Quick and Easy Pho
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
20 mins
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Cook Time
40 mins
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Total Time
1 hr
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Servings
6
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Calories
178 kcal
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Course
Side Dish, Main Course, Soup
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Cuisine
Vietnamese
Quick and Easy Pho
Description
This Quick and Easy Pho recipe starts by roasting onion halves and ginger pieces in a dry pot to increase depth of flavor. The broth is built by adding chicken, beef, or vegetable broth with water and flavorful spices including coriander, clove, cinnamon, fish sauce, hoisin sauce, chili paste, soy sauce, and fresh cracked salt and pepper. This mixture simmers for about 30 minutes to extract aromas and richness.
Rice vermicelli noodles are prepared separately according to package directions then drained and set aside. Near the end of simmering, thinly sliced raw proteins like chicken breast, pork tenderloin, steak, or shrimp are briefly poached in the hot broth until cooked through. The broth is then strained of solids like ginger, clove, cinnamon stick, and onion before serving.
Each bowl is assembled with noodles, ladled with hot broth and protein, and garnished with fresh ingredients such as green onions, jalapeños or Thai chilis, cilantro, Thai basil, bean sprouts, lime wedges, and optional sriracha for added heat. These elements add freshness, texture, and brightness to the aromatic soup. The recipe includes make-ahead tips for broth storage, freezer guidance, and cooking adaptations for Instant Pot and slow cooker methods.
Ingredients
- 8 oz rice vermicelli noodles dried
- chicken See notes, or pork, steak or raw shrimp
- 1 large yellow onion quartered
- 2 (2-inch pieces) ginger unpeeled and halved, length-wise, fresh
- 6 cups broth (chicken, beef or vegetable, depending on protein choice)
- 2 cups water
- 1/4 tsp ground coriander
- 1 clove optional, whole
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons fish sauce (or less, to taste preference)
- ¼ teaspoon hoisin sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon soy sauce
- ¼ teaspoon red chili paste (sambal oelek)
- 1 tick cinnamon
- salt freshly ground
- black pepper freshly ground
For garnish (this is where pho soup shines!):
- 4 green onions , chopped
- 2 jalapeno pepper thinly sliced and seeds removed, fresh or red thai chili peppers
- 1 cilantro chopped, bunch fresh
- 1 Thai basil bunch leaves
- 1 cup bean sprouts fresh
- 2 lime cut into wedges
- sriracha hot sauce for heat, optional, or additional red chili paste
Instructions
- Place a large dry pot over medium heat add the onion halves and ginger pieces. Cook for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the broth, water, coriander, clove, fish sauce, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, chili garlic paste, cinnamon stick and a pinch of fresh cracked salt and pepper to the pot. Bring to a slow boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, prepare noodles according to package instructions. Once soft, drain, rinse and set aside.
- Ready the garnishes in individual small bowls for serving: cilantro, basil, green onions, bean sprouts, lime wedges and sliced chilies.
- 1-5 minutes before the broth is done cooking, add desired meat to the broth to cook, just until done (2-3 minutes for raw, thinly sliced chicken or pork, 1-2 minutes for shrimp or thinly sliced steak).
- Discard the ginger, clove, cinnamon stick and onion pieces from the pot.
- Divide the noodles among bowls; ladle broth on top (and meat). Add desired toppings.
Notes
- Slice proteins very thinly against the grain for tender texture.
- Use leftover cooked meats by adding them to the bowl before ladling hot broth over.
- For vegetarian or vegan versions, substitute vegetable or mushroom broth and omit fish sauce; use sautéed mushrooms and baby bok choy instead of meat.
- Make broth ahead and store in the refrigerator for several days or freeze for 4-5 months; reheat before use.
- Instant Pot and slow cooker versions provide convenient hands-off cooking alternatives described in the method.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 6Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 178 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 178kcal | 9% |
| Carbohydrates | 42g | 14% |
| Protein | 3g | 6% |
| Fat | 0.4g | 1% |
| Saturated Fat | 0.1g | 1% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.1g | 1% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 0.1g | 1% |
| Cholesterol | 0.01mg | 0% |
| Sodium | 1387mg | 58% |
| Potassium | 138mg | 3% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 5g | 10% |
| Vitamin A | 601IU | 12% |
| Vitamin C | 12mg | 13% |
| Calcium | 39mg | 4% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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