A clear broth filled with thinly sliced asparagus and shiitake mushrooms,tender strips of chicken, topped with fresh herbs like cilantro and thai basil, and served with a nest of translucent konjac noodles.

Low-Carb Asparagus and Shiitake Pho

Name: Low-Carb Asparagus and Shiitake Pho
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Ingredients: chicken broth, 6 cups; garlic cloves, 4 cloves minced; small onion, 1 thinly sliced; ginger, 1 tsp grated; fish sauce, 1 tbsp; soy sauce, 1 tsp; olive oil, 1 tbsp; chicken breast, 1 sliced into thin strips; asparagus, 1 bunch trimmed and sliced thinly on the bias; shiitake mushrooms, 1 cup sliced; red chili pepper, 1 small thinly sliced; lime, 1 cut into wedges; salt,; black pepper,; konjac noodles, 4 oz prepared according to package directions; cilantro leaves, for garnish; Thai Basil leaves, for garnish; Mint leaves, for garnish; green onions, thinly sliced for garnish

Category Main Course

Prep 15 minutes

Cook 20 minutes

Style Vietnamese

Technique Boiling

Diet Friendly Low-Carb

Daily Recipe: March 10, 2023

This recipe is a low-carb take on a classic Vietnamese dish, featuring seasonal ingredients like asparagus and shiitake mushrooms. The key ingredient is konjac noodles, a low-carb alternative to traditional rice noodles.

Ingredients (for 2)

Chicken broth - 6 cups
Garlic cloves - 4 cloves - minced
Small onion - 1 - thinly sliced
Ginger - 1 tsp - grated
Fish sauce - 1 tbsp
Soy sauce - 1 tsp
Olive oil - 1 tbsp
Chicken breast - 1 - sliced into thin strips
Asparagus - 1 bunch - trimmed and sliced thinly on the bias
Shiitake mushrooms - 1 cup - sliced
Red chili pepper - 1 small - thinly sliced
Lime - 1 - cut into wedges
Salt -
Black pepper -
Konjac noodles - 4 oz - prepared according to package directions
Cilantro leaves - - for garnish
Thai basil leaves - - for garnish
Mint leaves - - for garnish
Green onions - - thinly sliced for garnish

Preparation

Step 1 - 🍝💦🧊

Prepare konjac noodles according to package directions, rinse under cold water and set aside.
Step 2 - 🍳🧄🧅💥

In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic, onion, ginger, fish sauce and soy sauce. Cook for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
Step 3 - 🍗🍜🥣🔥

Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Add the chicken breast strips and simmer for 10 minutes.
Step 4 - 🥦🍄🍜🥣

Add the thinly sliced asparagus and shiitake mushrooms and simmer for an additional 5 minutes.
Step 5 - 🧂🌶️

Season the soup with salt and black pepper to taste.
Step 6 - 🍲🍜🥬🍃🌶️🍋

To serve, divide the konjac noodles between two bowls. Ladle the soup over the noodles. Top each bowl with a few chili slices, cilantro, Thai basil, mint, and green onions. Serve with lime wedges.

Additional

For a vegetarian version, substitute the chicken for tofu or seitan strips. You can also add other vegetables like bok choy or broccoli. Feel free to adjust the spice level with more or less chili peppers. Konjac noodles can be found in most Asian grocery stores or online.