Vegan Hu Tieu Recipe: How to Make a Light, Flavorful at Home

Vegan hu tieu can be made as a light, naturally sweet noodle soup or a savoury stir-fried dish. With vegetables, mushrooms, tofu and pleasantly chewy rice noodles, you can prepare a satisfying vegan meal at home. This article shares two distinct vegan hu tieu recipes, along with tips for clear broth and noodles that do not stick together.

• Serves: 3–4 people per recipe
• Time: 35–60 minutes
• Difficulty: Easy

What makes vegan hu tieu special?

Vegan hu tieu is appealing because it is flexible and easy to adapt. In the soup version, the natural sweetness comes from carrots, daikon radish and mushrooms, while tofu, fried tofu skin and vegan ham add texture. In the stir-fried version, the vegetables remain crisp and the noodles absorb the savoury flavour of soy sauce. You can choose either recipe depending on your available time and your family’s preferences.

For the best result, prepare the vegetables, toppings and noodles separately. Do not blanch the hu tieu noodles directly in the broth, as the starch can make it less clear. When making the stir-fried version, make sure the vegetables are well drained so the dish does not become watery.

Ingredients and quantities

The ingredients below are for a vegan hu tieu soup serving about three to four people. For the stir-fried version, see the separate quantities in the second recipe so that the noodles and vegetables remain well balanced.

• 500g fresh or dried hu tieu rice noodles
• 200g carrots and 200g daikon radish
• 100g shiitake mushrooms and 100g straw mushrooms
• 200g tofu
• 50g fried tofu skin
• 100g vegan ham (optional)
• 100g bean sprouts; cilantro and garlic chives as needed
• Soy sauce, vegan seasoning, salt, rock sugar, pepper and cooking oil

How to choose ingredients: Choose mushrooms with a natural aroma that are not slimy or bruised. Dried hu tieu noodles should be soaked or blanched according to the package instructions because noodle thickness varies by brand. For vegan ham, check the ingredients and expiry date before using it.

How to prepare the ingredients

Wash and peel the carrots and daikon radish, then cut them into large pieces for the broth. Dried shiitake mushrooms should be soaked until softened; fresh mushrooms only need a quick rinse and thorough draining. Cut tofu into bite-size pieces and cut or tear the fried tofu skin into smaller pieces. Wash the bean sprouts, garlic chives and cilantro, then set them aside.

For dried hu tieu noodles, soak or blanch them until just tender, then rinse quickly with cool water and drain well. Fresh hu tieu noodles only need a quick blanch before serving. Do not leave the noodles in hot water for too long because they will continue to soften when combined with broth or stir-fried.

Method 1: Vegan hu tieu noodle soup with naturally sweet broth

Step 1: Make the vegetable broth

Add about 2.5 litres of water, carrots, daikon radish and shiitake mushrooms to a pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce to low heat and simmer until the vegetables are tender and the broth develops a naturally sweet flavour. Skim off any foam during cooking if needed to keep the broth clearer. Season gradually with vegan seasoning, a little salt, soy sauce and rock sugar, then taste and adjust to your preference.

Step 2: Prepare the toppings

Pan-fry or fry the tofu until lightly golden. Briefly fry the tofu skin to give it a crisp texture; vegan ham can be pan-seared or used as it is, depending on the product. Quickly blanch the bean sprouts and garlic chives if you prefer them less raw while still retaining their crunch.

Step 3: Blanch the hu tieu noodles

Blanch the noodles in a separate pot until they are just cooked. Remove them, rinse quickly with cool water if using dried noodles, then drain well. You can toss the noodles with a small amount of oil to keep them separated, but do not use too much or the broth will taste less light.

Step 4: Assemble the bowl

Place the noodles in a bowl, then add tofu, fried tofu skin, vegan ham, mushrooms, bean sprouts and garlic chives. Ladle hot broth over the top and finish with cilantro and pepper. Serve with soy sauce or vegan chilli paste so that everyone can adjust the seasoning to taste.

