Discover 2 Easy Ways to Cook Delicious and Nutritious Chicken Pho at Home

With its rich aroma and delicate broth, chicken pho has become a favorite dish for every family, especially on cold rainy days. Cooking chicken pho is incredibly simple, just prepare all the ingredients and follow the instructions, and you'll have quality bowls of pho for the whole family. Today, let's explore Mytour Blog's secrets to making chicken pho at home from simple ingredients to create unique bowls of pho to treat your family on weekends.

Step-by-Step Guide to Cooking Delicious Chicken Pho at Home 

Below is a guide on how to cook traditional delicious and aromatic chicken pho that will tantalize your taste buds. The ingredients listed below are measured for about 4 servings.

Ingredients 

• 1.5 kg pork bones
• 2 kg free-range chicken and 100 grams of young eggs
• 100 grams of white radish 
• 150 grams of onions (3 bulbs)
• 20 grams of cilantro
• 1 stalk of green onions, 5 bulbs of shallots, 1 lime, 1 piece of ginger
• 200 grams of fresh pho noodles
• 1 packet of Chinese medicinal spices
• 2 tablespoons of fish sauce
• 3 tablespoons of chicken bouillon
• 4 tablespoons of rock sugar and a little salt/MSG.

Tips for Choosing Fresh and Delicious Ingredients

Some key components to ensure freshness and quality are pork bones and chicken meat. This will ensure a delicious and clear broth:

• Tips for buying fresh and delicious chicken meat: Good chicken meat is recognized by characteristics such as shiny golden skin, no dark spots or unusual stains on the surface. Fresh chicken will have bright red meat, no bruising, and when pressed, the meat should be tender, not sticky or slimy. Additionally, pay attention to the size and weight of the chicken, avoiding cases where the chicken is small but heavy as this is a sign of water injection.

• Tips for buying fresh and delicious pork bones: Fresh pork bones usually have a bright white color, with no dark or black spots. In terms of moisture, quality pork bones will be very dry, not wet, and show no signs of leaking water. When pressing on the bone, it should be firm and not easily bendable. Finally, fresh pork bones will not have a thick layer of grease as excessive grease is often a sign of old bones.

• Where to buy Chinese medicinal spices: You can purchase them at traditional Chinese medicine pharmacies or online platforms like Mytour.vn. Make sure to choose reputable addresses and carefully check the products before cooking.

Method of preparing chicken pho 

Cooking chicken pho involves several steps but is very simple. Just follow the steps below carefully, and you'll have a delicious bowl of chicken pho in no time.

Preparation and Boiling the Bones 

Soak the purchased pork bones in diluted saltwater for about 5 – 7 minutes. Then, rinse the pork bones several times with water to clean them. Next, place a pot on the stove over high heat and pour in 1 liter of water. When the water boils, add all the prepared pork bones into the pot and blanch for about 3 – 5 minutes until the pork bones firm up. Once they reach the desired firmness, turn off the heat and rinse the pork bones directly under cold water tap, then drain them.

Here are 3 ways to eliminate the pork bone odor:

Method 1: Blanch with boiling water for 3-5 minutes then rinse thoroughly with water.

Method 2: Use a mixture of salt and white wine rubbed on the pork bones for about 5 minutes then rinse thoroughly with water to remove the odor.

Method 3: Soak the pork bones in rice water for 15 minutes, this method effectively eliminates the odor.

Preparation of other ingredients 

• To handle chicken meat, sprinkle some salt on the surface of the meat for about 3 – 5 minutes to remove any remaining blood stains. Then, rinse the chicken meat 2 – 3 times with clean water and drain.

Mytour shares with you how to prepare and remove the odor of chicken meat

Method 1: Blanch the chicken briefly with watercress leaves for 3-5 minutes then rinse thoroughly with water.

Method 2: Use a mixture of vinegar and salt or salted lemon juice to rub on the surface of the chicken meat for 3-5 minutes then rinse thoroughly with water to remove the odor.

Boiling chicken and young eggs 

Next, Mytour will share with you how to boil delicious chicken. After preparing the ingredients, put another pot on the stove and pour about 5 liters of water into it. Then, add all the previously processed meat and seasonings such as salt, rock sugar, and boil over high heat for about 10 minutes.

