Make delicious, healthy pho quickly and easily.Okay. First things first. If you’ve had the real thing at a vietnamese restaurant, I don’t claim that this version is authentic. But it’s delicious, cheap and super simple to make. My family has always loved ramen noodles, but as I started to learn more about food labeling I realized I was essentially feeding them a cheap bowl of chemicals. So I started eliminating the spice packet and making by own broth based on the flavors I tasted in the Pho we would periodically eat out. They loved it. Then I started adding left over meat and fresh veggies and they still loved it. Finally, I switched the noodles out and rather than lunch it was a dinner option. It’s great with rice noodles or bean thread noodles. Both are cheap and FAR healthier than ramen. But if ramen is what you have… go for it. Be warned, this broth has one weird ingredient that you’re not likely going to have on hand. I promise you however that once you try this, you’ll do it often… and that little bottle of spice will last forever… so buy it. If you have all spice you can sub it in.
Quick & Easy Pho
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Ingredients
- 14 Cups of Water
- 1/4 Cup "Better than Boullion Chicken Broth*
- 1/2 Teaspoon Chinese Five Spice (all spice can be used as alternative if you can't find this)
- 1/4 Teaspoon Garlic Powder (or one fresh crushed clove)
- 1/4 Teaspoon Onion Powder (exclude if you don't have it)
- 2 Teaspoons Vinegar (apple cider or rice wine works best)
- 1 Pack Bean Thread Noodles (any glass or rice noodle will work)
- Cooked Chicken or Pork
- Cilantro
- Carrot
- Spring Onions
- Bean Sprouts (Use thinly sliced cabbage as alternative)
- Fried Onions (French's is the one I used for this)
- Sriracha
- Plum Sauce
Instructions
Put water in a pot and bring to a rapid boil- Add your bouillon paste and spices and whisk together and turn off heat
- Put your noodles into the broth and put your thinly sliced or shredded meat in too
- Chop up your cilantro and spring onions and grated/shred your carrot
- After 5-10 minutes, your noodles will be tender. Check them and when they are done dish plenty of broth, noodles and meat into your serving bowls
Top each bowl of soup with the veggies, fried onions and put the sriracha and plum sauce on your dish as desired.
Notes
BROTH * Better than boullion is available in an organic product at Costco where it's the cheapest. Most stores carry it in smaller jars. I love using it because it brings great balanced flavor to a dish. If you'd rather use home made broth or a different boullion you may have to adapt this recipe a bit. You'll likely have to add salt, sugar, vinegar and also possibly butter to balance it out. TOPPINGS Traditionally Pho has fresh basil on it. I have found that this ingredient adds a lot of cost to this dish so in summer when I have it growing in my garden I add it, but in winter I just exclude it. It is a delicious addition as well as fresh thinly sliced jalapeños if you have them. I have used all sorts of veggies as a topper when I was out of the ingredients you see with great results.
