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Home » Dinner

Easy Mushroom Pho (Vegan + Gluten-Free)

Published: Dec 7, 2020 · Modified: May 18, 2022 by Nija Clark 3 Comments

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This umami packed and easy to make Mushroom Pho Soup recipe is made with hearty Portobello and flavor packed shiitake mushrooms; for the most delicious rich vegan broth based soup you've ever tried, seriously

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How to make Vegan Mushroom Pho Soup at www.thevgnway.com

Full Recipe Ingredients/Instructions are available in the recipe card at the bottom of the post. However you can find important tips/tricks in the post.

Jump to:
  • Ingredients
  • FAQ
  • Instructions
  • Storage
  • Serving Topping Suggestions
  • 📖 Recipe

Traditional Pho is a popular Vietnamese dish traditionally "...made by simmering beef bones, oxtails, flank steak, charred onion, charred ginger and spices. For a more intense flavor, the bones may still have beef on them"

Ingredients

Ingredients used in Mushroom Pho soup

Sea Kelp - is a type of seaweed. "Kelp can taste very salty (like the ocean), or taste like a fresh oyster. It also can have a bit of an umami taste (natural Monosodium glutamate), which is a very savory taste". Check out the nutritious benefits of Sea kelp too. For a substitution you can try other types of seaweed but we really recommend using Sea Kelp. You can order online via Amazon.

Dried Shiitake Mushroom - for umami flavor

Fresh Mushrooms - We like to use Button, Portobelloa and Oyster mushrooms. Mushrooms have an earthy, slightly woodsy, meaty flavor and have a umami taste.

Five Spice blend - a mixture of cinnamon, fennel seeds, star anise, Sichuan peppercorn and cloves.

Lime juice - for brightness

Ginger

Vegetable Broth

FAQ

Is Pho Vegan?

Traditionally no; but we knew we could create a vegetable based pho broth just as good; if not better. With three key ingredients - vegetable broth (store bought is great but if you have the time homemade is fantastic), kelp and mushrooms.

Is Vegan Pho Gluten-Free? 

Yes, pho soup is naturally gluten-free. Gluten-free Rice noodles are used in this recipe.

What Is Umami Flavor?

Umami, or savoriness, is one of the five basic tastes. It is described as savory and is characteristic of broths and cooked meats. In vegan recipes we get the umami flavor from mushrooms. Sea kelp is also a great source of umami flavor due to its high glutamate content. Glutamate is an amino acid.

Instructions

Making concentrated umami base
In a large, heat proof bowl. Add the kelp and dried mushrooms. Cover with 2 cups of boiling water to rehydrate the mushroom. Reserve this broth for later use in recipe. This should sit for an hour to get all the umani flavor. 

Making the stock

In a very large pot (like a dutch oven) add 3 cups of water and the 3 cups of vegetable broth.

Prepare fresh mushrooms by separating mushroom caps and mushroom stems to be used in broth base. Rinse and slice mushroom caps. Reserving the sliced caps for later use.

Roughy chop the following; mushroom stems, carrots, onion, ginger. Add to pot. Add salt, bay leaves, tamari soy to pot along with five spice powder. Note: in making the stock we will be discarding these vegetables. Bring to boil around 5 minutes and then reduce to simmer. Cover and let simmer for 60 minutes. 

In a large skillet add reserved sliced mushroom caps, salt and pepper to taste. Sauté mushrooms about 5 minutes. Reduce heat and cook another 10 minutes until mushroom are cooked. Set aside.

Return to step 1, the bowl of kelp and dried mushrooms will have made a concentrate. Reserving the liquid. Strain kelp and rehydrated mushrooms. Discard kelp. Add reserved liquid to pot of broth. Optionally - chop and add rehydrated mushrooms to broth. These mushrooms can be chewy so you may not want to add to soup. Cook another 5 minutes

Add lime juice and bring mixture to boil then turn off heat.

Cook Rice Noodles

Assembling Pho

Put cooked noodles in a bowl, add broth , spinach and garnish with red pepper flakes and parsley

Storage

Before storing your pho broth in the refrigerator or freezer you want to cool it down to room temperature. Store broth and noodles in separate airtight containers. Store in refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.

If you plan to freeze your broth, transfer to large freezer safe ziplock bag. Lay bag flat while freezing. Will take about 6 hours to freeze. Once frozen you will be able to stand the frozen broth vertically to take up less space in the freezer. Broth will keep for 3 months.

Serving Topping Suggestions

Complete your bowl of soup with any of the following:

  • Fresh Basil Sprigs 
  • Fresh Cilantro
  • Mung Bean Sprouts
  • Sliced or Diced Tofu
  • Shredded Carrots
  • Squeeze Fresh Lime Juice

Depending on your appetite level you can also add any of the following to increase the amount of protein in this soup: spinach, tofu or a faux chicken product.

