Broccoli
Broccoli is a must-have in any vegetarian pho with over a dozen benefits to it. Broccoli’s an excellent source of vitamin K and calcium to help support strong bones, contains phosphorous and zinc as well as vitamins A and C, and also is filled with fiber. Love the taste or hate the taste, there’s no disputing that it’s a vegetable you can eat every day and your body won’t ever get sick of it.
Green onion
Thinly sliced green onions can contribute to a nice presentation. Although you may not have a lot of them in your bowl, they’re still adding some nutritional benefit as they’re filled with nutrients, loaded with antioxidants, have cancer-fighting compounds, and have antibacterial properties.
Green pepper
Bell peppers, usually delivered in green when we’re talking vegetarian pho, are a great addition to the mix. They are rich in a half-dozen vitamins and antioxidants. Their claim to fame is perhaps vitamin C and several carotenoids. They are known to positively impact eye health and other aspects of daily living as well.
Bean sprouts
You are very likely to find bean sprouts added into your vegan pho or vegetarian pho. The unmistakable crunch of these sweet bean sprouts add more protein, vitamin C, and folic acid. They’re also high in fiber, grown year-round, and are so healthy they’re even considered a superfood by some!
Jalapeno
If you’re sensitive to spice, omit this vegetable! If you don’t mind a little hot, a jalapeno pepper in a bowl of veggie pho can add a lot. Jalapenos contain capsaicin which is an anti-inflammatory compound known to help with pain relief, weight loss, improve heart health, and more.
Mushrooms
Though not as common as some of the other vegetables on this list, mushrooms are on occasion added to pho. They are notoriously low in calories, high in fiber and protein, and are filled with B vitamins, selenium, potassium, copper, and vitamin D. Mushrooms are not technically “plants” however they do qualify as a superfood due to their high nutritional value.
The broth
A vegetarian broth is going to be a little different from a meat-based broth as you don’t have bones to use as your base. Instead, most vegetarian phos will pull from things like star anise, cinnamon, peppercorns, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and sweet vegetables to make a nice broth.
This is just a little glimpse into how an all vegetarian pho is made, what it looks like, and what veggies you can expect to find a bowl!
