Quick Faux Pho

Craving the comforting flavors of pho but short on time? This Quick Faux Pho recipe delivers all the aromatic goodness of the classic Vietnamese noodle soup in just 30 minutes. Infused with warm spices like cinnamon, star anise, and cloves, the broth is elevated with layers of umami from fish sauce and soy sauce. Tender rice noodles form the base, topped with your choice of thinly sliced chicken, beef, or tofu. A vibrant array of garnishes—fresh bean sprouts, cilantro, Thai basil, and green onions—lets you customize every bowl to perfection. Serve with lime wedges, hoisin sauce, and sriracha for that ideal balance of tangy, sweet, and spicy. Perfect for a quick family dinner or an easy weeknight meal, this shortcut pho is a flavorful way to enjoy classic Vietnamese comfort food without the long cook time.

Nutriscore Rating: 70/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:20 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 6 cups chicken or beef broth
• 2 cups water
• 3 tablespoons fish sauce
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 star anise
• 3 whole cloves
• 1 2-inch piece fresh ginger, thinly sliced
• 8 ounces rice noodles
• 2 cups thinly sliced cooked chicken, beef, or tofu
• 1 cup bean sprouts
• 0.5 cup fresh cilantro leaves
• 0.25 cup fresh Thai basil leaves
• 0.25 cup green onions, thinly sliced
• 1 lime, cut into wedges
• 0.25 cup hoisin sauce
• 0.25 cup sriracha

Directions

Step 1

In a large pot, combine the chicken or beef broth, water, fish sauce, soy sauce, cinnamon stick, star anise, whole cloves, and ginger slices.

Step 2

Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 15 minutes to allow the spices to infuse the broth.

Step 3

While the broth simmers, prepare the rice noodles according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.

Step 4

Strain the spices and ginger from the broth, returning the clear liquid to the pot.

Step 5

Divide the cooked rice noodles evenly among four serving bowls.

Step 6

Top each bowl with your choice of thinly sliced cooked chicken, beef, or tofu.

Step 7

Ladle the hot spiced broth over the noodles and protein in each bowl.

Step 8

Serve the pho with bean sprouts, cilantro, Thai basil, and green onions on the side, allowing each person to garnish their bowl as desired.

Step 9

Provide lime wedges, hoisin sauce, and sriracha for additional flavor customization.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(3238.2g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1534.6

Total Fat 27.9g	0%
Saturated Fat 6.4g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.2g
Cholesterol 407.5mg	0%
Sodium 13765.0mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 142.1g	0%
Dietary Fiber 19.8g	0%
Total Sugars 40.1g
Protein 180.8g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 585.9mg	0%
Iron 22.3mg	0%
Potassium 3197.9mg	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: 16.3%

Protein: 46.9%

Carbs: 36.8%