Vietnamese cuisine is famous for its rich and delicate noodle soups. The only downside is that the broth often contains floating fat, and the noodles are made from fast-absorbing white refined carbs.
But with the following 7 'healthy' upgraded versions, you can slurp hot bowls of noodles while keeping your calorie intake exceptionally low.
Top 7 Healthy Noodle Dishes
Light Brown Rice Noodles with Beef
Replace white noodles with high-fiber brown rice noodles. The broth is simmered from chicken bones or veggies, topped with tender blanched lean beef.
Nutrition & Benefits
- Replace white noodles with high-fiber brown rice noodles. The broth is simmered from chicken bones or veggies, topped with tender blanched lean beef.
Healthy Brown Rice Noodle Salad with Beef
A vibrant and refreshing healthy noodle salad featuring chewy brown rice noodles, tender beef, crunchy fresh vegetables, and a tangy fish sauce dressing.
Click image for detailed recipe
Shirataki Noodle Stir-fry with Chicken
Shirataki noodles are made from Konjac root and have almost zero calories. Stir-fried with chicken breast and mushrooms, it yields a filling, fat-free meal.
Nutrition & Benefits
- Shirataki noodles are made from Konjac root and have almost zero calories. Stir-fried with chicken breast and mushrooms, it yields a filling, fat-free meal.
Glass Noodle Vegetable Salad
Glass noodles made from canna root are great for diabetics. Toss them in a sweet and sour sauce with carrots, cucumbers, and boiled lean pork.
Nutrition & Benefits
- Glass noodles made from canna root are great for diabetics. Toss them in a sweet and sour sauce with carrots, cucumbers, and boiled lean pork.
Chicken Pho (Breast meat only)
Chicken Pho is inherently lower in fat than beef pho. By requesting brown rice noodles, chicken breast, and clear skimmed broth, it becomes a perfect diet meal.
Nutrition & Benefits
- Chicken Pho is inherently lower in fat than beef pho. By requesting brown rice noodles, chicken breast, and clear skimmed broth, it becomes a perfect diet meal.
Southern Beef Noodle Salad (Low-oil Version)
This mixed noodle dish already contains lots of greens. By pan-searing the beef with cooking spray and reducing the peanuts, you drastically cut calories.
Nutrition & Benefits
- This mixed noodle dish already contains lots of greens. By pan-searing the beef with cooking spray and reducing the peanuts, you drastically cut calories.
Hoi An Cao Lau (With Lean Char Siu)
Chewy Cao Lau noodles served with plenty of fresh herbs. The key here is choosing lean pork shoulder instead of fatty pork belly.
Nutrition & Benefits
- Chewy Cao Lau noodles served with plenty of fresh herbs. The key here is choosing lean pork shoulder instead of fatty pork belly.
Central Vietnam Fish Cake Noodles
The broth made from fish bones, pumpkin, and cabbage offers a pure, natural sweetness with far fewer calories than pork bone broth.
Nutrition & Benefits
- The broth made from fish bones, pumpkin, and cabbage offers a pure, natural sweetness with far fewer calories than pork bone broth.
Quick Tips for Eating Out
When ordering at a restaurant, always tell the vendor: 'Clear broth, no floating fat, lots of greens/sprouts, and fewer noodles.' This small phrase saves you hundreds of calories!
