Comments on: Vegetarian Pho

By: Cindy

Cindy — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:29:05 +0000

I’m so thankful I found your blog. Recently I’ve been wanting to go vegetarian but it’s difficult when I think about not being able to eat my favourite foods anymore. Thanks for posting this!

By: Stephanie Andria

Stephanie Andria — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:34:28 +0000

Great ideas! I ‘m going to try the veg fish sauce too (@Ms. Nadja)…hopefully it’s less stinky than actual fish sauce.
A tip for Pho ppl…You know how they sell the pre-bagged up spices for Pho? Well when I had a hard time finding them except for certain Vietnames places, I bought all the needed spice (coriander, fennel, ect…) and tossed them in measured amounts in a medium sized fliter then tied it up with string. (make sure string has no chemicals.) Now I keep all the spices in a big tin with coffee filters and string and labelled it Pho Kit. hehe

By: LMN

LMN — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 06:39:43 +0000

Thanks! I’m a Vietnamese vegetarian, but had never made this before I stumbled onto this online recipe and had only enjoyed it in veggie restaurants. I really appreciate the recipe. The result is fantastic and it is really easy to make!

By: Daring Zenster

Daring Zenster — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:28:21 +0000

i googled for vegetarian pho and found your recipe. yummy. thanks. i am a recently turned vegetarian and had missed pho for a 1 year now. so i will give it a shot!

By: Nadja Dee

Nadja Dee — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 08:56:38 +0000

HOME MADE VEGETARIAN FISH SAUCE: So, I’ve noticed that a lot of asian dishes call for fish sauce, and if you’re a true vegetarian like me you always feel like that puts the recipe just out of reach. I’ve come up with my own vegetarian fish sauce and I think it’s 99% close the real thing.

I based the main part of it off the Wikipedia Vegetarian Fish Sauce recipe, but I felt the recipe there lacked a few things which put it into the realm of “tastes like the real thing” but it’s 100% VEGETARIAN.

HOW TO MAKE VEGGIE FISH SAUCE
INGREDIENTS
2 - cups shredded dried seaweed
4 - cups water
3 - cloves garlic (smashed but not minced)
1 & 1/2 - Tbsp whole black peppercorns
1/2 - cup soy sauce
2 - tsp lime juice (concentrate OK)
2 - tsp lemon juice (concentrate OK)
2 - Tbs vinegar
3 - tsp sugar
1 - tsp ground ginger
1 - tsp ground garlic
1/4 - tsp chili powder

You can find the dried seaweed at just about any asian market. Personally I prefer the type that shredded kinda small versus the large sheets of seaweed. I think that when it’s shredded it makes for a richer sauce.

HOW TO PREPARE VEGETARIAN FISH SAUCE
1. In a large bowl, add 2 cups dried seaweed + 4 cups water
2. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes
3. Add garlic cloves + peppercorns + soy sauce + lime juice + lime juice
+ vinegar + sugar + ginger + garlic powder + ginger + chili powder
4. Bring to a boil, turn heat down to medium and cook for 30 minutes
5. You can adjust the salt level by adding water
6. Allow to cool
7. Strain into a container

Straining it is the key. Once it’s strained you can funnel it into a large water bottle, and label it “Veggie Fish Sauce” or as it’s called in Vietnam “Nuoc Mam Chay” If you’ve ever tasted the real fish sauce (in your pre-veggie days) you can sample a tiny bit and see just how close to the real thing it really tastes. But caution…this stuff is stinky and strong! Just like the real fish sauce.

Hope you like it.
Ms Nadja Dee Witherbee
Seattle WA
benignlives@earthlink.net

By: Meredith

Meredith — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 22:35:47 +0000

Just in case people come across this entry and are looking for vegetarian pho in DC, I can now recommend Pho Bac in Chantilly.

By: Tofu Hunter

Tofu Hunter — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:35:56 +0000

This looks fantastic, I’ve flirted with the idea of making my own vegetarian pho but the efforts have been casual and unsatisfying. Your recipe looks great.

By: Rano

Rano — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 20:48:03 +0000

Although I am not pure vegetarian, I eat only halal meat, and it is hard to find non-Pakistani halal restaurant if I wanted to eat out. If you ever come to Chicago, there is Tank Noodle on the corner of Argyle and Broadway. They have vegetarian spring rolls (Yummy!) and vegetable pho (they ask you if you want vegetarian broth or chicken). It is awesome, and very affordable. As for the recipe, I tried it, and it was really good. Thank you!

By: seadevi

seadevi — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 02:07:22 +0000

I love the Veggie Pho with Extra Tofu at Thanh Brothers. It is the perfect meal on a chilly day.

By: Honora

Honora — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 08:45:37 +0000

If anyone is ever in Costa Mesa CA, there is an amazing restaurant called AU LAC Vegetarian on brookhurst. They speak humanese and make an amzing Vegetarian Pho, sans MSG. Make sure to try the steamed jicama roles as well. I go at keast once a week; they have ,my order memorized. good luck, and thanks for all the tips!

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 02:32:24 +0000

Thank you thank you thank you! I was so bummed that my favorite Vietnamese resturant does not offer a veg version of Pho. Now I can have it at home – YAY!

By: Anmry

Anmry — Tue, 29 May 2007 20:13:02 +0000

OoO sounds delish! I never made pho cuz my sister always does it – hmmm – now I can make the vegetarian version & coyly get them to eat it…thanks a million!! :)

By: connie

connie — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 00:33:52 +0000

I hate to ask – but does this qualify as faux pho?

By: suzanne

suzanne — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 18:13:43 +0000

I recently made some veggie pho, which had 2 tablespoons of fish sauce (not soy) and 4 kaffir lime leaves (not bay). I recommend the lime leaves especially. It gave it that authentic smell and flavor. Bummer about the MSG at Than Brothers. I love that place! I add hoisin sauce to my soup which helps it to be saltier (that might have MSG too though, I didn’t look)

By: Dan Brown

Dan Brown — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 06:48:30 +0000

Jessica,
Ive been eating @ than brothers in redmond and ballard in seattle till one day i found Tripe in my veggie broth, dont trust menus
And if your not into investing the time to make homemade Pho, any asian food shop sells many different Pho Broth mixes and boullion cubes that are 100% vegetarian suitable