Quick Beef Pho
Ingredients
Pho Stock:
2 tablespoons (30 g) beef bouillon or base
1 tablespoon (15 g) Vietnamese fish sauce
1 tablespoon (15 g) white sugar
One (2″ [5-cm]) piece ginger, sliced into thin tiles
1/2 yellow onion, large dice
Pinch kosher salt
2 whole cloves
2 whole star anise
1 cinnamon stick
Assembly:
1/2 pound (240 g) thin rice stick noodles, rinsed
1/2 pound (240 g) beef strip loin or fillet, shaved thin
1 cup (240 g) Vietnamese basil leaves
1 cup (240 g) bean sprouts
1/2 cup (95 g) cilantro leaves
5 jalapeno or serrano chiles, sliced thin
4 scallions, sliced thin on the bias
1/2 yellow onion, sliced paper thin
1 lime, cut into wedges
Hoisin sauce, for the table
Chili sauce, such as Sriracha, for the table
Directions
For the Pho Stock: Add the beef base and 1 quart water to a 2-quart (1.9-L) saucepan and bring to a low boil. Add the fish sauce, sugar, ginger, onion and salt to the stock and reduce the heat to a simmer. Wrap the cloves, star anise and cinnamon stick in a piece of cheesecloth and tie it into a satchel. Add the satchel to the broth and simmer for at least 30 minutes, but no more than 45 minutes.
Around the 30 minute mark, taste the broth to see that the spice flavors have been extracted, and adjust seasonings if necessary. Strain the aromatics and satchel from the broth, return to a sauce pot, and reserve for assembly.
For the assembly: Bring the broth back to a simmer. In a separate pot, bring water to a boil. Using a sieve or basket, quickly dip the noodles into the water until they are hot and al dente, 10 to 20 seconds. Drain the excess water from the noodles and distribute the noodles between 4 bowls.
Top each bowl with some sliced beef, basil, bean sprouts, cilantro, jalapeno, scallions and onion, or as each person wishes. Ladle in enough broth to cover the ingredients in the bowl. Garnish with a lime wedge. I like to serve pho with Sriracha and hoisin sauce.
