Learn the ultimate recipe for authentic Hanoi beef pho - Mytour

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It would be truly fantastic if you could now prepare this dish for your entire family without having to go out to a restaurant. The process of making Hanoi beef pho is quite laborious, but the final product is incredibly aromatic and enticing. Let's get cooking this amazing dish with the following instructions.

2. Traditional Hanoi Beef Pho Recipe: Fragrant and Flavorful

To make a perfect bowl of Hanoi beef pho, it is essential to prepare the ingredients and handle them properly. Please see the instructions below.

2.1. Ingredients Needed

• Oxtail: 0.3kg
• Beef ribs: 0.5kg
• Beef shank (or substitute with beef flank, brisket as desired): 1kg
• Beef tenderloin: 1kg
• Large onions: 1 bulb
• Ginger: 2 bulbs
• Dried shallots: 5 – 6 bulbs
• Coriander seeds: 1 teaspoon
• Cilantro: 5-6 roots
• Star anise: 2-3 pods
• Cinnamon: 2 sticks
• Sugar cane: 2 pieces
• Pho noodles
• Chopped green onions, cilantro, chili sauce, lime
• Common spices: Pho spices, soup powder, sugar, pepper, salt, fish sauce…

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2.2. Procedure

Step 1: Preparing the Ingredients

The first thing we need to do is to prepare and process the ingredients.

• Chop the beef ribs and oxtail into small pieces, while leaving the beef intact. Then, soak the ribs, oxtail, and beef in diluted saltwater for 30 – 60 minutes. This not only helps to remove the odor from the ribs and oxtail but also ensures that the meat is clean and tender.

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• Leave the skins on onions, shallots, ginger, and sugar cane while grilling until they are cooked and aromatic. Be sure to use low heat to allow the ingredients to cook thoroughly from the inside out without burning the skins. After grilling, scrape the ginger skin, peel the shallots, and rinse with clean water. Crush the ginger, and cut the onions in half.

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• Wash the scallions and cilantro thoroughly. Then, finely chop the scallion greens and cut the cilantro roots while splitting the stems
• Toast the star anise, cinnamon, cardamom, and coriander seeds in a hot pan. When the ingredients release a fragrant aroma, turn off the heat and place all the ingredients in a cloth bag, then tie the bag tightly

Step 2: Making the Beef Pho Broth

In the recipe for making Hanoi beef pho, preparing the broth is the most crucial step. Let's begin now.

• After soaking, wash the beef ribs, oxtail, and beef thoroughly with water and place them in a large pot. Then, fill the pot with cold water covering the meat and bring it to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat and simmer for an additional 2 minutes before turning off the heat. Next, drain some of the boiling water, rinse the meat and ribs to remove any impurities. Finally, add the oxtail, ribs, and beef to the pot, pour in 5 large bowls of cold water, and bring to a boil. Be sure to skim off any foam continuously to ensure a clear broth.

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• Place the bag containing star anise, cinnamon, ginger, cilantro roots, and sugar cane prepared in the previous step into the pot of simmering water and season with additional spices.
• Simmer the ribs, oxtail, and beef for approximately 2 hours. You can use a pressure cooker to shorten the cooking time. Once the beef is cooked, remove it and soak it in a bowl of cold water to cool, then slice thinly. Be careful not to simmer the meat for too long as it may become too tender.

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• Once the beef ribs and oxtail are tender, add some seasoning to taste. Finally, blanch the noodles and pho cakes in boiling water. Arrange the noodles, meat, scallions, split onions, cilantro in layers in a bowl, pour in the boiling broth, and enjoy.

3. Finished Product Requirements 

So now we have a delicious, authentic bowl of Hanoi-style pho. When you taste it, you'll notice the natural sweetness and richness of the broth. The tender beef, chewy noodles, and flavorful broth are extremely enticing. Pho is best enjoyed hot. You can also add lime or chili according to your taste preferences.

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• How to Cook Beef Meatball Noodle Soup

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4. Some Notes on Making Hanoi Beef Pho 

• Sugar cane is an incredibly special ingredient that will give your broth a naturally sweet taste. Alternatively, you can use white radish as a substitute.
• During the broth simmering process, it's important to continuously skim off the foam to keep the broth clear. Avoid using fish sauce for seasoning while simmering as it may make the broth sour. If you need to add more liquid while simmering, use boiling water instead of cold water.

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• For well-cooked beef, you should use tenderloin or flank. For rare beef, choose sirloin as it offers tenderness and natural sweetness when thinly sliced.
• Soak the pho noodles in boiling water until soft before eating. You can prepare some lime and fresh chili to accompany for enhanced flavor.

With the guidance on how to make Hanoi beef pho provided here, it is hoped that you can confidently cook and treat your family and friends. Mytour Blog wishes you success and the most satisfying results.

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