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Bowl of Easy Beef Pho, featuring broth, rice noodles, and fresh toppings like basil and bean sprouts.

Easy Beef Pho

A quick and cozy Vietnamese noodle soup enriched with a fragrant broth and customizable with various toppings.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course, Soup
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Calories: 550
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Broth
  • 1 large onion, halved Charred for deeper flavor
  • 1 large knob ginger, halved Charred for deeper flavor
  • 3 Tbsp fish sauce Add towards the end for best flavor
  • 1 Tbsp sugar To balance flavors
  • Salt to taste salt Add at the end of cooking
  • 6 cups water For the broth base
For the Simmering Meat
  • 1 lb beef marrow bones For rich flavor in broth
  • 1 lb brisket Tender meat for the bowl
For the Toppings
  • 8 oz rice noodles, banh pho Cook according to package instructions
  • 1 cup thin sliced raw beef (ribeye or sirloin) Added raw to broth to cook quickly
  • 1 cup bean sprouts Crisp add-on
  • 2 Tbsp fresh herbs (cilantro, Thai basil, mint) For added freshness
  • 1 each jalapeno or Thai chiles, sliced For heat, optional
  • 1 each lime, cut into wedges For acidity
  • 1 Tbsp hoisin sauce To drizzle on the bowl
  • 1 Tbsp sriracha For added spice, on the side
For the Pho Broth Spices
  • 2 each star anise, cloves Core spices for pho broth flavor
  • 1 each cinnamon stick Core spices for pho broth flavor
  • 1 Tbsp coriander seeds Core spices for pho broth flavor
  • 1 Tbsp fennel seeds Core spices for pho broth flavor
  • 2 each cardamom pods Core spices for pho broth flavor

Method
 

Prepare the Broth
  1. Char the onion and ginger until dark spots appear and they emit a toasted smell.
  2. In a pot, toast the spices for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant.
  3. Add water, charred onion, ginger, beef bones, and brisket to the pot.
  4. Bring to a gentle simmer, skimming foam if necessary, and cook for 1.5 to 2.5 hours.
  5. Strain the broth once finished and season with fish sauce, sugar, and salt to taste.
Prepare the Noodles and Serve
  1. Cook rice noodles according to package instructions and rinse briefly to prevent clumping.
  2. Build bowls with noodles, thin sliced raw beef, and any preferred toppings.
  3. Pour boiling hot broth over the beef to cook it right in the bowl.

Notes

Keep broth hot before serving to ensure beef cooks properly. Store broth separately from noodles and toppings for best taste and texture.