Description
Nothing comforts quite like a bowl of Vietnamese Beef Pho — a soul-warming dish that’s light yet deeply flavorful. This easy recipe walks you through creating an aromatic broth with simmered bones, charred aromatics, and signature spices. Whether you’re looking for a cozy lunch, an impressive dinner idea, or healthy food that feels indulgent, this pho hits all the right notes.
Ingredients
2.5 pounds beef marrow or knuckle bones
1 pound beef brisket
0.5 pound eye of round beef, thinly sliced
1 pound dried rice noodles (banh pho)
2 medium yellow onions, halved
4-inch piece fresh ginger, halved lengthwise
4 star anise
5 whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick
1 black cardamom pod
1 tablespoon coriander seeds
1 tablespoon salt
2 tablespoons fish sauce
1 tablespoon rock sugar (or white sugar)
1 cup bean sprouts
1 bunch Thai basil
1 bunch cilantro
1 bunch fresh mint
2 limes, cut into wedges
2 green onions, sliced
1 jalapeño or Thai chili, sliced
Instructions
1. Place bones in a large stockpot. Cover with water, bring to a boil, and simmer for 10 minutes. Discard water, rinse bones clean.
2. Char onion and ginger over open flame or under broiler until blackened. Rinse off loose char.
3. Add bones, brisket, charred aromatics, and spices to a clean pot. Fill with 5 quarts of water. Simmer gently (don’t boil hard) for 4–6 hours. Skim foam regularly.
4. In the last hour, add fish sauce, rock sugar, and salt. Taste and adjust seasoning to your liking.
5. Strain broth through a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer. Cook rice noodles according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking.
6. In each bowl, place a serving of noodles, a few slices of raw eye of round, and some cooked brisket. Pour boiling broth over to cook the raw beef instantly.
7. Top with bean sprouts, herbs, green onions, lime, and chili slices. Serve with hoisin or sriracha on the side, if desired.
Notes
Slice beef thinly by freezing slightly before slicing.
Make broth ahead for deeper flavor.
Customize with extra herbs and chili to taste.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Dinner, Soup
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Vietnamese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 75mg