Pho: Vietnamese Soup as You Cook It at Home

Pho is a Vietnamese noodle soup made with rice noodles, thinly sliced beef or chicken, vegetables, and a fragrant broth. It is a popular and delicious dish that is enjoyed all over the world.

Here is a recipe for pho that you can make at home.

Ingredients:

• For the broth:
  • 1 pound beef bones or shanks, cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 1 onion, roughly chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
  • 1 tablespoon ginger, peeled and grated
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 5 cloves
  • 1 star anise
  • 4 cups water
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• For the noodles:
  • 1 pound dried rice noodles
• For the toppings:
  • 1 pound flank steak or boneless skinless chicken thighs, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 cup chopped scallions
  • 1/2 cup bean sprouts
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
  • Hoisin sauce Sriracha sauce

Instructions:

1. Make the broth: a. In a large pot, combine the beef bones, onion, garlic, ginger, cinnamon stick, cloves, and star anise. b. Add the water and bring to a boil over high heat. c. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 4-6 hours, skimming off any foam that rises to the surface. d. Strain the broth into a clean pot and discard the solids. e. Return the broth to the pot and add the fish sauce, salt, and pepper. f. Simmer for 10 minutes more.
2. Cook the noodles: a. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. b. Add the rice noodles and cook according to package directions. c. Drain the noodles and set aside.
3. Cook the meat: a. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. b. Add the beef or chicken and cook until browned on all sides. c. Slice the meat thinly.
4. Assemble the pho: a. Divide the rice noodles among four bowls. b. Add a handful of each of the toppings to each bowl. c. Ladle the broth over the noodles and toppings. d. Serve with hoisin sauce and sriracha sauce on the side.

Tips:

• For a richer broth, you can roast the beef bones, onion, and garlic in a preheated oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes before adding them to the pot.
• If you don’t have a large pot, you can make the broth in a slow cooker. Simply combine all of the ingredients in the slow cooker and cook on low for 8-10 hours.
• You can also add other vegetables to your pho, such as carrots, celery, and mushrooms.
• For a vegetarian version of pho, you can use vegetable broth instead of beef broth. You can also add tofu or tempeh to the soup.