Vietnamese Pho-Style Rice Noodle Soup
A comforting bowl of clear broth with silky rice noodles, tender pork, and fresh herbs for a fragrant, nourishing meal. This vietnamese-inspired asian ready in about 75 minutes pairs (180 g), soaked rice noodles, (220 g), cut into cubes pork shank, medium, sliced onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 290 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 2 cups (180 g), soaked rice noodles
- 1/2 lb (220 g), cut into cubes pork shank
- 1 medium, sliced onion
- 1 medium, julienned carrot
- 2 stalks, sliced celery
- 2 pieces star anise
- 1 tbsp (10 g), grated ginger
- 2 cloves, minced garlic
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) fish sauce
- 1 small, cut into wedges lime
- 1/4 cup (5 g), fresh cilantro
- 1 tsp (5 ml) sriracha
Instructions
- Step 1: Bring 4 cups water to a boil in a large pot. Add 1 medium onion, 1 carrot, 2 celery stalks, 2 star anise, 1 tbsp ginger, and 2 minced garlic cloves. Simmer for 1 hour until pork is tender.
- Step 2: Add 1/2 lb pork shank cubes and cook for 20 minutes. Stir in 2 tbsp fish sauce and 2 cups rice noodles. Cook for 5 minutes until noodles are al dente.
- Step 3: Ladle soup into bowls. Top with 1/4 cup cilantro, 1 lime wedge, and a drizzle of sriracha. Serve with additional lime and cilantro on the side.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Vietnamese Pho-Style Rice Noodle Soup take to make?
Total time is about 75 minutes (15 min prep + 60 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Vietnamese Pho-Style Rice Noodle Soup?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep (180 g), soaked rice noodles from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Vietnamese Pho-Style Rice Noodle Soup?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Vietnamese Pho-Style Rice Noodle Soup for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 2 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 2). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Vietnamese Pho-Style Rice Noodle Soup?
Vietnamese asian like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★☆
Almost perfect — just needed a squeeze of lemon at the end.
- ★★★★☆
Very good for a 60-minute recipe. Would bump up the spice level though.
- ★★★★☆
Almost perfect — just needed a squeeze of lemon at the end.
