Veggie Pho

Modified recipe from New Vegetarian, a gift from Loan.

2 teaspoons vegetable oil
2 (3) inches sliced ginger
(3 inches sliced galangal)
1 large sliced onion
1 large chopped carrot
2 stalks chopped celery
2 ounces dried mushrooms (shitake)
1 (2) cinnamon sticks
6 (8) star anise pods
(1 teaspoon cloves)
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons tamari
1 tablespoon brown sugar


Cook the ginger, galangal, onion, carrot and celery until golden. Add 12 cups of cold water and bring to a simmer. Add the dry ingredients and tamari. Simmer for 3 hours. Remove mushrooms, onions, carrots, and celery. (I kept the ginger, galangal, cinnamon, anise, and cloves in the broth to retain the flavor).


Serve with rice noodles, cilantro, thinly sliced onions, scallions, lime, basil, bean sprouts, and meatless meatballs (which were not so great, unfortunately).