Homemade Pho: A Guide to Vietnamese Noodle Soup
Pho is a beloved dish in Vietnamese cuisine, known for its savory broth, tender noodles, and flavorful meats. While it may seem daunting to make pho at home, with a few key ingredients and some patience, you can easily recreate this classic dish in your own kitchen. One of the defining characteristics of pho is its broth, which is made by simmering beef bones, spices, and aromatics for hours. This slow-cooking process infuses the broth with depth of flavor and richness, making it the foundation of a delicious bowl of pho. Once the broth is ready, it is combined with rice noodles and thin slices of beef, which cook in the hot broth and absorb its flavors. To finish off the dish, pho is traditionally topped with a variety of fresh herbs, such as basil and cilantro, as well as bean sprouts, lime, and sometimes chili peppers. These toppings add a burst of freshness and crunch to the soup, balancing the richness of the broth and the softness of the noodles. If you're looking to try your hand at making pho, start by researching different recipes and techniques, as well as sourcing the right ingredients. For best results, try to use high-quality beef bones, and don't be afraid to experiment with different spices and aromatics to find the flavor profile you love best. With a little bit of time and effort, you can enjoy a steaming bowl of homemade pho in the comfort of your own home.
Servings: 4 yield(s)
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 45 mins
Total Time: 60 mins
Ingredients
    Soup Base
  • 1 kg beef bones
  • 1 l water
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 medium-sized onion (cut into quarters)
  • 2 pieces star anise
  • 1 tbsp peppercorn
  • 1 pho cube
  • 1 packet Vietnamese special spice for pho (pho Hoa)
  • 180 g fish ball
    • Other Ingredients
  • udon noodles
  • 3 bunches bok choy
  • 250 g togue (bean sprouts)
  • mint leaves
  • 1 stalk spring onion (chopped)
  • 1 lime (wedges)
Instructions
    Soup Base
  1. In a large pot, put water, beef bones, salt and onion. Bring it to a boil.
  2. Add star anise, pepper corn, pho cube and Vietnamese special spice for pho (pho Hoa). Bring it to a boil.
  3. Add fish ball and let it cook. You will know it’s cooked when they all floated on top.
    4. Noodles
  4. Prepare udon noodles according to packaging instructions.
  5. In a pot, bring 1 L water to a boil and blanche bok choy. Set aside when done.
    6. Serving
  6. Put noodles and arrange all the vegetables on top in a bowl, starting with bok choy, togue (bean sprouts), mint leaves and spring onions.
  7. Add the soup base into the bowl with vegetables submerged in soup, include fish balls. Serve and enjoy while it’s hot!