Easiest Vegan Pho

Step 1

To prepare the broth, heat the olive oil in a 6-quart pot over medium-high heat. Sauté the sliced onion, ginger, and garlic until golden, about 5 to 8 minutes. Add a splash of water, as needed, to prevent sticking. (This will also help stop browning on the bottom of the pot.)

Step 2

When the onions are tender, add in the star anise, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and coriander. Stir briefly, until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Step 3

Add in the broth and tamari, then bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Let the broth simmer uncovered for as little as 15 minutes, or as long as 30 minutes, for extra flavor.

Step 4

While the broth is simmering, prepare the noodles in a separate pot of water on the stove. You can also sauté the mushrooms in olive oil in a separate skillet over medium heat, until they are tender, about 8 minutes. This way the noodles, mushrooms, and broth should all be ready at the same time.

Step 5

When the broth is done simmering, strain out the solids and discard them. Season the broth to taste, with salt and maple syrup. (I usually add 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon salt total.)

Step 6

To serve, divide the noodles and mushrooms between 4 bowls. Ladle the hot broth over the top, and serve with your favorite toppings, like green onions, mung bean sprouts, cilantro, sliced jalapeno, and lime slices. Stir it all together to add extra flavor to the broth, then enjoy the noodles & veggies with chopsticks and drink the broth with a soup spoon. Leftover pho broth can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days.