Method 2: Vegan stir-fried hu tieu with vegetables

This stir-fried hu tieu version is suitable when you want a quick dish without broth. It is a separate recipe that uses chewy hu tieu noodles, oyster mushrooms and vegetables for a pleasant crisp texture.

Ingredients for vegan stir-fried hu tieu

• 400g chewy hu tieu noodles
• 100g oyster mushrooms, 100g carrots and 100g napa cabbage
• 50g bean sprouts
• 1 tablespoon cooking oil, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, vegan seasoning, pepper and vegan chilli paste (optional)

Step 1: Prepare the noodles and vegetables

Blanch the hu tieu noodles until just tender, rinse quickly with cool water and drain well. Cut the carrots and napa cabbage into thin strips, then tear the oyster mushrooms into bite-size pieces. The vegetables need to be well drained so that they do not make the noodles soggy during stir-frying.

Step 2: Stir-fry the vegetables

Heat a pan, add oil and sauté leek or minced garlic until fragrant. Stir-fry the oyster mushrooms and carrots first, then add the napa cabbage. Season lightly with soy sauce and vegan seasoning. Add the bean sprouts only at the end because they release water very quickly.

Step 3: Stir-fry the noodles

Add the hu tieu noodles to the pan, pour in the remaining soy sauce and toss quickly over medium-high heat. Add a little vegan chilli paste if you enjoy a spicy flavour. When the noodles have absorbed the seasoning but are still separated, add the bean sprouts, toss briefly and turn off the heat.

Step 4: Serve

Transfer the stir-fried hu tieu to a plate and finish with pepper, cilantro or vegan fried shallots if they suit your diet. This dish tastes best when served hot.

Tips for better vegan hu tieu

• Simmer the vegetables over medium-low or low heat so the broth develops natural sweetness; season gradually instead of making it too salty at the beginning.
• Blanch the hu tieu noodles in a separate pot to keep the broth clear and control the texture of the noodles.
• For the stir-fried version, use a wide pan and toss quickly so the noodles do not stick and the vegetables remain crisp.
• Pan-fry or fry tofu and tofu skin before assembling the dish so that they do not break apart while cooking.

Important notes and common mistakes

The broth becomes cloudy

Broth can become cloudy when hu tieu noodles are blanched directly in the pot or when the broth boils too vigorously for too long. Use a separate pot for the noodles and keep the broth at a gentle simmer after the vegetables have been cooked.

The noodles are sticky or broken

This usually happens when the noodles are soaked or blanched for too long, or left in hot water after they are cooked. Blanch them only until just tender, drain well and assemble the dish close to serving time.

The stir-fried noodles become watery

Vegetables that have not been drained properly or cooking over heat that is too low can make the dish wet. Prepare and drain the vegetables thoroughly, cook the firmer ingredients first and add bean sprouts at the final step.

Frequently asked questions about vegan hu tieu

Can shiitake mushrooms be replaced with another type of mushroom?

Yes. You can use king oyster mushrooms, oyster mushrooms or enoki mushrooms. Each type has a different texture and aroma, so simply adjust the cooking time until the mushrooms are just tender.

What is the main difference between vegan hu tieu soup and stir-fried hu tieu?

Vegan hu tieu soup requires a vegetable broth, with toppings arranged in the bowl before the broth is added. Stir-fried hu tieu requires well-drained vegetables that are cooked first, then quickly tossed with the noodles. The ingredients can be similar, but the finishing technique is different.

What can vegan hu tieu be served with?

Vegan hu tieu can be served with fresh herbs, bean sprouts, vegan chilli paste or fresh fruit after the meal. If you would like another noodle dish in the same category, vegan stir-fried glass noodles are also a suitable option.

For more vegan meal ideas, explore different plant-based noodle dishes, including soup noodles, mixed noodles and stir-fried noodles. Choose a dish based on the preparation time available and your family’s preferences.

Conclusion

With these two methods, you can alternate between a light bowl of vegan hu tieu soup and a savoury plate of stir-fried hu tieu. To discover more prepared dishes, browse Vô Úy’s vegan menu. When dining with family or friends, you can also reserve a table at Vô Úy Vegetarian Restaurant.