4.6 Unbelievably Delicious Guide to Vietnam's Most Famous Dish

What is Pho?

Pho, pronounced “fuh” is a Vietnamese soup that is made with bone-beef broth, rice noodles, and thinly sliced beef. Pho originates in regions of North Vietnam and could be a Vietnamese take on a French dish. It is made by boiling beef bones for several hours to create a delicate broth. A winning pho recipe boils down to the quality of its broth. The broth is simmered all day long with charred onion and ginger, spices, sweetener, and garnished with fresh herbs to create a rich blend of flavors that will warm your soul.

Caution: This recipe will take a full day to two days to make so make sure you have the time to commit, but it is all worth it if you want to experience absolute magic!

Ingredients

• Pho broth
• Onion
• Ginger
• Beef bones
• Star anise
• Whole cloves
• Cinnamon sticks
• Cardamom pods
• Coriander seeds
• Fish sauce
• Yellow rock sugar
• Rice noodles
• Steak (or you can use chicken, pork, or shrimp)
• Garnish
• Cilantro
• Mint
• Basil
• Bean sprouts
• Lime wedges
• Jalapenos
• Onions
• Hoisin sauce
• Sriracha sauce

 Directions

1. Char the onions and ginger. Turn the broiler to high and place the onion and ginger cut-side-up on a baking sheet. Broil for 10 minutes.
2. Make the broth. Boil the beef bones and remove any impurities. Add the star anise, whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, coriander seeds. Add the charred onions and ginger. The broth should simmer for 6-24 hours. Strain out and discard the onions, ginger, and spices. Stir in fish sauce and yellow rock sugar. Season with salt as needed.
3. Prepare the noodles. The noodles should be soaked in warm water and cooked according to the package instructions.
4. Prepare the steak. The steak should be boiled in a separate pot (or with the broth) and put in the freezer to chill for 30 minutes. Then use a sharp knife to thinly slice the meat. You can also use chicken, pork, or shrimp based on your preferences.
5. Assemble. Add a handful of noodles, ladle the hot broth, top with the thinly sliced beef or protein of choice, and garnish with fresh herbs and sauce.
6. Immediately serve. Serve warm and add in additional sauces if desired.

Each bowl of pho is unique and you can adjust it to your preference. Pho is the perfect cold-weather comfort food. Master this recipe in your kitchen so it can make a place for itself in your list of winter favorites!

Tip: Do not wear white when eating pho.