No-Pho Soup, Thai Style

• 1/2 tablespoon dried wakame (seaweed)
• 1/2 tablespoon grapeseed or other neutral oil
• 2 tablespoons chopped garlic
• 1 tablespoon minced ginger
• 1/4 cup chopped shallot
• 1/2 teaspoon Chinese 5 spice powder
• 1/4 cup soy sauce (see NOTE)
• 2 tablespoons Thai red curry paste
• 1 cup canned Thai coconut milk
• 6 - 8 ounces firm non-GMO tofu
• 4 - 8 ounces baby bok choy, sliced 1/2" thick
• 4 ounces pho-type noodles (see NOTE)
• Assorted additions, such as cilantro, basil, mint, scallions, mung sprouts, lime wedges

1. Soak the seaweed in warm water while you make the soup base.
2. Put your soup pot on medium heat and add the oil. Add garlic, ginger and shallots and lower the heat a little. Stir as they soften, then add the 5 spice powder and stir to coat the seasonings, until they are fragrant.
3. Heat 2 cups of water and add to the pot. Then add another 2 cups of water and the soy sauce and stir. Raise the heat to bring to a boil, then reduce the heat so the broth simmers gently, partially covered, for about 20 minutes..
4. Dilute the curry paste with a ladle of soup liquid and add to the soup pot. Stir in another cup of water and the coconut milk. Bring to a boil, then add the tofu, bok choy and drained seaweed. (The soaking water may have sand, so I don't use it.)
5. While the soup is coming to a boil again, prepare the noodles according to directions given on the package. When they are ready, drain.
6. When the soup has come to a boil, you can take it off the heat. Stir in the noodles and it is ready to serve.
7. Put soup in bowls with a balance of all the ingredients. Use tongs to take the noodles out, so they don't slip away from the soup ladle. Put out a dish or dishes of the extras, and let everyone finish the soup to individual tastes.
8. NOTE: If you use gluten free soy sauce, the soup will be gluten free. You can reduce the sodium by using low-sodium soy sauce, or reducing the amount.rnPho noodles are made from rice. Just about any other kind of Asian noodles or Western pasta could be substituted.

dried wakame, grapeseed, garlic, ginger, shallot, soy sauce, red curry, coconut milk, nongmo, choy, noodles, additions

Taken from food52.com/recipes/22139-no-pho-soup-thai-style (may not work)