Pho Bo Beef Noodle Soup Recipes

PHO BO: VIETNAMESE BEEF NOODLE SOUP

Steps:

• For the beef stock: Preheat the oven to 350 F. Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add the oxtails, neck bones, and shank bones. Return the water to a boil and cook for 3 minutes. Drain into colander and rinse the bones thoroughly under cold running water. Rinse the pot and return the oxtails, neck bones, and shank bones to the pot. Add water, slowly bring to a simmer, and cook for at least 6 hours. Meanwhile, roast the onion and ginger on a rimmed baking sheet for 40 minutes.
• Add the roasted onion and ginger to the simmering stock, along with the cinnamon, star anise, clove, cardamom pod, pepper, and palm sugar. Add the beef brisket and cook for 30-45 minutes; remove and allow the stock to continue to simmer, skimming off any scum that rises to the top. After 6-8 hours, remove pot from the heat and use a slotted spoon to discard the large solids. Strain the stock into soup pot through a fine-mesh sieve. (Note: To store, let cool completely; then transfer to airtight containers and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Makes 6 quarts.)
• For the soup: Thinly slice the top round and use the back of your knife to tenderize the meat slices; set aside. Slice the cooked brisket against the grain in thin slices; set aside. Blanch the bean sprouts in hot water; set aside. Season the stock with a few pinches of salt and fish sauce to taste.
• Warm a serving bowl in hot water. Place the dried rice noodles in fine-mesh sieve; submerge the sieve in hot water and gently stir with tongs, 5-10 seconds. Place the cooked noodles in the warmed serving bowl. Top with brisket; then add a few slices of the top round and some chopped scallions and cilantro. Ladle the hot broth into the bowl, being careful not to submerge the top round. Serve immediately, accompanied by optional garnishes.

PHO BO (VIETNAMESE BEEF-AND-NOODLE SOUP)

Steps:

• Soak rice noodles in hot water to cover.
• Meanwhile, combine stock, star anise, cinnamon, ginger, onion and cloves in saucepan; turn heat to high. When mixture boils, turn heat to low, and cover. Let cook, undisturbed, for 20 minutes to 1 hour, depending on how much time you have (the longer the cooking, the deeper the flavor). Strain, and return to saucepan; turn heat to medium.
• Bring pot of water to boil. Drain noodles, add them to pot, and boil for 30 seconds; drain well. Warm 4 large bowls by filling them with hot water; discard water. Divide noodles among bowls.
• Turn heat under soup to medium, and add beef; stir once, and then turn off heat. (The meat is traditionally left rare; if you want to cook it more, go ahead, but these slices will cook through in less than 2 minutes.) Add fish sauce or soy sauce and plenty of pepper to the soup. Taste, and add salt or more seasoning, if necessary.
• Top noodles with broth and meat, and then bring to the table. Serve, passing lime wedges, scallions, chilies and herbs at the table, so that everyone can add them to taste.

PHO BO - BEEF NOODLE SOUP

Steps:

• Make the broth by bringing the stock to a boil.
• Add the ginger, cinnamon, coriander seeds and star anise.
• Simmer for 15 minutes, then add the sugar, salt, pepper and fish sauce.
• Strain the broth and return to the pan, keeping hot over a low heat.
• Boil a pan of water and cook the noodles until al dente.
• 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.
• Drain and divide the noodles among individual bowls.
• Add a handful of beansprouts, some shallots and coriander.
• Ladle the hot broth and beef over.
• At the table, each person can add the hoisin sauce, chilli sauce, lime juice, fresh chilli and basil to taste.

BEEF NOODLE SOUP WITH RICE NOODLES: PHO BO

Steps:

• In a large pot, submerge the oxtail in cold water, add 3 tablespoons salt and soak for 1 hour, then drain.
• To make the spice pouch, dry roast each ingredient separately in a frying pan over medium heat until fragrant.
• Cool, then coarsely grind the spice using a mortar and pestle or small spice grinder. Add the ground spices to the muslin square and tie up tightly in a knot. Set aside.
• Heat a barbecue grill or chargill pan over medium-high heat and grill the unpeeled garlic, onions and ginger evenly for 15 minutes in total until all sides are blackened.
• Now peel the blackened skins and discard them, and then roughly chop. By doing this, the garlic, onion and ginger becomes sweet and fragrant, releasing more flavour into the stock.
• Put the oxtail, brisket and 200 fluid ounces/ 6 litres cold water in a stockpot and bring to the boil. While the stock is boiling, constantly skim any impurities off the surface for 15 minutes (this will ensure a clean, clear broth), then reduce the heat to a low simmer.
• Add the fish sauce, remaining 1 tablespoon salt, rock sugar, garlic, onions, ginger, and spice pouch.
• Cover and simmer for 3 hours, or until the stock has reduced to almost 1/2.
• Strain the stock through a muslin cloth. Remove the brisket, set aside to cool, then thinly slice.
• Blanch each portion of noodles in boiling water for 20 seconds.
• Drain, then transfer to a serving bowl.
• Place 3 or 4 slices of brisket on top of the noodles, followed by 3 or 4 pieces of raw sirloin. Pour over the hot stock to cover the noodles and beef.
• Serve with 1 tablespoon spring onion, a pinch of black pepper, and a coriander sprig to each bowl.
• At the table, add chile, and a squeeze of lime.

FAUX PHO BO (VIETNAMESE BEEF NOODLE SOUP)

Steps:

• In a 6 quart stockpot, combine broth, onion, ginger, lemongrass, cinnamon, and peppercorns (tie the seasonings loosely in cheesecloth for easier removal). Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, prepare rice noodles and garnishes.
• Arrange bean sprouts, basil, cilantro, chilies, and limes on a large platter.
• To prepare rice noodles, bring 4-6 quarts of water to a boil. Add rice noodles and stir to separate. Cook until just barely tender, about 2-3 minutes. Drain well. If not quite ready to serve, rinse noodles and drain again.
• To serve, remove seasonings (except onions) from broth; keep broth hot.
• Place ½ cup rice noodles in each of 6 large, deep bowls.
• Arrange thinly sliced beef over noodles, fanning out to increase surface area. Ladle very hot broth over beef and stir to cook.
• Serve immediately. Pass garnish platter, hoisin sauce, fish sauce, and sambal oelek or sriracha sauce for people to add as desired.