Vegan Pho (Phở Chay)

Ingredients & Cooking Directions for Phở Chay -- Vegan Noodle Soup

Estimated Servings: 4-5

Step 1: Stir-fry vegan beef

1 cup dried vegan beef slices

1 cup thawed vegan beef balls

3 cups water

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon sugar

¼ teaspoon pepper

¼ teaspoon 5 spice powder

2 tablespoons soy sauce

2 tablespoons cooking oil

Slice the vegan balls in half and set them aside. Add salt to a large bowl of water and soak the vegan slices in the water for about 30 minutes or until they expand and soften. Then rinse the slices, squeeze out the water and put them in a bowl along with the sliced vegan balls. Next add all of the seasonings (salt, pepper, spice powder, soy sauce) to the vegan slices and vegan balls and mix well. Then turn your stove on medium heat and pour oil in a large pan. Add the seasoned vegan slices and vegan balls to the pan and stir fry them until heated through. Finally remove them from the heat and set them aside.

Step 2: Make the broth

3 inch piece of ginger

1 small peeled onion

1 whole cinnamon stick

5 star anise

1/3 teaspoon fennel seeds

1 tablespoon coriander seeds

5 cloves

1 teaspoon black peppercorns

1 small sliced daikon

1 large sliced carrot

1 cup brown mushrooms

32 ounce vegetable broth

12 cups water

2 ounce rock sugar

1 tablespoon salt

Cut a slit in the ginger and microwave it with the onion for 3 minutes. While the onion and ginger are roasting in the microwave, break up the cinnamon stick and put it in a small pan along with the rest of the spices (star anise, fennel seeds, coriander seeds, cloves, black peppercorn). Pour the spices in a small pan and turn your stove on medium heat. Toast the spices for about 3 minutes, stirring them around, or until fragrant. Then turn off the heat and pour the spices in a tea infuser. Next add the microwaved onion, ginger, spice ball, carrots, daikon, mushrooms, broth, water, rock sugar and salt to a large pot and place it on a high heat stove. Cover the pot with a lid and allow it to come to a boil. Once it comes to a boil, turn off the heat and cover the pot with a lid.

Step 3: Cook the noodles

8 cups water

1 package Phở noodles

Pour water into a pot and turn your heat on high. When the water comes to a boil, add in the noodles and cook them according to the directions on the package. Then rinse and drain the noodles and set them aside.

Step 4: Assemble the dish

Chopped green onions

Chopped cilantro

Sliced red onions

Thai basil

Bean sprouts

Lime wedges

Jalapeno peppers

Sriracha & Hoisin sauce

Add noodles, vegan balls, vegan slices, vegetables and herbs to a serving bowl. Then pour the broth over everything. Before eating, squeeze in some lime juice and add in the sauces.