🔥 The Best Pho Soup Recipe

Pho is a traditional Vietnamese noodle soup known for its aromatic broth, tender meat, and fresh herbs. This homemade pho recipe brings authentic flavors to your kitchen with a simple step-by-step process.

🥄 Ingredients

• 1 kg beef bones (marrow or knuckle bones)
• 500 g beef brisket or flank steak
• 1 onion, halved
• 1 piece ginger (5 cm), sliced
• 3 star anise pods
• 3 cloves
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 tsp coriander seeds
• 1 tbsp fish sauce
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tbsp salt
• 300 g rice noodles
• 4 green onions, chopped
• 1 handful fresh cilantro
• 1 handful Thai basil
• 1 lime, cut into wedges
• 1 chili pepper, sliced
• Bean sprouts (optional)
• Hoisin sauce and Sriracha for serving

👨‍🍳 How to Make Pho Soup

1️⃣ Prepare the Broth: In a large pot, add beef bones and brisket. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Simmer for 10 minutes, then drain and rinse the bones to remove impurities.

2️⃣ Roast the Aromatics: In a dry pan, char the onion and ginger until slightly blackened. Toast the star anise, cloves, cinnamon stick, and coriander seeds for extra depth of flavor.

3️⃣ Simmer the Broth: Refill the pot with 4 liters of fresh water. Add the roasted aromatics, bones, and brisket. Simmer for at least 4-6 hours, occasionally skimming impurities from the surface.

4️⃣ Season the Broth: Add fish sauce, soy sauce, sugar, and salt. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. 5️⃣ Prepare the Noodles: Cook the rice noodles according to package instructions and drain well.

6️⃣ Assemble the Bowl: Slice the brisket thinly. Divide the noodles into bowls, top with brisket slices, and ladle in the hot broth.

7️⃣ Garnish and Serve: Add green onions, cilantro, Thai basil, lime wedges, chili slices, and bean sprouts. Serve with hoisin sauce and Sriracha on the side.

🌟 Pro Tips for the Best Pho Soup

✅ Use high-quality bones for a rich, flavorful broth.

✅ Char the onion and ginger to enhance the smoky depth of the soup.

✅ Toast the spices before adding them to the broth to release their essential oils. ✅ Simmer low and slow for the best taste – at least 4 hours, ideally overnight.

✅ Adjust seasoning to taste, balancing the umami from fish sauce and sweetness from sugar.

🍽️ Best Ways to Use Pho Soup

• • oteins like chicken or tofu.
• Make it a street-food-style experience by serving with extra condiments on the side.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

: Can I make pho broth in advance?
A: Yes! Pho broth gets better over time. Store it in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for longer.

Q: Can I make pho with chicken instead of beef?
A: Absolutely! Use chicken bones and chicken thighs, and reduce simmering time to 2-3 hours.

Q: What can I use instead of fish sauce?
A: You can substitute it with soy sauce or a mix of soy sauce and a dash of Worcestershire sauce for umami depth.

Would you like maybe to try our recipe for Thousand Island recipe?