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Quick Beef Pho

Pho, pronounced “Fuh,”  is everywhere these days.  Pho is a popular Vietnamese street food and is now considered the national dish there.  Truthfully, Pho is a relatively simple noodle soup, that has captivated many by its overall simplicity but rich, memorable flavors.  Pho consists of broth, rice noodles called “banh pho,” herbs, and meat, typically beef (pho bo) or chicken (pho ga).

Some believe, Pho originated from an area of Northern Vietnam sometime in the early 20th century but was made popular by Vietnamese refugees after the Vietnam War. Others believe that Pho is an adaptation of the French soup “pot au feu” (or beef stew), based on the French colonization of Vietnam until the middle of the 20th century.

beef Pho

Pho is most known for its richness.  The flavor intensity is traditionally achieved through simmering marrow-rich beef bones on low heat for hours.  Layered with herbs and spices, contrasted with soft noodles, tender beef slices, and crunchy bean sprouts, this soup does not need anything else to make up a filling and flavorful meal.  That said, not everyone wants to spend three hours just to make the broth.  So this is my recipe for quick beef Pho.

beef Pho

My recipe is not traditional: I don’t use bones to make the flavorful broth at all.  That is what makes this recipe “quick.”  I use a spice mixture of black peppercorns, coriander, cinnamon, star anise, ginger, garlic, and cloves to create a full-bodied broth.  As a result, this quick Pho beef recipe is bursting with flavor and I think comes close to the flavor profile of Vietnam’s beloved soup perfect for a cold winter night.

One if the secrets for enhancing flavor enough to compensate for not using bones is oven-charring the onions, garlic, and ginger, which brings out their flavors tremendously.  My husband, the real Pho connoisseur, loved this dish.  I had to tweak the intense peppery flavor a bit until I found a good balance, but I’m pleased with the outcome.  I have not yet been to Vietnam, but it is on my list of places to visit.  And when I do, I look forward to enjoying many wonderful bowls of this famous soup.

beef Pho

About the Author

Andrea Potischman

I am a professionally trained NYC chef turned CA mom and food blogger. I post about real food, with doable ingredient lists that are family friendly.

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