How long does it take to make Cilantro Microgreens Pho Bowl (30-Minute Vietnamese Dinner)?
This recipe takes approximately 30 min total.
30 min
· Serves 2
· Updated March 17, 2026
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Cilantro microgreens are best added fresh as a finishing ingredient. Aromatic beef-broth pho with rice noodles and a full herb plate — cilantro microgreens take the place of whole-leaf cilantro for concentrated flavor.
This recipe takes approximately 30 min total.
Cilantro microgreens work best as a fresh finishing ingredient, adding color, texture, and a just-cut flavor that stands out right before serving.
4 cups good beef or bone broth
6 oz dried rice noodles, cooked
1 cup cilantro microgreens
6 oz rare beef (sirloin, thinly sliced)
2 star anise
1 cinnamon stick
1 tbsp fish sauce
1 tsp brown sugar
Bean sprouts, lime wedges, sriracha & hoisin to serve
Simmer broth with star anise and cinnamon for 15 minutes. Remove spices; season with fish sauce and sugar.
Place rice noodles in bowls. Lay raw beef slices on top — the hot broth will cook them.
Ladle boiling broth over everything to cook the beef.
Pile cilantro microgreens on top alongside bean sprouts and lime wedges.
Cilantro and cilantro microgreens carry the same volatile aromatic profile — linalool, geraniol, and related terpenoid compounds — and are used as a fresh finishing element in tacos, pho, salsas, and composed plates. Research on cilantro focuses primarily on its essential oil composition and antioxidant activity.
• Cilantro and cilantro microgreens contain volatile aromatic compounds including linalool that have been studied for antioxidant activity.
moderate evidence• Fresh cilantro microgreens deliver the same aromatic compounds as mature leaves in a smaller, more visually refined garnish format.
strong evidence• Flavor and aroma intensity in cilantro microgreens vary by seed source, growing temperature, and harvest timing.
strong evidence1. Assessment of Vitamin and Carotenoid Concentrations of Emerging Food Products: Edible Microgreens — Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2012
2. Microgreens: Production, Shelf Life, and Bioactive Components — Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 2017
Chili-lime shrimp tacos with mango-avocado slaw finished with a big handful of cilantro microgreens for fresh herbaceous punch.
Sweet mango salsa studded with jalapeño and red onion, with cilantro microgreens folded in for vivid herbal flavor.