It is 3:00 AM, and I cannot sleep. So, naturally, my mind is coming up with ideas—some genius, some questionable, and some that fall somewhere in between. I bought and prepared some chicken and spice today to make chicken fajitas. As I was spooning the chicken mixture into the tortilla, I thought of an invention—Phojitas.
Yes, you read that right. Pho + Fajitas = Phojitas. A Vietnamese-Tex-Mex fusion that, for all I know, might already exist somewhere, but in my sleep-deprived state, I am claiming it as my own. I had to look up exactly what Pho was because I recalled it being a soup!
Indeed, it is a soup, but with all food fusions you use what works best from each dish!
The Two Foods
Pho is pronounced "fuh" (rhymes with "duh"). My Vietnamese lessons are really proving to be useful! It is a Vietnamese noodle soup consisting of broth, rice noodles, herbs, and meat—typically beef (pho bò) or chicken (pho gà). The broth is slow-cooked with spices like star anise, cinnamon, and cloves, giving it a rich and aromatic flavor. It is usually served with fresh garnishes like bean sprouts, basil, lime, and chili on the side.
A fajita (pronounced "fuh-HEE-tuh") is a Tex-Mex dish that typically consists of grilled meat (such as chicken, beef, or shrimp) served with sautéed onions and bell peppers. It is usually served on a sizzling hot plate alongside warm tortillas, allowing you to assemble your own wrap with toppings like sour cream, guacamole, salsa, and cheese.
The Concept
Take everything great about pho, but instead of slurping it up as a soup, ditch the broth and repurpose the ingredients into something handheld, flavorful, and tortilla-wrapped. Think about it—pho already has tender, slow-cooked meats, fresh herbs, and flavorful toppings. Add the savory elements of fajitas, and you will have a fusion that is both fresh and comforting—something truly unforgettable.
How Phojitas Would Work
Start with Pho Ingredients
Beef (brisket, rare steak, or shredded chicken—whatever your pho preference)
Rice noodles—they are essential to the pho!
Bean sprouts, Thai basil, cilantro, red chili pepper
Hoisin and sriracha for that sweet-heat balance
Make the Pho First
Prepare your pho broth by simmering beef (or chicken) with star anise, cinnamon, cloves, fish sauce, garlic, and any other traditional pho seasonings.
Cook the meat in the broth until it is tender, then remove the meat to slice it thin for your phojitas.
Strain the Broth
The rich, aromatic pho broth is amazing, but for Phojitas, it just would not work! Strain it out and save it for sipping later, if you do not want to waste it.
Introduce Fajita Elements
Sauté onions and bell peppers in a hot skillet until they are tender and slightly caramelized, adding a savory base to the dish.
Warm up some flour or corn tortillas to wrap everything up.
Assemble
Load up the tortilla with the pho meat, fajita veggies, and fresh pho toppings (bean sprouts, herbs, red chilies).
Drizzle with hoisin or sriracha for extra flavor.
Add a squeeze of lime.
The Result
I have theoretically created a handheld, flavor-packed fusion that marries the best of pho and fajitas—bringing together the rich warmth of Vietnamese comfort food and the savory taste of Tex-Mex fajitas. I would definitely try a phojita if I had the ingredients!
Play On Words
And let us not forget the beauty of the name itself – Phojitas rolls off the tongue effortlessly, blending "pho" and "fajita" in a way that is both new and familiar. "Phojita" would be considered a portmanteau. A portmanteau is a word formed by combining parts of two (or more) words to create a new one, which is exactly what happens using "pho" (from pho, the Vietnamese dish) and "fajita" (the Tex-Mex dish). It does not yet exist in the dictionary as a separate word with an established definition, so it does not fit the traditional homophone category even though phojita and fajita sound similar.
Conclusion
Food fusion is not anything new – it has been around for years, and we have seen it in everything from pastries to savory dishes. Until recent years, I never even liked my food to touch each other except in one example I started as a very young child in the 1960's— mashed potatoes and corn! Look at me now making a new food combination! Some other examples of food combinations include:
Cronut – A hybrid of a croissant and doughnut.
Ramen Burger – A burger with ramen noodle "buns."
Sushirrito – A sushi burrito, where sushi fillings are wrapped like a burrito.
Pizza Fries – French fries topped with pizza ingredients.
Taco Salad – Taco ingredients served as a salad in a tortilla bowl.
Buffalo Cauliflower – A vegetarian twist on buffalo wings using cauliflower.
Spaghetti Tacos – Spaghetti served in a taco shell.
Just as these combinations are made from popular foods with a fresh twist, Phojitas blend the rich flavors of pho with the bold, satisfying elements of fajitas. It is not just a dish; it is an idea brought to life in every bite! Prepare it and enjoy your meal!
I could have googled this to see if Phojitas are already a thing. However, sometimes it is better to live in the excitement of the idea rather than checking if it has already been done. If it hasn't, someone needs to try this and report back if Phojitas should be a thing! It is currently after 6:00 AM and even after writing this post for over three hours, I am still not sleepy, but I am hungry again!
Proverbs 9:5
"Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed."
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