Heart-Healthy Vietnamese Pho Broth

Craving a comforting, flavorful soup that's as nourishing as it is delicious? This Heart-Healthy Vietnamese Pho Broth is the perfect recipe for a lighter take on traditional pho. Crafted with aromatic spices like cinnamon, star anise, and cardamom, and enriched with the natural sweetness of charred onion, fresh ginger, carrots, and daikon radish, this recipe creates an irresistible, umami-packed broth without the excess sodium. Simply simmer the ingredients together to unlock layers of bold yet balanced flavor, then strain for a beautifully clear and fragrant base. Ideal for customizing your pho bowl with rice noodles, fresh herbs, and lean protein, this vegan-friendly, gluten-free option is perfect for a wholesome weeknight dinner or meal prep. Rich in nutrients and remarkably simple to make, this pho broth transforms your homemade soup game while keeping your heart in mind.

Nutriscore Rating: 75/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:90 mins

Total Time:105 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 2 medium, halved Yellow onion
• 4 inches, sliced lengthwise Fresh ginger
• 1 large Cinnamon stick
• 3 whole Star anise
• 4 whole Cloves
• 2 whole Cardamom pods
• 8 cups Low-sodium vegetable broth
• 4 cups Water
• 2 medium, coarsely chopped Carrots
• 1 small, coarsely chopped Daikon radish
• 2 tablespoons Low-sodium soy sauce or tamari (for gluten-free)
• 1 tablespoon Coriander seeds
• 1 teaspoon Fennel seeds
• 0.5 teaspoons Salt
• 0.5 cup, loosely packed Fresh cilantro stems
• 0.5 cup, loosely packed Fresh basil stems

Directions

Step 1

Begin by charring the onion and ginger to bring out their flavor. Heat a dry skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat, and place the onion halves and ginger slices cut-side down on the pan. Allow them to char for 3-4 minutes on each side, until blackened in spots. Set aside.

Step 2

In a large pot, toast the cinnamon stick, star anise, cloves, and cardamom pods over medium heat for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently, until fragrant.

Step 3

Add the charred onion and ginger to the pot, followed by the low-sodium vegetable broth, water, carrots, daikon radish, coriander seeds, fennel seeds, and cilantro and basil stems.

Step 4

Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer uncovered for 60 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.

Step 5

After an hour, use a slotted spoon to remove the large solids (onions, ginger, carrots, daikon radish, and herbs), and strain the broth through a fine-mesh sieve to remove the spices. Return the clear broth to the pot.

Step 6

Stir in the low-sodium soy sauce or tamari and a pinch of salt. Taste the broth and adjust seasoning as needed, keeping in mind that pho broth should be light and aromatic, not overly salty.

Step 7

Keep the broth warm over low heat if serving immediately, or let it cool and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Step 8

Serve the broth as a base for pho bowls, adding rice noodles, fresh herbs, and your choice of lean protein or vegetables to customize your dish.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(3561.4g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	478.9

Total Fat 9.5g	0%
Saturated Fat 1.3g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.8g
Cholesterol 1.6mg	0%
Sodium 3649.6mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 90.7g	0%
Dietary Fiber 24.9g	0%
Total Sugars 22.7g
Protein 16.7g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 806.3mg	0%
Iron 16.6mg	0%
Potassium 4095.0mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 16.6%

Protein: 13.0%

Carbs: 70.4%