Shortcut Pho Recipes

SHORTCUT PHO

Steps:

• Juice half the lime; cut remaining half into wedges. In a 4-qt. pot combine lime juice, broth, fish sauce, cinnamon, coriander, and cloves. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, 15 minutes.
• Drop beef into simmering broth. Cook 20 to 30 seconds or until cooked through.
• Divide noodles among bowls. Spoon broth and beef over noodles. Top bowls with cilantro and green onions. Serve with lime wedges. Serves 4.

JESSICA'S SHORTCUT PHO

Steps:

• Combine beef stock, chicken stock, lime juice, onion, cilantro, basil, lemongrass paste, red pepper flakes, cumin, garam masala, ginger, and white pepper in a stockpot. Add steak and shrimp; simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• While soup is cooking, prepare noodles about 30 minutes into the process. Bring a separate pot of water to a boil and add noodles. Boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 6 minutes. Drain, rinse, and add to the soup. Stir in bean sprouts and season with salt.

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.

SHORTCUT BEEF PHO

Steps:

• Position an oven rack on the highest setting and preheat the broiler. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• On a baking sheet, toss the onion and ginger with the canola oil. Broil on high until the onion starts to char and blacken around the edges, rotating the pan and tossing the aromatics halfway through cooking, about 8 minutes.
• Heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Working quickly to prevent burning, add the five-spice powder and toast until fragrant, about 10 seconds. Immediately add the broth and 2 cups water, then stir in the charred ginger and onion. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a simmer and cook until the broth is fragrant and the flavors are concentrated, about 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook the rice noodles in boiling water until soft, about 5 minutes. Drain well and reserve in a bowl.
• Strain the broth through a fine-mesh sieve, then return the soup to the large pot, stir in the fish sauce and bring to a simmer.
• Divide the rice noodles between four large serving bowls. Fan about 4 of the beef slices over the noodles, overlapping slightly. Ladle 2 1/2 cups broth over the meat and serve immediately with the bean sprouts, basil, cilantro, hoisin, scallions, jalapeno and lime at the table.

SHRIMP PHO

Steps:

• Combine chicken stock, vegetable broth, shallots, soy sauce, fish sauce, ginger, rice vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, pepper, cinnamon stick, and star anise in a large pot. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, until flavors combine, 1 to 2 hours. Strain out solids and return broth to the pot.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add rice noodles and cook until opaque, 4 to 5 minutes.
• While noodles are cooking, saute shrimp with soy sauce and garlic in a skillet until shrimp are cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Drain noodles and rinse until cold water. Divide among 6 large soup bowls. Ladle hot broth over noodles and top with shrimp, bean sprouts, and green onions. Serve basil, cilantro, mint, and lime wedges alongside.