Description
Easy Beef Pho is a flavorful Vietnamese-inspired noodle soup featuring a fragrant simmered beef broth infused with cinnamon, star anise, and cloves, paired with tender raw beef slices cooked by the hot broth, fresh herbs, and traditional garnishes for a comforting yet vibrant meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Broth Ingredients
- 8 cups beef broth (low-sodium)
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 3 whole cloves
- 2 star anise
- 1-inch piece of fresh ginger, sliced
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar
Main Ingredients
- 8 ounces rice noodles (pho-style or flat rice noodles)
- ½ pound thinly sliced beef (sirloin or flank steak)
Garnishes
- 1 small onion, thinly sliced
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1 cup bean sprouts
- Fresh basil leaves
- Fresh cilantro
- Lime wedges
- Sliced jalapeños
Instructions
- Simmer the Broth: In a large pot, combine the beef broth, cinnamon stick, cloves, star anise, sliced ginger, fish sauce, soy sauce, and sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat and let it simmer gently for 20 to 30 minutes to allow the flavors to fully infuse the broth.
- Cook the Rice Noodles: While the broth simmers, prepare the rice noodles following the package instructions until tender. Drain the noodles thoroughly and set them aside.
- Prepare the Beef: Thinly slice the raw beef against the grain to ensure tenderness. If thin slicing is difficult, place the beef in the freezer for about 15 minutes beforehand to firm it up, making slicing easier.
- Strain and Warm the Broth: Remove the simmered broth from heat and strain it through a fine sieve or strainer to remove the cinnamon stick, cloves, star anise, and ginger slices. Return the clear broth to the pot and keep it warm on low heat.
- Assemble the Pho: Distribute the cooked rice noodles evenly into serving bowls. Layer the raw beef slices on top of the noodles. Carefully ladle the hot broth over the beef and noodles—the heat of the broth will gently cook the thin beef slices.
- Add Garnishes: Finish by garnishing each bowl with thinly sliced onions, green onions, bean sprouts, fresh basil, cilantro, lime wedges, and jalapeño slices according to your taste preferences.
Notes
- For a deeper, richer broth flavor, simmer the broth longer or consider adding a splash of hoisin sauce for sweetness and depth.
- If you prefer fully cooked beef, sear the beef slices briefly before adding them to the soup instead of using raw slices.
- Use low-sodium beef broth to better control the saltiness of the soup.
- Adjust the level of heat by moderating the amount of jalapeño slices or substituting with milder peppers.
