My version of Pho is simple, quick and clean – and perfect when you have a head cold! But….no meat!

I’ve been feeling under the weather with a head cold for the past 24 hours, so I was a little horrified when the hubby said he wanted to stay home for dinner. 😬 I’ve been eating a lot of soup to soothe the throat and I actually feel like that’s all I’m in the mood for…but also a little bit of “meat” to make it more like a meal.

All I did was add about 2 1/2 cups organic veggie broth and 1 cup water to a pot. Add 2 tablespoons amino acids and 1 1/2 tablespoon sesame oil. 1 tablespoon each of minced garlic and ginger. A dash of onion powder and a dash or two salt and pepper. Add in 1/2 cup each of chopped zucchini, yellow onion and peppers (any variety will work just fine). Let all this cook on high heat for about 4 minutes then bring to a simmer. Add in a cup of sweet peas, chopped mushrooms and 2 servings of rice noodles. Let this sit on low heat for another 5 minutes.

Place a bed of spinach in the bottom of a bowl. Spoon some broth over the spinach so it has a chance to wilt, and then broth plus veggies to complete your Pho bowl.

I topped mine with a few slices of veggie burger with almond cheese on top (left over from the hubby’s dinner), slices of sweet red pepper pulled fresh from the potted garden today, and a little bit of wasabi paste for some heat.

Filling but not heavy, warm and soothing but not too spicy – the perfect dish when you don’t have the energy to cook a big meal but need to feel satisfied!