This vegan pho soup recipe is bursting with flavor, healthy, and easy to follow. It's made with the most delicious homemade pho broth and comes with vegetables and tofu.
Heat a large pot with oil. Add the onion, garlic, and ginger, and roast for 3-5 minutes over high heat. → You want it lightly burned for a beautiful roasting flavor.
Stir in carrot, leek, star anise, cloves, and cinnamon (add more oil if necessary). Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Pour in water and soy sauce, bring to a boil, pop on the lid, and let it simmer for one hour over low to medium heat.
Drain it over a fine-mesh strainer into a large bowl/pot. Transfer back into the pot and feel free season to taste with sriracha/sambal oelek and more soy sauce. → Add a few splashes of lime juice if you like!
Marinated Tofu
Cover the tofu in a paper towel and press to remove excess water (or use a tofu press). Cut into thin 12 slices and place them in a deep dish.
Mix soy sauce, sesame oil, sambal oelek, ginger, and black pepper in a small bowl. Pour over the tofu and let it marinate for at least 15 minutes.
Heat a skillet with some oil (~1 tbsp) and cook each side of the tofu for 5 minutes until brown and lightly crispy. → Add the remaining marinade in the last few minutes to the skillet.
Pho Soup
Cook the rice noodles according to the package instructions and rinse under cold water.
Arrange the rice noodles, tofu, and pak choi in 4 bowls.
Add the sliced shiitake mushrooms to the pho broth and bring to boil. Pour over the bowls and top with cilantro and mint.
Notes
Feel free to add in any other vegetables of your choice (bean sprouts, scallions, julienne carrots, leek, cabbage). If you prefer your veggies soft, add them with the shiitake mushrooms to the pho broth.Optional: Serve with sambal oelek/sriracha, soy sauce, lime wedges, or sliced chilies on top.Leftovers & Make-Ahead: The pho broth can be stored for up to 3 days in the fridge or up to 3 months in the freezer (freeze already in portions). The recipe is quite a task - to make it easier: Precook the pho broth one day in advance! The tofu can also be prepared in advance and marinated overnight in the fridge.