Pho

Pho is a traditional Vietnamese dish that consists of rice noodles, broth, and various toppings such as beef or chicken. It is a popular street food in Vietnam and is often served as a breakfast or lunch dish. Pho is typically made with a broth that is flavored with spices such as cinnamon, star anise, and cloves, and is garnished with herbs such as basil, cilantro, and mint. The dish is often served with a side of bean sprouts, lime wedges, and chili peppers, which can be added to the soup to adjust the flavor to individual preferences. Pho is known for its rich, aromatic flavor and is considered a national dish of Vietnam.

Recipe
Preparation tips
Serving size
Nutrition value
Types

To make a simple Pho at home, you will need:

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound beef eye of round, thinly sliced
  • 4 quarts beef stock
  • 1 yellow onion, thinly sliced
  • 2 inch piece ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 2 star anise
  • 1 tablespoon coriander seeds
  • 2 cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/2 pound rice noodles
  • 2 cups bean sprouts
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
  • 1 lime, cut into wedges

Instructions:

  1. In a large pot, bring the beef stock to a boil. Add the sliced onion, ginger, cinnamon stick, star anise, coriander seeds, cloves, salt, and sugar. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes.
  2. While the stock is simmering, soak the rice noodles in hot water for about 10 minutes, or until they are softened.
  3. When the stock is finished simmering, remove the cinnamon stick, star anise, coriander seeds, and cloves from the pot. Add the sliced beef to the pot and simmer for 2-3 minutes, or until the beef is cooked through.
  4. Drain the rice noodles and divide them among bowls. Ladle the hot broth over the noodles, making sure to include some of the cooked beef in each bowl.
  5. Top each bowl of Pho with bean sprouts, cilantro, basil, mint, and a lime wedge. Serve hot.

Tips for preparation of Pho

To make a simple Pho at home, you will need:

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound beef eye of round, thinly sliced
  • 4 quarts beef stock
  • 1 yellow onion, thinly sliced
  • 2 inch piece ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 2 star anise
  • 1 tablespoon coriander seeds
  • 2 cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/2 pound rice noodles
  • 2 cups bean sprouts
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
  • 1 lime, cut into wedges

Instructions:

  1. In a large pot, bring the beef stock to a boil. Add the sliced onion, ginger, cinnamon stick, star anise, coriander seeds, cloves, salt, and sugar. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes.
  2. While the stock is simmering, soak the rice noodles in hot water for about 10 minutes, or until they are softened.
  3. When the stock is finished simmering, remove the cinnamon stick, star anise, coriander seeds, and cloves from the pot. Add the sliced beef to the pot and simmer for 2-3 minutes, or until the beef is cooked through.
  4. Drain the rice noodles and divide them among bowls. Ladle the hot broth over the noodles, making sure to include some of the cooked beef in each bowl.
  5. Top each bowl of Pho with bean sprouts, cilantro, basil, mint, and a lime wedge. Serve hot.

Pho serving size

The serving size of Pho can vary depending on the portion size and the number of people being served. As a general guideline, a serving of Pho is typically around 1 to 1.5 cups of broth with noodles and a few slices of meat. However, you may want to adjust the serving size to meet your specific dietary needs or preferences. It’s also worth noting that Pho is often served as a communal dish, where everyone shares the same pot of broth and adds their own desired amount of noodles and meat.

Pho nutrition value

As for the nutrition value, a typical serving of pho (about 8 ounces) can contain around 200-300 calories, depending on the specific ingredients used. It is a good source of protein and carbohydrates, and can also provide a moderate amount of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. However, it is worth noting that the broth in pho is often made with beef or chicken bones and can be high in sodium, so it is important to consider this if you are following a low-sodium diet.

More Pho types