When the water boils, reduce the heat to low and continue boiling for another 20 minutes until the chicken is cooked. Then, remove the chicken and place it in a bowl of ice water for 5 minutes to firm up the meat. Finally, remove and drain, then cut into bite-sized pieces. Next, put all the young eggs into the pot and boil for 5 – 7 minutes. Once the eggs are cooked, remove and let cool in a bowl.

Grilling and roasting the ingredients 

Place the grilling tray on the stove, wait for it to heat up, then arrange all the shallots, sliced ginger, 2 onions, and white radish on the grill for about 3 – 5 minutes until fragrant. Next, heat a pan and pour all the Chinese medicinal spices into the pan. Roast the spices for 3 – 5 minutes until fragrant, then turn off the heat.

Cooking pho 

You proceed to add all the white radish and onions into the previously prepared broth and simmer over low heat for 40 minutes. Meanwhile, take a cloth bag or use a strainer to contain all the roasted Chinese medicinal spices, including ginger, shallots, cilantro, and lime zest. Next, place this cloth bag or strainer into the broth.

Then, remove all the ingredients from the pot and season the broth with 3 tablespoons of chicken bouillon, 1.5 tablespoons of salt, 3 tablespoons of rock sugar, MSG, and fish sauce. Stir well and adjust the seasoning to taste, then turn off the heat.

Once the broth is cooked, put another pot on the stove with 200ml of water and set to high heat. When the water boils, add all the fresh pho noodles into the pot and blanch for 2 minutes, then transfer to a bowl. Finally, add the free-range chicken, young eggs, cilantro, and lime to the prepared broth. Finally, sprinkle some pepper, add some fresh herbs for garnish, and you have completed a delicious bowl of chicken pho.

Finished product 

After our diligent cooking efforts, the finished product will be a bowl of enticing chicken pho with impressively sweet and flavorful broth, paired with soft white pho noodles, delicious tender chicken meat, and plump young eggs. To enhance the chicken pho experience, you can also prepare fresh herbs and bowls of chili sauce and hoisin sauce for dipping, stimulating the taste buds and making the dining experience even more delightful.

How to cook chicken and mushroom pho 

Here's how to make a hearty chicken and mushroom pho for rainy days, prepare the ingredients and follow the steps below.

Ingredients 

• 1.2 kg pho noodles
• 500 grams chicken thigh
• 500 grams marrow bones
• Seasonings: include vegetables (spring onions, ginger, shallots), 1 teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoons chicken bouillon, 1 tablespoon white sugar, 1 teaspoon MSG
• 20 grams shiitake mushrooms.

Method

Step 1 – Prepare the chicken: Boil the chicken in 1.5 liters of water until cooked, then remove and shred into small pieces, and finely chop the skin.

Step 2 – Prepare the vegetables: Wash the vegetables thoroughly, chop the herbs and spring onions. Soak the shiitake mushrooms for about 15 minutes until soft. Peel and crush the ginger and shallots, then roast over low heat until fragrant.

Step 3 – Cook the broth: Firstly, marinate the marrow bones with chopped shallots and 1 tablespoon of chicken bouillon, then transfer to a pot and pour the boiled chicken broth over. Add 500ml of water and simmer over low heat to create a sweet flavor for the broth from the bones. Next, add all the prepared ingredients such as shiitake mushrooms, onions, and roasted ginger to the broth. Season with 1 tablespoon of chicken bouillon, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and 1 teaspoon of salt. When almost finished cooking, add 1 teaspoon of MSG and stir well. That way, you have created a delicious, aromatic, and flavorful chicken pho broth.

Step 4 – Make chicken and mushroom pho: Blanch the pho noodles in boiling water, then transfer them to a bowl. Arrange the chicken, vegetables, and herbs on top, then pour the broth over. Garnish for presentation, prepare some sauce and a few fresh herbs, and you're done.

Finished product

You now have a bowl of aromatic and delicious chicken pho with an exquisite flavor like never before. This chicken and mushroom pho combines the rich aroma and sweet flavor of the broth with the earthy taste of mushrooms. The accompanying herbs such as spring onions and coriander add an extra touch to the dish.

Above are instructions for 2 ways to create delicious chicken pho that will make you forget your way home. Hopefully, you've saved one of these two recipes to add to your daily menu and make family meals more diverse. Don't forget to follow Mytour's blog for useful tips, and you can also shop on Mytour's reputable e-commerce platform to purchase quality products at affordable prices.