Pho Broth Recipes

THE SECRET TO THE TASTIEST BEEF PHO BROTH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400F.
• Rinse the bones and pat dry with a kitchen towel.
• Lay the bones in a baking tray and roast in the oven until the edges are nicely browned.
• Spread the spices in another baking sheet and roast in the oven until nicely charred.
• Dump the bones and spices into a pot and pour in four liters of water.
• Pour in a quarter cup of fish sauce.
• Bring to the boil. Allow to boil, uncovered, for about ten minutes.
• Lower the heat, cover the pan and simmer for about three hours or until the liquid is reduced by half.
• Taste the broth occasionally and add more fish sauce, as needed.

BEEF PHO

Steps:

• Make the broth: Position a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F. Toss the beef shanks, onions, ginger and garlic with the vegetable oil on a rimmed baking sheet and season generously with salt. Roast, turning once halfway through, until the meat and vegetables are slightly charred, about 30 minutes. Transfer to a large pot.
• Meanwhile, toast the cinnamon sticks, star anise pods and peppercorns in a small skillet over medium heat, shaking the pan, 5 minutes.
• Add the beef broth, 2 quarts water, the toasted spices and the fish sauce to the pot with the beef shanks. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook, skimming off any foam that rises to the top, until the meat is tender, 1 hour to 1 hour, 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and transfer the beef shanks to a cutting board; strain the broth through a fine-mesh sieve into another large pot. (The broth can be made up to 2 days ahead; let cool, then refrigerate in a covered container.)
• Shred the meat from the shanks with two forks, discarding any bits of cartilage, then stir back into the broth. Discard the bones.
• Cook the noodles as the label directs. Divide the broth and shredded meat among bowls, then add the noodles and roast beef. Top with the bean sprouts, basil, jalapenos and red onion; serve with hoisin sauce and/or Sriracha.

SIMPLE VEGETARIAN PHO BROTH

Steps:

• Scorch the onion and ginger by holding the pieces above a flame with tongs, or in a dry frying pan if using an electric stove. Turn the pieces until they are scorched black in places on all sides. Slice the ginger lengthwise.
• Combine the scorched onion and ginger with the water, leeks, turnips, carrots, mushroom stems or dried shiitakes, garlic, lemon grass, salt to taste and 1 tablespoon sugar in a large soup pot and bring to a boil. Tie the spices in a cheesecloth bag and add to the soup. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 1 hour. Add the fish sauce if using, and simmer for another hour (2 hours total, with or without the fish sauce). Strain through a cheesecloth-lined strainer. Taste and adjust salt and sugar.

AUTHENTIC PHO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Place beef bones on a baking sheet and roast in the preheated oven until browned, about 1 hour.
• Place onion on a baking sheet and roast in the preheated oven until blackened and soft, about 45 minutes.
• Place bones, onion, ginger, salt, star anise, and fish sauce in a large stockpot and cover with 4 quarts of water. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low. Simmer on low for 6 to 10 hours. Strain the broth into a saucepan and set aside.
• Place rice noodles in large bowl filled with room temperature water and allow to soak for 1 hour. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and after the noodles have soaked, place them in the boiling water for 1 minute. Bring stock to a simmer.
• Divide noodles among 4 serving bowls; top with sirloin, cilantro, and green onion. Pour hot broth over the top. Stir and let sit until the beef is partially cooked and no longer pink, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve with bean sprouts, Thai basil, lime wedges, hoisin sauce, and chile-garlic sauce on the side.

PHO BROTH

Steps:

• In this recipe, the bone to vegetable ratio should be 2-1, rising halfway up the pot. Veggie Roasting: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Leaving skins on, roughly chop the onions, ginger root, and carrots and arrange on a baking tray. Pop in the oven until the skins are crispy and the veggies are al dente. Take them out to cool. Remove all outer skins. Bone Purification: While veggies are in the oven, place your largest stockpot and another pot on the stove. Fill the smaller pot 1/2 the way up with salty water and bring to a boil. Add the bones and oxtail (in batches if needed) and bring to boil rapidly. A collection of frothy bits will collect on the surface. After 5 minutes, transfer the bones to the larger pot. Stock (part 1): Once all the bones are in the pot, fill with water to cover by about 2-3 inches. Add a healthy sprinkle of salt, bring to a boil and then immediately reduce to simmer (like REALLY low heat). Simmer half covered for 1-2 hours. Skim off fat from surface. Spice Sachet: Toast all of the spices in a dry pan until just before smoking point. Tie in cheesecloth. Stock (part 2): Add your now peeled roasted veggies to the pot along with your daikon and apples. Drop in your spice sachet. Add healthy sprinkling of sugar and a tiny bit of fish sauce. Continue a light simmer for another 3-6 hours. Skim off fat as needed. Straining: Remove bones and solids from the stock and discard. Save the cooked meat from the ox-tail for another use or to serve with your Pho (placing the meat immediately in cool water for at least 10 minutes before storing will keep it moist). Prepare a colander with cheesecloth and put over a pot. strain your stock into the smaller pot and set back on the burner. Stock (Part 3): Add a fresh slice of raw ginger, a couple of new star anise cloves and a sprig of lemongrass. Season to taste. Most likely you will need more salt and sugar. Continue simmer for another 30min. FIN.