Vegetarian Vietnamese Broth

Indulge in the aromatic and soul-warming delight of Vegetarian Vietnamese Broth, a plant-based twist on the classic pho-style soup. This vibrant, nutrient-packed broth is infused with bold flavors from charred onion and ginger, toasted spices like cinnamon, star anise, and cloves, and earthy shiitake mushrooms. Slow-simmered with carrots, daikon radish, and a touch of soy sauce for umami depth, this recipe delivers a perfectly balanced blend of savory, sweet, and spicy notes. The broth is naturally vegan, gluten-free, and customizable with fresh garnishes such as scallions, cilantro, and crunchy bean sprouts. Perfect as a standalone soup or a base for your favorite noodle dishes, this quick and easy recipe brings the authentic taste of Vietnamese cuisine to your kitchen in just over an hour.

Nutriscore Rating: 71/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:60 mins

Total Time:70 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 whole onion, halved
• 3 inches ginger, sliced lengthwise
• 1 whole cinnamon stick
• 2 pods star anise
• 4 whole cloves
• 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
• 2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped into large chunks
• 1 small daikon radish, peeled and chopped into large chunks
• 4 whole shiitake mushrooms, fresh or dried
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon rock sugar (or substitute with regular sugar)
• 8 cups water
• 2 stalks scallions, chopped (optional, for garnish)
• 1 handful fresh cilantro (optional, for garnish)
• 1 cup bean sprouts (optional, for garnish)

Directions

Step 1

Char the halved onion and sliced ginger over an open flame or in a dry skillet until slightly blackened. This step enhances the broth's depth of flavor.

Step 2

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

Step 3

Add the charred onion, ginger, carrots, daikon radish, and shiitake mushrooms into the pot.

Step 4

Pour in the water and bring it to a boil.

Step 5

Reduce the heat to a simmer and add the soy sauce, salt, and rock sugar.

Step 6

Simmer the broth uncovered for 45-60 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.

Step 7

Strain the broth through a fine mesh sieve, discarding the solids.

Step 8

Serve the broth hot, garnished with scallions, fresh cilantro, and bean sprouts, if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2680.7g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	342.2

Total Fat 4.4g	0%
Saturated Fat 0.5g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 3719.2mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 71.5g	0%
Dietary Fiber 20.8g	0%
Total Sugars 29.4g
Protein 16.7g	0%

Vitamin D 67.2IU	0%
Calcium 445.5mg	0%
Iron 9.6mg	0%
Potassium 1770.7mg	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: 10.1%

Protein: 17.0%

Carbs: 72.9%