Vegan Pho

Light, satisfying, and just as spicy as you like, this soup transitions perfectly from winter to spring.

By Robin Robertson

Pho is a rich Vietnamese noodle soup traditionally made with beef. This meatless version, enriched with dark miso paste, is made with seitan or "wheat meat." Dried rice noodles and hoisin sauce are available in well-stocked supermarkets and Asian grocery stores.

Serves 4

What You Need:

• 8 ounces dried rice noodles
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 8 ounces seitan, drained and cut into strips
• 6 cups vegetable stock or water
• 1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
• 1/3 cup hoisin sauce
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 3 tablespoons miso paste
• 1/2 teaspoon Asian chile paste (or to taste)
• 1 cup fresh bean sprouts
• 3 to 4 scallions, thinly sliced
• 3 tablespoons cilantro leaves
• 3 tablespoons basil leaves

What You Do:

1. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Turn off the heat, add the rice noodles, and let them sit for 30 minutes to soften. Drain and set aside.
2. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the seitan strips and brown on all sides. Remove from heat and set aside.
3. Bring the stock or water to a boil in a large pot. Add the onion, ginger, hoisin sauce, and soy sauce. Reduce heat to low and simmer 15 minutes. Stir in the lime juice.
4. Place 1/2 cup of the hot liquid into a small bowl. Add the miso paste and stir to blend well. Transfer the blended miso paste into the soup along with the chile paste, if using. Do not boil. Stir in the seitan& noodles.
5. Divide the soup among individual bowls. Add the bean sprouts, scallions, cilantro, and basil. Serve immediately.