Vietnamese Pho is a warm noodle soup that is famous all over Vietnam. It has a light but tasty broth soft rice noodles fresh herbs and tender vegetables or meat. The soup smells amazing because it is cooked with spices like ginger cinnamon star anise and cloves. People enjoy pho for breakfast lunch or dinner because it feels soothing and fresh.
This recipe uses very simple English so anyone can follow it. The steps are easy and the ingredients are simple. You can make this pho bowl at home without any special tools.
What Is Vietnamese Pho
Pho is a noodle soup made with
- rice noodles
- clear broth
- fresh herbs
- vegetables or meat
The broth is the heart of the dish. It is cooked slowly so the spices release flavor and make the soup warm and rich.
Ingredients You Will Need
For the Broth
- 1 onion cut in half
- 1 piece ginger
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 2 cups water
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 star anise
- 2 cloves
- Salt to taste
- A little sugar
For the Noodles and Filling
- 1 cup rice noodles
- 1 cup mushrooms sliced
- 1 cup bok choy or spinach
- 1 small carrot sliced
- 1 spring onion chopped
For Toppings
- Lemon or lime
- Fresh coriander
- Fresh basil
- Chilli slices optional
Step by Step Method to Make Vietnamese Pho
Step 1
Roast the Onion and Ginger
- Place onion and ginger directly on the flame or in a hot pan.
- Roast until they get light black marks.
- This gives the broth a deep aroma.
Step 2
Prepare the Broth
- Add roasted onion and ginger to a pot.
- Add broth water cinnamon star anise cloves salt and a little sugar.
- Bring it to a boil.
- Cook on low heat for fifteen to twenty minutes.
The broth will smell warm and full of spice.
Step 3
Prepare the Noodles
- Boil rice noodles in water for three to four minutes.
- Drain and rinse with cold water.
- Keep aside.
Rice noodles should stay soft but not sticky.
Step 4
Cook the Vegetables
- Add mushrooms bok choy and carrots to the broth.
- Cook for two to three minutes only.
- They should stay bright and not too soft.
Step 5
Build the Pho Bowl
- Add rice noodles to a bowl.
- Pour the hot broth over the noodles.
- Add the cooked vegetables.
- Add spring onions and fresh herbs on top.
- Squeeze a little lemon or lime.
The bowl should look fresh colorful and full of aroma.
Serve and Enjoy
Serve the pho hot.
You can enjoy it with
- extra herbs
- chilli slices
- more lime
- soy sauce
This soup is light healthy and very comforting.
Tips for Perfect Pho
- Roast onion and ginger for real pho flavor
- Do not overcook noodles
- Keep the broth clear
- Add herbs only at the end
- Adjust salt and lemon to your taste
Variations You Can Try
- Add tofu for extra protein
- Add paneer instead of tofu
- Add boiled chicken for non veg version
- Add bean sprouts for crunch
Approximate Nutrition per Serving
Values may vary
- Calories 250 to 350
- Carbohydrates 45g
- Protein 7g
- Fat 5g