Common Ingredients in pho Recipes

We researched the most common ingredients in over a dozen popular pho recipes and found the top 15 ingredients.

The most common ingredient in pho dishes is scallions.

Lime, yellow onion, cilantro, fish sauce, bean sprouts, rice noodles and white sugar are also common ingredients in pho recipes. For herbs and spices, star anise, clove, cinnamon, ginger, mint and coriander are popular. Variations include:

• carrots in place of bean sprouts

Salt is in 45% of pho recipes.

The average pho recipe has about 17 ingredients, with a minimum of 9 and a maximum of 28.

In terms of directions, pho recipes have about 4.6 steps on average, ranging from 2 to 9 instructions.

An average pho recipe takes about 1 hour 39 minutes to prepare, ranging from 15 minutes to 7 hours.

Ratios of Common Ingredients in Pho

For 4 scallions (100 g), the median and average amounts of other significant ingredients are below. Some ingredients are potential substitutes for others, meaning they almost never exist together in a single pho recipe, and are marked below.

Ingredient	Median	Average	% of recipes with scallions	Potential subsitutions
lime	3 wedge (201 g)	2.6 wedge (175 g)	75%
cilantro	1 cup (16 g)	0.94 cup (15 g)	63%
bean sprouts	4 cup (416 g)	3.3 cup (340 g)	56%	carrots
yellow onion	0.93 large (140 g)	1.6 large (234 g)	56%
star anise	6 pod (13 g)	5.5 pod (12 g)	56%
fish sauce	a third of a cup (96 g)	0.29 cup (84 g)	50%
rice noodles	three quarters of a pound (340 g)	0.64 pound (292 g)	44%
clove	8 clove (17 g)	6 clove (13 g)	44%
cinnamon	2 stick (5 g)	1.9 stick (5 g)	44%
ginger	2 piece (4 g)	1.9 piece (3 g)	31%	ginger root

Ingredients by Average Weight in Pho

We also found the average content of the significant ingredients by weight in pho recipes. This would be: 32% rice noodles, 18% lime, 14% yellow onion, 14% bean sprouts, 13% scallions, 3% fish sauce and 2% cilantro.

Here are the top ingredients, listed in order of popularity.

scallions

Scallions is the most popular ingredient in pho dishes. In fact, over 80% of pho recipes contain scallions.

Sliced and chopped are frequent preparations for scallions in pho dishes.

Scallions is often included in pho dishes in amounts of 4 scallions, half a cup or 2 scallions.

In pho recipes that contain scallions, it is on average, 5% by weight.

For pho recipes, scallions is frequently used with lime, cilantro, yellow onion, star anise and bean sprouts.

lime

Another popular ingredient in pho is lime. From the recipes we've sampled for pho, over 70% have lime.

Lime is often included in pho dishes in amounts of 2 wedges, 3 wedges or 1 wedge.

In pho recipes that contain lime, it is on average, 8% by weight.

In recipes for pho, lime is often used with scallions, cilantro, bean sprouts, fish sauce and yellow onion.

yellow onion

Yellow onion is another common ingredient in pho dishes. In fact, over 65% of pho recipes contain yellow onion.

Sliced, peeled, halved and quartered are frequent preparations for yellow onion in pho dishes.

Common quantities for yellow onion in pho dishes include 1 large, half a yellow onion or 2 mediums.

In pho recipes that contain yellow onion, it is on average, 7% by weight.

Star anise, fish sauce, clove, scallions and cinnamon are commonly used together with yellow onion in pho dishes. Conversely, yellow onion is not often used with pho broth, tofu and soy sauce.

star anise

Another popular ingredient in pho is star anise. From the recipes we've sampled for pho, over 65% have star anise.

Star anise is often included in pho dishes in amounts of 3 pods or 2 star anises.

In pho recipes that contain star anise, it is on average, 0.4% by weight.

For pho recipes, star anise is frequently used with yellow onion, fish sauce, clove, scallions and cinnamon. However, pho broth, tofu and soy sauce are almost never used together with star anise in pho dishes.

cilantro

Cilantro is another common ingredient in pho dishes. In fact, over 60% of pho recipes contain cilantro.

Pho dishes often call for cilantro to be chopped.

Cilantro is often included in pho dishes in amounts of 1 cup or half a cup.

In pho recipes that contain cilantro, it is on average, 1% by weight.

In recipes for pho, cilantro is often used with scallions, lime, rice noodles, mint and bean sprouts. On the other hand, cilantro is almost never used with chicken broth.

fish sauce

Another popular ingredient in pho is fish sauce. From the recipes we've sampled for pho, over 60% have fish sauce.

Common quantities for fish sauce in pho dishes include a quarter cup, 2 tablespoons or 1.5 tablespoons.

In pho recipes that contain fish sauce, it is on average, 1.8% by weight.

