Slow Pho

I made a few modifications to this recipe. In addition to the onion and chile, I also include a shallot and five cloves of garlic. In addition to the cinnamon and star anise, I also included a few cloves. Before putting the vegetables and aromatics in the slow cooker, I heated them in a dry pot on the stove to char them a bit. Next time, I might try roasting them.

For the broth, I used nine cups of water and five heaping teaspoons of Better than Bouillon vegetable base. I found that the broth was a bit strong, and next time I'd cut back on the bouillon even more.

Instead of seitan, I used baked tofu. I also did not add the hoisin, miso, or lime to the entire pot of broth. Instead, we individually seasoned our bowls of soup with lime, hoisin, and sriracha. I also served mint leaves in place of cilantro as a garnish.

This soup was easy and delicious. I will definitely make it again.