More Plant-Based & Gluten-Free Soup Recipes

  • Creamy Vegan Broccoli Soup
  • Perfectly Easy Meal-Prep Spicy Italian Sausage & Tomato Soup

📖 Recipe

Easy Mushroom Pho (Vegan + Gluten-Free)

Nija Clark
This umami packed and easy to make Mushroom Pho Soup recipe is made with hearty Portobello and flavor packed shiitake mushrooms; for the most delicious rich vegan broth based soup you've ever tried, seriously 
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 mins
Cook Time 1 hr 15 mins
Course Main Course, Soup
Servings 4 Servings
Calories 182 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Dutch Oven or Oversized Stock Pot
  • 1 Sauté Pan
  • 1 Strainer

Ingredients
  

Concentrated Umami Base

  • 1 ounce Dried Shiitake mushrooms
  • 1 large piece - Kelp Kombu
  • 2 cups Water - boiling

Soup Base

  • 3 cups Low Sodium Vegetable broth
  • 3 cups Water
  • 3-4 packages Mushrooms - About 24 to 32 oz of mushrooms depending on size of container. Whatever you like Button, Portobello, Oyster Separate cap and stems. Add stems to base and set caps aside for sauté
  • 3 Carrots - cut into chunks
  • 1 Onion - cut into chunks
  • 4 Bay Leaves
  • ¼ cup Tamari sauce
  • 2 Inch piece Ginger
  • 1 teaspoon Five-spice powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Maple syrup
  • 2 teaspoons Salt - add more per your taste preferences
  • 3 teaspoons Lime juice

Mushroom Caps To Sauté

  • 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
  • Add set aside sliced Mushroom Caps

Noodles

  • 1 package Rice Noodles - cook according to package directions

Toppings

  • 1 Lime - juice from 1 lime wedge
  • 1 package Spinach or Bok Choy - add handful to each bowl, broth will cook it.

Instructions
 

  • In a large, heat proof bowl. Add the kelp and dried mushrooms. Cover with 2 cups of boiling water to rehydrate the mushroom. Reserve this broth for later use in recipe. This should sit for an hour to get all the umani flavor.
    1 ounce Dried Shiitake mushrooms, 1 large piece - Kelp, 2 cups Water

Making the stock

  • In a very large pot (like a dutch oven) add 3 cups of water and the 3 cups of vegetable broth.
    3 cups Low Sodium Vegetable broth, 3 cups Water
  • Prepare fresh mushrooms by separating mushroom caps and mushroom stems to be used in broth base. Rinse and slice mushroom caps. Reserving the sliced caps for later use.
    3-4 packages Mushrooms - About 24 to 32 oz of mushrooms depending on size of container. Whatever you like Button, Portobello, Oyster
  • Roughy chop the following; mushroom stems, carrots, onion, ginger. Add to pot. Add salt, bay leaves, tamari soy to pot along with five spice powder. Note: in making the stock we will be discarding these vegetables. Bring to boil around 5 minutes and then reduce to simmer. Cover and let simmer for 60 minutes.
    3 Carrots, 1 Onion, 4 Bay Leaves, ¼ cup Tamari sauce, 2 Inch piece Ginger, 1 teaspoon Five-spice powder, 2 teaspoons Salt, 1/2 teaspoon Maple syrup
  • In a large skillet add reserved sliced mushroom caps, salt and pepper to taste. Sauté mushrooms about 5 minutes. Reduce heat and cook another 10 minutes until mushroom are cooked. Set aside.
    2 tablespoons Olive Oil, Add set aside sliced Mushroom Caps
  • Return to step 1, the bowl of kelp and dried mushrooms will have made a concentrate. Reserving the liquid. Strain kelp and rehydrated mushrooms. Discard kelp. Add reserved liquid to pot of broth. Optionally - chop and add rehydrated mushrooms to broth. These mushrooms can be chewy so you may not want to add to soup. Cook another 5 minutes
  • Add lime juice and bring mixture to boil then turn off heat.
    3 teaspoons Lime juice
  • Cook rice noodles
    1 package Rice Noodles

Assembling Pho

  • Put cooked noodles in a bowl, add broth , spinach and garnish with red pepper flakes and parsley
    1 package Spinach or Bok Choy

Notes

Storage

Before storing your pho broth in the refrigerator or freezer you want to cool it down to room temperature. Store broth and noodles in separate airtight containers. Store in refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.
If you plan to freeze your broth, transfer to large freezer safe ziplock bag. Lay bag flat while freezing. Will take about 6 hours to freeze. Once frozen you will be able to stand the frozen broth vertically to take up less space in the freezer. Broth will keep for 3 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 182kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 9gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gSodium: 2017mgPotassium: 907mgFiber: 6gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 7659IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 48mgIron: 2mg
Keyword Gluten-Free, Mushrooms, Plant-Based, Soy-Free, Vegan
Tried this recipe?Mention @vgnway or tag #thevgnway!

This content contains affiliate links, which helps thevgnway.com to provide free recipes and resources. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support of the blog. 

If you give this vegan gluten-free Pho a try, let us know! Leave a comment, or take a picture and tag and us on Instagram #thevgnway.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Darcy Pyle

    May 19, 2022 at 3:31 pm

    5 stars
    saw you on I.G. been trying a lot of vegan pho recipes. So happy I found this one, it’s so good. just wanted to post a comment and say thx!

    Reply
  2. Sarah C. Rivera

    October 27, 2020 at 6:27 pm

    On step 6 it says to add lime juice to mixture -- are you referring to the broth or the skillet with mushrooms?
    Thanks!
    Sarah

    Reply
    • Nija Clark | The Vgn Way

      October 28, 2020 at 1:04 pm

      Hi Sarah,

      Thanks so much for your question and apologies for the confusion. I’ll update step 5 to be clearer. The mushrooms in the skillet should be added to the broth before step 6. And step 6 is adding the lime juice to the broth. This is the last step before serving.
      Thanks and please let us know if you have any more questions.
      Nij

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