Description
This Vietnamese Beef Pho recipe features a deeply aromatic broth, tender slices of beef, and rice noodles, topped with fresh herbs, lime, and chili. It’s the ultimate Vietnamese noodle soup made from scratch for comforting, flavorful meals. A must-try for fans of Asian soups and homemade pho.
Ingredients
1 kg beef bones
500 g beef brisket
4 star anise
1 cinnamon stick
5 cloves
1 tablespoon coriander seeds
1 large piece ginger
1 onion
2 tablespoons fish sauce
1 tablespoon rock sugar
2 teaspoons salt
400 g flat rice noodles
300 g thinly sliced beef sirloin or eye of round
200 g bean sprouts
1 bunch fresh herbs (cilantro, basil, mint)
2 limes, cut into wedges
2 red chilies, thinly sliced
Optional hoisin and sriracha sauce
Instructions
1. Boil beef bones and brisket in a large pot for 10 minutes, then drain and rinse to remove impurities.
2. Char the ginger and onion over an open flame or dry pan until blackened. Toast star anise, cinnamon, cloves, and coriander seeds in a dry skillet.
3. Fill a large pot with fresh water, add cleaned bones and brisket, charred aromatics, toasted spices, fish sauce, rock sugar, and salt. Simmer uncovered for 3–4 hours, skimming off scum.
4. Prepare rice noodles according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
5. Freeze beef sirloin for 15–20 minutes, then slice thinly against the grain.
6. In bowls, place noodles and raw beef slices. Pour over boiling hot broth to cook meat.
7. Top with bean sprouts, herbs, lime wedges, chili slices, and optional sauces. Serve hot.
Notes
Use a combination of bones with marrow and meat for a richer broth.
Charring the aromatics adds essential smokiness and depth to the flavor.
Always pour the broth piping hot over the raw beef to cook it properly in the bowl.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Soup
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Vietnamese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg