Pho Bo - Beef Noodle Soup

Sackville's Note:

This is from a Vietnamese cookbook, lent to me by a friend. The ginger makes for a spicy, flavourful broth.

• Total Time: 20 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 5 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 450 g flat rice noodles
• 225 g bean sprouts
• 8 shallots, thinly sliced
• 4 tablespoons finely chopped coriander
• 225 g filet of beef, very finely sliced

For the broth

• 1 2/3 liters beef stock or 1 2/3 liters canned beef consomme
• 115 g piece fresh ginger, cut into matchsticks
• 2 sticks cinnamon bark
• 1/2 teaspoon coriander seed
• 3 pieces star anise
• 1 teaspoon caster sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 4 teaspoons fish sauce

To serve

• hoisin sauce, to taste
• chili sauce, to taste
• 2 limes, cut in half
• 2 fresh red chilies, finely sliced
• 1 bunch Thai basil

Directions:

1. Make the broth by bringing the stock to a boil.
2. Add the ginger, cinnamon, coriander seeds and star anise.
3. Simmer for 15 minutes, then add the sugar, salt, pepper and fish sauce.
4. Strain the broth and return to the pan, keeping hot over a low heat.
5. Boil a pan of water and cook the noodles until al dente.
6. When you put the noodles in the water, put the beef in the hot broth to cook. You don't need to boil it. The beef will cook just from the heat of the broth because it is so thinly sliced.
7. Drain and divide the noodles among individual bowls.
8. Add a handful of beansprouts, some shallots and coriander.
9. Ladle the hot broth and beef over.
10. At the table, each person can add the hoisin sauce, chilli sauce, lime juice, fresh chilli and basil to taste.

Reviews

[iris5555]

This is a great quick pho! The smell while it's cooking is so aromatic. I didn't add the additional salt as my beef broth was plenty salty already. Next time I would add a touch less pepper as this was a little too peppery for me.

[Chef #681150]

One suggestion: Asian markets will most likely have a prepackaged bag spice for pho, this does include cinnamon, star annise, pepper corn, and coriander seeds. Pho paste also can be found in the condiments section also, if you rather not look for the spice bag.

[Maricotta]

Delicious! ^^