Phở Bò (Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup)

User Reviews

5

8 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    30 mins

  • Cook Time

    6 hrs

  • Total Time

    6 hrs 30 mins

  • Servings

    6 Servings

  • Course

    Soup

  • Cuisine

    Vietnamese

Phở Bò (Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup)

A recipe for Phở Bò (Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup)! This aromatic soup is filled with meat, rice noodles, and fresh herbs for an incredibly comforting breakfast.

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Ingredients

Servings

Beef Broth:

  • 5 pounds beef bones mixture of knuckle and leg/marrow, 2.25 kilograms
  • 1 pound beef brisket chopped into 2 inch (5 centimeter) pieces, 450 grams
  • 6 quarts water 5.5 liters
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 2 yellow onion unpeeled, cut in half lengthwise, large
  • 4 inch fresh ginger unpeeled, cut in half lengthwise, 10 centimeter piece
  • 5 clove whole
  • 5 star anise whole
  • 2 black cardamom pods slightly crushed with the side of a knife
  • 2 teaspoons coriander seeds whole
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 inch yellow rock sugar 2.5 centimeter piece
  • 2 tablespoons fish sauce 30 milliliters

To serve:

  • 1 yellow onion peeled and thinly sliced, medium
  • 2 pounds dried pho noodles or 3 pounds (1.4 kilograms) fresh pho noodles, 1 kilogram
  • 12 ounces flank steak thinly sliced, 340 grams
  • 3 green onions
  • cilantro fresh
  • black pepper freshly ground
  • sriracha
  • hoisin sauce
  • Thai basil
  • ngo gai Culantro
  • mung bean sprouts blanched
  • 2 lime cut into wedges
  • Red Bird's eye Chilies thinly sliced, or Serrano or Jalapeño

Instructions

To make the broth:

  1. Place the beef bones in a large stockpot and add enough water to cover. Place over high heat and bring to a boil. Once boiling, cook for 5 minutes, then drain.
  2. Rinse the bones and the pot well under cold water. Place the bones back in the now empty pot.
  3. Add the brisket, the 6 quarts (5.5 liters), and salt to the pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer.
  4. Cook, occasionally skimming any froth and impurities from the top, for 3 hours.
  5. Remove the pieces of cooked brisket and place in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate until needed (to add a few pieces to the Phở).
  6. Arrange the unpeeled onions and ginger on a baking sheet. Place under the broiler over high heat and cook, turning as needed, until charred on all sides. Remove from heat.
  7. Once cool enough to handle, remove the peel from the onions and ginger. Brush off any charred spots and rinse under water. Add the vegetables to the simmering stockpot and simmer for another hour.
  8. Place a skillet over medium heat. Add the cloves, star anise, cardamom, coriander, and cinnamon to the hot pan. Cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, but not burned. Remove from heat.
  9. Place the toasted spices in a spice bag, close, and add to the stockpot. Continue to cook, uncovered for one last hour.
  10. Skim off any remaining froth or excess fat that develops on top and discard the bones, onion, ginger, and spices.
  11. At the end of cooking, add the rock sugar, fish sauce, and adjust seasonings with salt as needed. Remove the pot from heat.
  12. Strain the broth through a fine mesh strainer into a large container. If it is not completely clear, strain again.
  13. If not using the broth immediately, allow to cool, cover, and refrigerate until ready to use.

To Serve:

  1. Place the prepared beef broth in a pot over medium heat and bring to a simmer to keep hot.
  2. Place the thinly sliced onion in a large bowl and cover with cold water. Set aside for 30 minutes.
  3. If using dried pho noodles, soak in hot water for about 15-20 minutes, until softened and just tender. Drain and rinse with cold water. Immediately before serving, add to a pot of boiling water just until heated through, about 10-20 seconds.
  4. If using fresh pho noodles, place in boiling water (no need to soak first) until just softened and separated. This will take about 5-10 seconds. Drain and rinse with cold water.
  5. Divide the softened noodles among soup bowls. Add a few pieces of the refrigerated cooked brisket.
  6. Place the thinly sliced beef over the noodles in the bowls.
  7. Add a few pieces of the soaked onion slices.
  8. Thinly slice the dark green pieces of the green onions on the diagonal. Cut the light green and white parts of the green onions into thin shreds lengthwise.
  9. Finely chop the cilantro.
  10. Pour the hot broth over each bowl of noodles and meat.
  11. Top with the green onion and cilantro pieces. Add a sprinkle of freshly ground black pepper.
  12. Serve immediately with the hoisin and Sriracha on the side and the Thai basil, Ngo Gai, bean sprouts, lime, and chilies arranged on a platter.
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8 reviews
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