DAIRY-FREE, EGG-FREE
Pho is one of my favorite soups, a Vietnamese dish with richly spiced aromatic broth, rice noodles, fresh toppings, and any one of a variety of proteins. While I can’t claim that this version of pho—pronounced “fuh”—is authentic, it’s my homage to this humble but comforting dish, and one you can make quickly at home. I like pairing it with my Shrimp Yum Balls, but you could also top it with thinly sliced cooked steak or chicken. Feel free to use what you like as well as carb it up or down. You can always prep the broth on the weekend and reheat it later on for a super-fast dinner. Make it grain-free by using zucchini noodles instead of rice noodles.
PREP TIME: 30 MINUTES
COOKING TIME: 30 MINUTES
SERVES 2 TO 4
1 small yellow onion, halved
8 cups low-sodium beef broth
3 star anise
2 whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick
1 tablespoon coconut aminos
1 tablespoon fish sauce
2 cups rice noodles or zucchini noodles
Toppings
Mung bean sprouts
Lime, quartered
Fresh herbs (mint, cilantro, Thai basil, etc.)
Sliced jalapeño pepper
Chopped peanuts or cashews
Sriracha or chili oil
Preheat the broiler of your oven.
Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil, and place the onion halves on the sheet. Broil them for about 5 minutes per side, or until they’ve developed a little char, then remove them from the broiler, and transfer them to a large pot.
Add to the pot the broth, star anise, cloves, cinnamon, coconut aminos, and fish sauce. Bring the broth to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer the pho for 20 to 30 minutes so the broth is infused with all the flavors. Turn off the heat, and use a slotted spoon to remove and discard the onion and spices.
Partially cook the rice noodles according to the package directions (they will finish cooking within the broth). If you prefer to “carb it down” with zucchini noodles, use them raw.
In each serving bowl, place the noodles of your choice, then ladle the broth over them, which will further cook your noodles.
Serve all the toppings on the table so each person can customize their soup as desired.
Change It Up
− Add any toppings or protein you’d like.
− In a pinch you can use chicken broth, but beef is more flavorful.