About This Recipe
This pho with zucchini noodles is a light, nourishing twist on the traditional Vietnamese classic. Instead of rice noodles, we’re using spiralized zucchini for a veggie-packed, lower-carb, and just-as-comforting soup. It’s perfect for when you need something warm, healing, and flavorful—especially after a long day (or in my case, eight back-to-back soccer games!).
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Immune-boosting ingredients: Garlic, ginger, shiitake mushrooms, and spices like clove and cinnamon are powerhouses for fighting colds.
- Light and healthy: Using zucchini noodles keeps it fresh and low-carb without losing any of the pho magic.
- Easy to make: No complicated steps—boil, simmer, season, and slurp.
- Customizable: Add tofu, cooked chicken, or even more veggies for extra heartiness.
- Cozy and comforting: What you need when you feel run-down or chilly.
Ingredient Notes
- Zucchini noodles: Spiralized zucchini replaces traditional rice noodles. Invest in a simple spiralizer—it’s worth it!
- Shiitake mushrooms
- Garlic & ginger
- Pho spices: Clove, cinnamon stick, star anise, and orange peel give the broth its unmistakable aroma.
- Tamari or soy sauce
- Sesame oil
- Fresh herbs: Cilantro, basil, and green onions are necessary for a proper pho finish.
How to Make Pho with Zucchini Noodles (with Variations)
- Make the broth: In a large pot, add water, smashed garlic cloves, sliced ginger, shiitake mushrooms, clove, cinnamon, star anise, and orange peel. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 20–30 minutes.
- Prepare the zucchini noodles: While the broth simmers, spiralize the zucchini and set aside.
- Season the broth: Strain the solids out of the broth. Stir in tamari, a splash of sesame oil, and a big squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
- Assemble your bowl: Place a handful of raw zucchini noodles in a bowl, ladle the hot broth over them, and top with fresh herbs.
Variations
- Add protein: Add cubes of baked tofu, shredded chicken, or cooked shrimp for extra protein.
- More veggies: Toss thinly sliced bok choy, baby spinach, or carrots.
- Spice it up: Add a few slices of jalapeño or a drizzle of sriracha for a spicier pho.
Homecook to Homecook Tips
- Use a Spiralizer: You’ll get even zucchini noodles in seconds. If you don’t have a spiralizer, you can use a vegetable peeler to make thin strips.
- Don’t overcook the zoodles. Once you pour the hot broth over them, they will soften perfectly, so there is no need to boil them.
- Make ahead: You can prepare the broth in advance and keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze it for busy days.
- Store leftovers: Always store the broth separately from the zucchini noodles to avoid mushiness.
Pho with Zucchini Noodles
This pho with zucchini noodles is a light, healthy twist on the traditional Vietnamese soup. It's packed with nourishing ingredients and full of comforting flavor. Quick, easy, and perfect for cozy nights or boosting your immune system!
Ingredients
For the Broth:
- 4 cups water
- 2-3 scallions roughly chopped
- 2 garlic cloves peeled
- 1 piece fresh ginger about 2 inches, sliced
- 1 serrano or jalapeño pepper sliced
- 10 shiitake mushrooms sliced
- 2 whole cloves
- 1 star anise
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 slice orange
- 1 slice lemon
- Pinch of salt
For Serving:
- 4 zucchinis spiralized into noodles
- Tamari sauce to taste
- Sesame oil for drizzling
- Lemon juice to taste
- Fresh cilantro leaves
- Fresh mint leaves
- Fresh basil leaves
Instructions
Make the broth:
- In a large pot, combine the water, scallions, garlic, ginger, serrano or jalapeño, shiitake mushrooms, cloves, star anise, cinnamon stick, orange slice, lemon slice, and a pinch of salt.
- Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 10–15 minutes to allow the flavors to infuse.
Prepare the zucchini noodles:
- While the broth simmers, spiralize the zucchinis and set the noodles aside.
Assemble the pho:
- Strain the broth into bowls to remove the solids. Add a handful of raw zucchini noodles to each bowl.
Season and serve:
- Top the noodles with a splash of tamari sauce, a drizzle of sesame oil, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Garnish generously with cilantro, mint, and basil leaves.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
Storage tip: Store leftover broth separately from the zucchini noodles to prevent the noodles from becoming soggy.
Spiciness: For extra heat, add sliced jalapeño or a few drops of sriracha when serving.
Protein boost: Add baked tofu, cooked shredded chicken, or tempeh for a heartier version.
Broth shortcut: To save time, you can make the broth a day ahead and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
Calories: 54kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 3gSodium: 33mgPotassium: 634mgFiber: 3gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 465IUVitamin C: 37.4mgCalcium: 55mgIron: 1.1mg
information
Nutritional information of this recipe is only an estimate, the accuracy for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
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Soy Ale Graf, mexicana en Texas y la creadora de AleCooks y Piloncillo&Vainilla, donde comparto recetas fáciles, deliciosas y para toda la familia — algunas mexicanas, en su mayoría basadas en plantas — pensadas para disfrutarse todo el día, todos los días. Con una licenciatura en Historia del Arte y una Certificación como Chef Profesional en Cocina Basada en Plantas, llevo más de una década creando contenido donde se unen mis dos pasiones: la comida y el storytelling.
Mi enfoque está en recetas que reúnen a las personas alrededor de la mesa, haciendo de cada comida un momento sencillo, delicioso y significativo. También soy autora de Yo Cocino Latino, y mis recetas han sido destacadas en varias revistas y publicaciones en línea.
¡Sígueme en mis redes sociales para inspiración diaria, tips y recetas deliciosas! Y si alguna vez pruebas una de mis recetas — o tienes una receta familiar favorita — ¡me encantaría saberlo! Mándame un DM en Instagram y hablemos de comida. 🍽️✨
Mi enfoque está en recetas que reúnen a las personas alrededor de la mesa, haciendo de cada comida un momento sencillo, delicioso y significativo. También soy autora de Yo Cocino Latino, y mis recetas han sido destacadas en varias revistas y publicaciones en línea.
¡Sígueme en mis redes sociales para inspiración diaria, tips y recetas deliciosas! Y si alguna vez pruebas una de mis recetas — o tienes una receta familiar favorita — ¡me encantaría saberlo! Mándame un DM en Instagram y hablemos de comida. 🍽️✨
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