Authentic beef noodle pho
A true Vietnamese classic! Pho is a well-balanced meal with plenty of broth to ward off dehydration in the hot, humid summer months, and to warm body and soul in the cool and drizzly winters. Hanoians like to slurp the noodles first so they don’t become soft and mushy from sitting in the broth too long.
Serves: Six
Ingredients:
- 200g scotch fillet, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce, plus extra to taste
- 600g fresh pho noodles
- 1/2 onion, thinly sliced
- 4 spring onions (scallions), 2 thinly sliced lengthways, and 2 cut into rings
- 1 small handful coriander (cilantro) leaves
- 1 small handful basil
- 1 lemon, cut into 6 wedges
- 1 long red chilli, sliced
For the broth
- 2kg beef bones
- 6 red Asian shallots, left whole
- 1.5cm knob fresh ginger, unpeeled, cut into chunks
- 1 pig’s trotter, sawn in half by your butcher
- 500g beef brisket
- 1 star anise
- 4cm piece of cassia bark, or
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 teaspoon salt
Method:
- Preheat the oven to 200°C. Place the beef bones on a baking tray and roast for 20 minutes. Turn the bones over and roast for a further 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, chargrill the whole unpeeled shallots and ginger on a barbecue or gas burner over medium heat for five minutes, until they are fragrant and the skin is lightly charred.
- Leave to cool slightly.
- Using your fingers, flake off the thin outer skin.
- Place the roasted bones in a large saucepan with the trotter.
- Cover with cold water and slowly bring to a simmer, skimming off any froth. Add the chargrilled shallots, ginger, brisket, spices and salt.
- Simmer gently for 30 minutes, taking care not to boil the stock.
- Remove and reserve the brisket, then simmer the stock for a further four hours.
- Strain the stock and discard the solids.
- When ready to serve, marinate the scotch fillet in the fish sauce and set aside. Slice the brisket and set aside. Ensure the broth is at simmering point.
- Drop the noodles into a pan of boiling water and stir with a chopstick for 20 seconds.
- Drain and divide among six bowls. Top with the meats, onion, spring onion and herbs. Ladle the hot broth over. Serve with lemon, chilli and extra fish sauce.
Ah, there’s nothing quite like pho. How do you prefer it?
This is an edited extract from Made in Vietnam by Tracey Lister & Andrews Pohl published by Hardie Grant Books RRP $39.99 and is available in stores national.
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