Description
This My Easy Version – Beef Pho Recipe offers a flavorful and comforting Vietnamese noodle soup made with a fragrant broth infused with ginger, garlic, cinnamon, and star anise. Thinly sliced beef is cooked quickly by ladling hot broth over it, paired with tender rice noodles and fresh herbs for an authentic yet simple meal that’s perfect for any day.
Ingredients
Scale
Broth Ingredients
- 8 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, smashed
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 whole star anise
Main Ingredients
- 8 ounces rice noodles, flat and medium-width
- 8 ounces thinly sliced beef (such as sirloin or eye of round)
- 1/2 onion, thinly sliced
Garnishes
- 1 cup bean sprouts
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
- 1/4 cup fresh Thai basil leaves
- 1 lime, cut into wedges
- 1–2 green onions, sliced
- Hoisin sauce and sriracha for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the broth: In a large pot, bring the beef broth to a simmer over medium heat. Add the soy sauce, fish sauce, sliced ginger, smashed garlic, cinnamon stick, and star anise. Let the broth simmer uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes to infuse the rich and aromatic flavors.
- Cook the noodles: While the broth is simmering, cook the rice noodles according to the package directions until tender. Drain the noodles well and set them aside to be added to the soup bowls later.
- Strain the broth: Once the broth has developed the flavors, strain out the aromatics—ginger, garlic, cinnamon stick, and star anise—using a fine mesh sieve. Return the clear broth to the pot and keep it warm over low heat.
- Assemble the bowls: Divide the cooked rice noodles among the serving bowls. Top the noodles with thinly sliced raw beef and the sliced onions.
- Cook the beef with hot broth: Ladle the hot broth directly over the raw beef and onions in each bowl. The heat of the broth will quickly cook the thinly sliced beef.
- Garnish and serve: Finish each bowl by garnishing with bean sprouts, sliced green onions, fresh cilantro, Thai basil, and lime wedges. Serve with hoisin sauce and sriracha on the side for added flavor if desired.
Notes
- For a quicker meal, use store-bought pho broth or skip the aromatics and season the broth with extra fish sauce and lime juice.
- Ensure the beef is very thinly sliced so it cooks quickly when hot broth is poured over it.
- You can adjust the level of spice and sweetness by adding hoisin sauce or sriracha according to your preference.
