experts also suggest that if pho is used for breakfast, then you should avoid salt for the rest of the day. 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.

What sauce is best with pho? ›

The bowl of pho will also be accompanied by several condiments such as hoisin sauce, soy sauce, fish sauce, Sriracha, and chili paste.

What is the most popular dish in pho? ›

Here's a simple breakdown for the most common phos you'll see on a menu:
  • Phở bò: beef broth pho (protein: sliced beef)
  • Phở gà: chicken broth pho (protein: chicken)
  • Phở chay: vegetable broth pho (protein: tofu/mushrooms)

What is the sauce that comes with pho? ›

In Vietnamese, hoisin sauce is called tương đen. It is a popular condiment for phở, a Vietnamese noodle soup, in southern Vietnam.

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 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 clear? ›

Achieving Clear Pho Broth

The parboiling or blanching of the bones and beef removes much of this scum. Scum or "impurities" naturally floats to the top when you make any kind of stock using meat and bones. A fine mesh skimmer can remove the scum and much of the fat very quickly and easily.

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