Crock Pot Beef Pho From Scratch
User Reviews
4.9
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Prep Time
10 mins
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Cook Time
8 hrs
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Total Time
8 hrs 10 mins
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Servings
4 people
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Calories
492 kcal
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Course
Main Course, Soup
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Cuisine
Asian
Crock Pot Beef Pho From Scratch
Description
Crock Pot Beef Pho From Scratch captures the traditional flavors of pho by simmering beef bones with a blend of aromatic spices including star anise, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, fennel seed, and cardamom. The bones are first blanched to remove impurities, then slow-cooked with toasted spices and sautéed onion and ginger to create a rich, clear broth. Rice stick noodles are soaked and cooked to tender, while thin slices of flank steak are briefly cooked in the hot broth just before serving, keeping them tender and rare. Bok choy is added near the end of cooking for a crisp, fresh contrast.
This recipe allows customization with traditional accompaniments such as fresh basil, bean sprouts, jalapenos, sriracha, hoisin, and chili garlic sauce, letting you tailor the heat and sweetness. The process benefits from toasting spices to boost aroma and blanching bones to clarify the broth. Noodles should be checked early to avoid overcooking, and the flank steak slices can be flash cooked in the broth to preferred doneness.
For best results, use marrow or knuckle bones with moderate meat; too much marrow requires longer blanching. Pho spice packs are convenient but toasting whole spices enhances flavor. The recipe yields a hearty, fragrant pho suitable for family meals or special occasions.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 -2 lbs beef bones marrow or knuckles
- 1/2 - 3/4 lbs flank steak
- 2 whole cardamom pods
- 4 whole star anise
- 1 tsp fennel seed whole
- 2 tsp coriander seeds whole
- 4 whole cloves
- 2 whole cinnamon stick
- 4 inch ginger fresh, peeled and sliced
- 1/2 white onion or yellow onion
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 8 cups water
- 1 bunch bok choy
- 3 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tsp sugar
- 8 oz rice stick noodles banh pho style
- basil to taste, fresh
- bean sprouts to taste, fresh
- jalapeno pepper to taste, fresh, sliced
- sriracha to taste
- hoisin sauce to taste
- Chili garlic sauce to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add beef bones. Boil for 10 minutes (may require longer if more beef on bones). Drain and rinse and then add to crock pot.
- Meanwhile, in a sauté pan on medium low, toast star anise, cloves, coriander, fennel, and cardamom pods, and cinnamon for approximately 2-3 minutes until fragrant. Add immediately to crock pot.
- Add oil to pan and cook onion and ginger until onion is browned and soft, approximately 5-7 minutes. Turn ginger over half way through. Add to crock pot.
- Add 8 cups of water, sugar, and fish sauce to the crock pot. Cook on high for 4 hours or low on 8 hours.
- With a sieve (or colander, but dependent upon colander size it may not capture all of the seeds) drain seeds, pods, etc. from broth from crock pot into another large pot them immediately return to crock pot.
- For the last 30 minutes, turn to high (or add 30 minutes to the 4 hours) and add chopped bok choy. Put flank steak in freezer for about 10 minutes to make slicing easier. Slice steak as thin as possible.
- In final 10 minutes add noodles and steak to crock pot (for rarer steak less time in the crock pot and for thinner noodles less time). Check noodles for desired done-ness at 5 minutes.
- Serve immediately and top with your favorite toppings!
Notes
- Use pre-made pho spice packs from Asian markets for convenience, or toast your own whole spices for a richer flavor.
- Choose rice noodles around 1/16 inch thick; thinner types may not hold up well in the soup.
- Blanch bones thoroughly to clarify broth; marrow-heavy bones take longer to blanch.
- Check noodles and steak after about 5 minutes of cooking to avoid overcooking; adjust based on thickness and desired steak doneness.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 492 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 492kcal | 25% |
| Carbohydrates | 59g | 20% |
| Protein | 37g | 74% |
| Fat | 12g | 18% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Cholesterol | 85mg | 28% |
| Sodium | 1404mg | 59% |
| Potassium | 1155mg | 25% |
| Fiber | 5g | 20% |
| Sugar | 5g | 10% |
| Vitamin A | 9383IU | 188% |
| Vitamin C | 96mg | 107% |
| Calcium | 314mg | 31% |
| Iron | 5mg | 28% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.9
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