When Matt and I got married I was sure to let him know beforehand that I am not a cook– not that I can’t cook, I just never really enjoyed it. The first two years of our marriage he did most of the cooking, but after we moved into the van I had a shift in perspective. I was no longer overwhelmed by all the pots, pans, and garlic presses I had grown up with in my mom’s kitchen. Instead, I had only basic tools to cook with. This led Matt and I to come up with simple meals that are not only easy to make, but are delicious enough to satisfy our active lifestyle. Over the winter I had a huge craving for Pho Noodles. Instead of going out to eat, I came up with a pseudo recipe of my own. There are no exact measurements or rules, because thats just not how I cook!
Here it is for you to enjoy! (the recipe is based off of what the two of us consume, which is probably more than the average person):
- 3 Cans (or 5.5 Cups) of Broth (we use vegetable broth because Matt is vegetarian, but I found that chicken or beef broth has more flavor)
- 1/2 Package of Rice Noodles (no exact measurement here!)
- 1/2 to a full Medium Yellow Onion (chopped)
- 2-3 Cloves of Garlic (more if we are feeling under the weather)
- 1 tbsp of Coconut Oil
- 3-4 White Mushrooms
- A Few Cups Fresh Vegetables (we add lots of veggies! My favorites are broccoli, sliced carrots, and bok choy)
- Bean Sprouts
- Fresh Basil Leaves
- 1-2 Limes
- 1 Jalapeno
- Siracha
Instructions:
- Bring a medium pot (we only have the one pot with a straining lid in the van, so thats all we use!) of water to a boil. Add the noodles and turn off the heat. Let them soak for 3 minutes. Drain and rinse noodles, and set them aside
- Sautee the onion, garlic, and mushrooms in the coconut oil in the same pot
- Add broth and bring to a boil
- Turn off burner and add the noodles and fresh veggies (I let them sit for a few minutes to soften a little before serving)
- Add fresh basil leaves, bean sprouts, lime juice, sliced jalapeños, and Siracha to taste! (We like it spicy)
- Grab your chopsticks and Bon Apetite!
They say your food tastes better when you are camping, and that may be true of this recipe, but this Faux Pho meal has been a staple for us in the van. It’s quick, easy, fresh, and gourmet– perfect for our simple lifestyle. Hope you enjoy!
Simply Mountain People 