Vegan Pho and Homemade Sushi!

This being my first attempt at either pho or sushi, and because the ingredients, especially for the sushi, were pretty pricey, I was nervous.  The final result, however, was amazing.

Vegan Pho

1/2 package rice noodles
yellow onion (1/4 small onion, minced)
2 green onions (1 for soup, 1 for top)
minced garlic, about 1 Tbsp
grated carrot (1/2 a large one...the other half I sliced into a fine julienne for the sushi)
3 large mushrooms, sliced (I used cremini)
2 handfuls bean sprouts, I'd guess about 1.5 cups
low-sodium soy sauce
olive oil
juice of 1/4 lemon
lemon thyme
pinch cinnamon
pinch brown sugar
salt to taste
water

Begin with olive oil...heat and saute garlic, onion, minced garlic, grated carrot, green onion, and add mushrooms last.
Add 4-5 generous shakes soy sauce, bring to simmer.
Add water (I added about 4 cups)
Bring to slow boil, then add lemon thyme, cinnamon, brown sugar, and lemon juice.
Add bean sprouts.
Simmer for about 15 minutes.
Salt to taste.
Bring to rolling boil, add rice noodles and boil for 3-4 minutes.

Serve with chopped green onion.

                                           

Vegan "California Roll"

2 cups prepared rice
seaweed
finely sliced cucumber & carrot
vegan cream cheese

YouTube how to roll sushi. Much easier to watch a video than for me to attempt to describe it here.
Serve with low-sodium soy sauce or, for the daring, wasabi.
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The pho was super easy, and considering the small amount of ingredients needed to make 5 generous bowls of pho, very economical.

The sushi was definitely more difficult (although something I think I could master with more practice), and while the ingredients are more expensive, they are vastly cheaper than sushi at a restaurant.
  **Do NOT purchase or attempt to use caught raw fish- the type of fish used in sushi has been selected for that purpose. Attempting to use raw meat ingredients can result in illness. If you don't have a market that provides it, don't try it.**

All in all, an amazing, cheap dinner...fun to try for something different!
~m