Shortcut Shrimp Pho Recipes

PHO

Steps:

• In a stockpot, cover oxtails with 3 quarts water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 15 minutes. Meanwhile, arrange onions and ginger on a baking sheet. Broil 4 in. from the heat until charred, 5-8 minutes, turning once. Peel off and discard charred skin from onion and ginger. In a dry skillet over medium heat, cook and stir spices until fragrant, 3-5 minutes. Drain and discard water from oxtails; return oxtails to clean pan. Cover with 3 quarts water. Stir in onions, ginger, toasted spices, fish sauce, sugar, soy sauce and bay leaves. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 6 hours. While cooking, add water to keep oxtails covered with water. Remove oxtails and set aside until cool enough to handle. Remove and discard bones. Set beef aside for soup or save for another use. Strain stock through a cheesecloth-lined colander, discarding solids. If using immediately, skim fat. Or, refrigerate 8 hours or overnight; remove fat from surface. Broth can be covered and refrigerated up to 3 days or frozen 4 to 6 months., For the shrimp, in a shallow dish, combine oil, fish sauce, sriracha, lime zest and oregano. Add shrimp and stir to coat. Cover and refrigerate 45 minutes. Preheat oven to 375°. Drain and discard marinade. Arrange shrimp on a 15x10x1-in. baking sheet. Bake until shrimp turn pink, 8-10 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare noodles according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water. In a large saucepan, bring stock to a boil. If desired, season stock with additional fish sauce, salt and pepper. To serve, add noodles and, if desired, beef to serving bowls. Cover with stock. Arrange shrimp and garnishes as desired.

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.

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.

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.

FAUX CHICKEN AND SHRIMP PHO

Steps:

• Bring large pot of water to boil, then remove from heat.
• Add noodles to the pot; let stand until tender, about 15 minutes, then drain and set aside in a large serving bowl.
• Combine chicken broth, onion slices, fish sauce, sliced baby carrots and chicken in a soup pot; bring to a simmer.
• In a cheesecloth or tea infuser, add the whole cloves, sliced ginger, garlic, star anise and place in the soup pot with the chicken.
• Simmer the chicken, vegetables and spice mixture for about 30 minutes, until chicken is tender and cooked through.
• Remove chicken and cool it until you can cut into cubes; place back into the simmering soup pot.
• Remove the cheesecloth or tea infuser, discard ingredients inside.
• Add bean sprouts and shrimp and simmer for about 5 more minutes.
• Ladle the soup into the large serving bowl with the noodles.
• Add the green onions, cilantro and mint leaves to the serving bowl.
• Serve with fresh lime wedges.