This easy vegan pho recipe is made with the most delicious rich broth and your choice of veggies (plus tofu, if you’d like).
My vegetarian husband absolutely loves a big bowl of steaming hot pho just as much as I do. But after hitting up dozens of Vietnamese restaurants together over the years, I’ve been surprised to learn that the vast majority of restaurants still do not offer vegetarian broth options for their pho (or other noodle soups, for that matter). I mean — we get it — authentic pho is always traditionally made with beef broth. But still, the world needs some non-traditional vegetarian and vegan options for this cozy comfort food too!
Thus, Barclay and I have been on a little mission this past year to figure out how to make really good vegetarian pho for ourselves here at home. And after experimenting with a dozen or so different recipes and techniques, I’m pleased to report that we’ve landed on a great version that is actually even easier to make than its traditional counterpart, plus it has the added bonus of being completely vegan too.
Best of all, it is delicious. ♡
As someone who has always loved traditional beef pho myself, I’ll admit I was a bit skeptical about whether or not a plant-based pho could really achieve that rich depth of flavor that is found in traditional meat-based broths. But as Barclay and I came to realize, it’s the charred onion, ginger and warming spices found in traditional pho broths are really the stars of the show. And once this rich vegetable broth is paired with savory umami mushrooms, fresh veggies, chewy rice noodles, plus fresh herbs and garnishes galore, this vegan pho will rival traditional beef pho any day, in my opinion! I also love it because it’s incredibly hearty, without feeling too heavy. And on chilly winter nights when you don’t want to head out to a restaurant, it is the most delicious way to warm up at home.
So if you happen to be vegan or vegetarian — or if you also live in a household with mixed eaters, or are looking to incorporate more plant-based recipes into your rotation — I would highly recommend giving this vegan pho recipe a try. It’s the version of pho that we make most often in our house. And we absolutely love it.