Yellow onion, star anise, clove, scallions and salt are commonly used together with fish sauce in pho dishes. Conversely, fish sauce is not often used with pho broth, tofu and soy sauce.

clove

Clove is another common ingredient in pho dishes. In fact, over 55% of pho recipes contain clove.

Clove is often included in pho dishes in amounts of 4 cloves or 5 cloves.

In pho recipes that contain clove, it is on average, 0.5% by weight.

For pho recipes, clove is frequently used with star anise, yellow onion, fish sauce, cinnamon and salt. However, pho broth, tofu and soy sauce are almost never used together with clove in pho dishes.

bean sprouts

Another popular ingredient in pho is bean sprouts. From the recipes we've sampled for pho, over 50% have bean sprouts.

Pho dishes often call for bean sprouts to be trimmed.

Bean sprouts is often included in pho dishes in amounts of 2 cups or 1 cup.

In pho recipes that contain bean sprouts, it is on average, 9% by weight.

In recipes for pho, bean sprouts is often used with scallions, lime, yellow onion, star anise and fish sauce.

Potential substitutions for bean sprouts in pho:

• carrots

Also, bean sprouts is not often used with tofu and soy sauce.

cinnamon

Cinnamon is another common ingredient in pho dishes. In fact, over 50% of pho recipes contain cinnamon.

Common quantities for cinnamon in pho dishes include 1 stick or 2 sticks.

In pho recipes that contain cinnamon, it is on average, 0.2% by weight.

Star anise, yellow onion, clove, fish sauce and scallions are commonly used together with cinnamon in pho dishes. Conversely, cinnamon is not often used with pho broth, tofu and soy sauce.

rice noodles

Another popular ingredient in pho is rice noodles. From the recipes we've sampled for pho, over 45% have rice noodles.

Dried is a frequent preparation for rice noodles in pho dishes.

Rice noodles is often included in pho dishes in amounts of three quarters of a pound, half a pound or 12 ounces.

In pho recipes that contain rice noodles, it is on average, 23% by weight.

For pho recipes, rice noodles is frequently used with lime, cilantro, scallions, mint and yellow onion. However, beef chuck, pho noodles and herbs are almost never used together with rice noodles in pho dishes.

salt

Salt is another common ingredient in pho dishes. In fact, over 45% of pho recipes contain salt.

In pho recipes that contain salt, it is on average, 0.3% by weight.

In recipes for pho, salt is often used with star anise, yellow onion, fish sauce, clove and scallions. On the other hand, salt is almost never used with pho broth, tofu and soy sauce.

ginger

Another popular ingredient in pho is ginger. From the recipes we've sampled for pho, over 40% have ginger.

Sliced and halved are frequent preparations for ginger in pho dishes.

Common quantities for ginger in pho dishes include 1 piece or 1 ginger.

In pho recipes that contain ginger, it is on average, 0.1% by weight.

Star anise, yellow onion, clove, fish sauce and lime are commonly used together with ginger in pho dishes.

Potential substitutions for ginger in pho:

• ginger root

Also, ginger is not often used with pho broth, tofu and carrots.

mint

Mint is another common ingredient in pho dishes. In fact, over 35% of pho recipes contain mint.

Mint is often included in pho dishes in amounts of 6 teaspoons or 0 teaspoon.

In pho recipes that contain mint, it is on average, 0.3% by weight.

For pho recipes, mint is frequently used with cilantro, rice noodles, lime, scallions and pho broth.

Potential substitutions for mint in pho:

• black pepper
• chili

Also, mint is not often used with white sugar, beef chuck, pho noodles, herbs and chicken broth.

coriander

Another popular ingredient in pho is coriander. From the recipes we've sampled for pho, over 30% have coriander.

Coriander is often included in pho dishes in amounts of 1 teaspoon.

In pho recipes that contain coriander, it is on average, 0.4% by weight.

In recipes for pho, coriander is often used with yellow onion, star anise, clove, bean sprouts, fish sauce, fennel and cinnamon. On the other hand, coriander is almost never used with black pepper, pho broth, tofu, carrots and soy sauce.

white sugar

White sugar is another common ingredient in pho dishes. In fact, over 30% of pho recipes contain white sugar.

Common quantities for white sugar in pho dishes include 1 tablespoon or 2 tablespoons.

In pho recipes that contain white sugar, it is on average, 0.9% by weight.

Yellow onion, star anise, clove, fish sauce, cinnamon and salt are commonly used together with white sugar in pho dishes. Conversely, white sugar is not often used with mint, pho broth, yellow rock sugar, basil, tofu and soy sauce.

Other pho Ingredients

Other significant ingredients used in pho recipes include:

• ginger root - 30%
• black pepper - 30%
• chili - 25%
• hoisin sauce table - 25%
• fennel - 25%
• beef chuck - 20%
• pho broth - 20%
• yellow rock sugar - 20%
• basil - 20%
• tofu - 15%
• pho noodles - 15%
• herbs - 15%
• carrots - 15%
• chicken broth - 15%
• soy sauce - 15%

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