2 Ways to Cook Beef Pho Broth Everyone Raves About

Ingredients for Beef Pho Broth:

Photo: curated collection

Execution Steps

Step 1: Preparing Beef Bones

Preparing Beef Bones: Cut beef bones into medium-sized pieces, rinse thoroughly, rub with salt and white wine to reduce odor. Rinse again, drain well.

Photo: Phan Anh

Step 2: Simmering Bones

Preparing Aromatics: Char onion and ginger, peel off the burnt skin, rinse off the residue. Slice ginger, halve onion, and add to the pot with bones.

In a large pot, combine star anise, cinnamon, cloves, coriander seeds, and peppercorns. Toast until fragrant, then tie them up in a small cloth bag and add to the pot with 3 liters of strong alkaline water.

Add salt, rock sugar, or sugar cane.

Step 3: extracting broth

After 3 hours, remove the spice bag and bones from the pot. Let the broth cool completely before seasoning with fish sauce to taste. Adding fish sauce to cooled broth prevents it from turning sour while retaining its delicious flavor.

Congratulations! You've successfully completed making beef pho broth. Just heat it up and pour it into your pho bowl to enjoy!

Finished Product

The broth is clear, fragrant with bone aroma, rich in flavor, and not sour. It has a perfect level of richness without being too heavy.

Photo Credit: Phan Anh

2. Making Beef Pho Broth from Scratch at Home

Let's learn how to make it with your host, Nga Le Hang.

Ingredients Preparation

• 3kg beef bones or marrow bones
• 2 star anise
• 2 onions
• 4 shallots
• 40g ginger
• 15g rock sugar or grilled sugar cane
• Beef brisket, flank, or sirloin

Implementation Steps

Step 1: Preparation

• Soak onions, shallots, and ginger in salted water and a little white wine to remove impurities.
• Place star anise, onions, shallots, and ginger in a cloth bag.
• Thoroughly clean beef bones with salted water and a bit of white wine to remove any remaining blood.
• Roast the bones then wash them again.
• Blanch the bones in boiling water for about 2-3 minutes then wash them one final time.

Photo Credit: collected

Step 2: Simmering the Bones

• Once the bones are drained, place them in a pot with 5 liters of water. Initially, bring to a boil and skim off any foam that rises to the surface, then reduce the heat and start simmering.
• Simmer for 4 hours, then add the pre-roasted spice bag to the broth along with rock sugar or grilled sugar cane, and a pinch of sea salt to taste.
• Bring the pot to a boil again, then add the boiled beef. Cook the beef for about 30 – 40 minutes until tender. Once cooked, remove the beef and soak it in boiling water to cool, preventing it from drying out or darkening.
• Turn off the heat, remove the bones and spice bag, and let the broth cool completely.
• Strain the broth into another pot to remove impurities, then season with a little delicious fish sauce, and it's ready to serve.

Finished Product

This method yields a clear and shimmering broth with a golden sheen from the beef fat. It boasts a rich flavor and enticing aroma of bones.

Photo Credit: collected

4. Tips for Cooking Beef Pho Broth

• Using strong alkaline water in cooking has been a long-standing practice in Vietnamese and many other cuisines. Alkaline water helps bones release their delicious flavors more easily, saving cooking time.
• Choosing small-sized star anise will yield a light and long-lasting aroma. Larger star anise, while visually appealing and fragrant, tends to lose its aroma quickly. You only need about 3-4 small star anise.
• Coriander roots and onion roots will enhance the fragrance of the broth. If you can't find them, you can skip this step.

Above are 2 ways to make delicious homemade beef pho broth that rivals restaurant-quality. Impress your family with this delicious pho dish today!

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