Phở is as Vietnamese as sushi is Japanese, at least it is over here in most of North America. This ubiquitous noodle soup dish is the first thing that comes to my mind when I think Vietnamese food, and while it’s not the only dish I love, it’s one of my favorite things to have on a cold, rainy Vancouver day.

Phở bò or beef noodle soup is the most common version of phở you’ll find – it’s also the one my mom still makes vats of for family dinners. Although a lot of popular Vietnamese dishes are centered around meat, Vietnam also has a rich culinary tradition of great vegetarian eats, usually reserved for days of religious observance from the Buddhist faith.

So to celebrate a great traditional Vietnamese dish and match it with meatless option, here’s my recipe for Phở Chay or vegetarian pho. This completely vegan version doesn’t lose any points on flavor and goes well with any kind of chewy protein (I’m particular to slices of fried tofu).

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