Pho Food

PHO RECIPE

Steps:

• Bring a small pot of water to the boil and blanch the oxtails for 5 minutes. Bring a second, larger pot with 8 cups of water to a boil.
• Transfer the oxtails to the second pot along with the charred onion, charred ginger, and 8 cups of water. Simmer on low for 3.5 hours.
• Char pho spice mix, then add to the pho soup along with the brisket and continue simmering for another 2 hours (5.5 hours total)
• Transfer the brisket to its own container, then strain and separate the pho soup. Refrigerate both.
• Skim the solidified fat from the pho soup with a fork and melt over low heat, then strain and refrigerate in a new small container. Prepare pho toppings as needed, cover and refrigerate.
• Combine the pho soup with enough water to make 8 cups, then season with fish sauce, sugar, and salt, if needed. I like 1 tsp of fine sea salt, but you should feel that your pho is on the verge of being too salty to compensate for the unsalted meat and noodles. Bring the soup to a low simmer. Slice the cold brisket and drop into the soup to reheat.
• Bring a large pot of water to the boil and cook the noodles halfway, then rinse in cold water and drain. Heat up the bowls with hot tap water for 5 minutes, the drain. Divide the pho noodles evenly between bowls.
• Slice sirloin if necessary, then divide between bowls along with brisket.
• Ladle pho broth overtop, serve and enjoy immediately with many toppings.

BEEF PHO

Steps:

• Tip the beef stock along with 500ml of water into a large saucepan. Sit the onion and ginger in a frying pan over a high heat and char on all sides, around 3-5 mins (you can also do this under your grill). Once charred, add to the beef stock. In the same pan, toast the spices for 2-3 mins and once they begin to smell fragrant, add them to the beef stock as well. Bring the stock to the boil, then turn to a simmer and cook for 30mins before straining.
• Meanwhile, cut the fat from the steak and wrap in cling film, then put into the freezer for 15 mins - this will make your steak really easy to slice! Slice it thinly, then cover with cling film again and pop into the fridge.
• Taste the beef stock and use the palm sugar, fish sauce and soy to season. Cook the noodles according to package instructions and split between two bowls, topping each with the sliced beef. Bring the stock to the boil and then pour into the bowls (the heat will cook the beef). Top each with the spring onions, chilli slices and herbs. Serve with the lime wedges to squeeze over.

VIETNAMESE PHO RECIPE (VIETNAMESE BEEF NOODLE SOUP)

Steps:

• Place a wire cooling rack over the flame of a burner, set to high heat. Place ginger and onions on the rack and turn it occasionally until the skin becomes slightly blackened on all sides. It will take about 10 to 15 minutes.
• Place the bones in a stockpot and immerse in cold water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Boil vigorously for 5 minutes to allow impurities to release from the bone. Tip the bones into a sink. When cool enough to handle, rinse the bones under running water and carefully remove any debris from them. Clean the stockpot, return the bones to the pot.
• Add just enough cold water to immerse the bones. Bring to boil over high heat, While the broth is boiling, skim off any impurities on the surface for 15 minutes to ensure a clean, clear broth, then reduce the heat to a low simmer. Add brisket, charred onions, ginger, star, anise, cinnamon, fennel, cloves, coriander, fish sauce, sugar, and salt.
• Gently simmer uncovered for 1 1/2 hours. When the brisket is tender, remove it from the broth and place it in cold water to cool. Drain and keep in the refrigerator for use later.
• Continue simmering for 3 1/2 hours, top up the water as necessary to just immerse the bones.
• Strain the broth through a fine strainer. Discard the bones and the spices. Adjust the final volume of the broth to 4 liters. Skim off the oil on the surface as much as possible. Season the broth with additional salt, fish sauce and rock sugar if desired.
• Blanch the rice noodles in boiling water for 20 seconds. Drain, then transfer back to the bowl. Place a few pieces of beef brisket and raw sirloin on top of the noodles. Bring the broth to rolling boil. Ladle the broth evenly over the raw meat and other ingredients.
• Garnish with spring onion and coriander to each bowl.
• Serve hot with some bean sprouts, basil, and lime.

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.

PHO RECIPE

Steps:

• Place the bones and beef chuck in large stockpot and add water to cover. Bring to a boil and boil for 5 minutes. Drain in a colander and thoroughly clean the stockpot. This process removes any impurities/scum and will give you a much cleaner broth.
• Meanwhile, char your ginger and onions. Use tongs to hold the ginger and onions (one at a time) over an open flame, or place each directly on a gas burner. Turn until they're lightly blackened and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Rinse away all the blackened skins.
• Add water (5 quarts/4.75 L, or more/less if you've scaled the recipe up or down) to the stockpot and bring to a boil. Transfer the bones and meat back to the pot, along with the charred/cleaned ginger and onions. Add the scallions, fish sauce and sugar. Reduce the heat to low, and simmer until the beef chuck is tender, about 40 minutes. Skim the surface often to remove any foam and fat.
• Remove one piece of the chuck and transfer to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Then transfer this piece of beef to a container and refrigerate (you will slice this to serve with your pho later. If you were to leave it in the pot, it would be too dry to eat). Leave the other piece of chuck in the pot to flavor the broth.
• Now toast the spices (star anise, cloves, cinnamon stick, cardamom, fennel seeds, and coriander seeds) in a dry pan over medium low heat for about 3 minutes, until fragrant. Use kitchen string to tie up the spices in a piece of cheesecloth, and add it to the broth.
• Cover the pot and continue simmering for another 4 hours. Add the salt and continue to simmer, skimming as necessary, until you're ready to assemble the rest of the dish. Taste the broth and adjust seasoning by adding more salt, sugar, and/or fish sauce as needed.
• To serve, boil the noodles according to package instructions. Add to a bowl. Place a few slices of the beef chuck and the raw sirloin on the noodles. Bring the broth to a rolling boil and ladle it into each bowl. The hot broth will cook the beef. Garnish with your toppings, and be sure to squeeze a lot of fresh lime juice over the top!