Master the Art of Cooking Authentic Hue Beef Noodle Soup – Mytour

When it comes to the culinary scene in Hue, the iconic Hue beef noodle soup is a must-try. This dish boasts a fragrant broth, rich and harmonious, blending well-cooked beef, crab sausage, and blood pudding with a variety of fresh herbs. Quickly discover the simple and authentic way to cook Hue beef noodle soup following the original recipe from Mytour. It's a guarantee to receive praises from everyone!

1. Introducing the Origin of Hue Beef Noodle Soup

True to its name, this dish originates from the ancient capital of Hue. According to various studies, Hue beef noodle soup was once a royal dish. Despite the culinary influences from the North and Chinese immigrants on Hue cuisine, this dish stands out. While people in the North often use aromatic spices to mask the distinctive smell of beef, in Hue, they use lemongrass.

Bun Bo Hue is a combination of various ingredients. Particularly, to make the broth delicious and more flavorful, people in Hue use a special shrimp paste – a characteristic condiment in the Central region. A bowl of authentic Bun Bo is often paired with diverse elements such as crab sausage, beef sausage, blood pudding, trotters, and various greens like banana flowers, raw vegetables,...

• Bun Bo Hue contains 637 kcal

Many people often think that preparing this Hue beef noodle soup can be quite challenging. Don't worry too much! In today's article, Mytour Blog will reveal a simple and authentic way to cook delicious Bun Bo Hue! So, if you're searching for a delicious beef dish, don't miss out on this fantastic suggestion.

2. Ingredients for making Bun Bo Hue

Main Ingredients: 

• 500 grams of beef sirloin
• 2 kg of pork leg bones
• 400 grams of pig trotters, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 200 grams of pig blood
• 4-5 pig ears
• Lime, chili, and chili paste

Ingredients for the broth: 

• 2 tablespoons shrimp paste
• 6 lemongrass stalks, crushed
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 2 teaspoons MSG
• 2 onions
• 1 ginger root

Ingredients for the coloring sauce: 

• 2 teaspoons cooking oil
• 2 minced shallots
• 2 teaspoons annatto seed oil
• 2 teaspoons chili paste

Variety of herbs for Bun Bo Hue:

• Green onions, herbs, bean sprouts, banana flowers, split water spinach….

Photo: Pups with chopsticks

3. Step-by-step guide to making authentic tasting Bun Bo Hue

3.1 Preparing the ingredients for Bun Bo Hue

Step 1: Wash various raw vegetables and banana blossoms thoroughly.

Step 2: Peel and finely chop garlic and onions.

Photo: Pups with chopsticks

Step 3: Peel and lightly crush the ginger. Clean the lemongrass, removing the lower stalk.

Step 4: Freeze and then boil beef or pork blood until cooked. Slice into bite-sized pieces. 

3.2 How to Make Coloring Broth for Hue Beef Noodle Soup

Step 1: For a simple yet authentic recipe for Hue beef noodle soup, prepare the coloring broth. Heat cooking oil in a pan and sauté 1 chopped lemongrass stalk and 1 tablespoon chopped garlic until fragrant. 

Step 2: When the garlic and lemongrass are golden, add 2 teaspoons of annatto seeds. Turn off the heat when the broth achieves an appealing color. 

3.3 How to Prepare Broth for Hue Beef Noodle Soup

Step 1: Clean the meat: wash the meat and bones with water, then put them in a pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil to blanch the meat. Afterwards, rinse and wash the meat thoroughly under running water.

Image: collected

Step 2: Mix 2 tablespoons of shrimp paste with 1/2 bowl of water.

Step 3: Marinate pork trotters and beef shank with 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1 tablespoon of salt, 2 teaspoons of MSG, 1 tablespoon of diluted shrimp paste, 1/2 tablespoon of minced shallots, and lemongrass.

Step 4: Simmer the bones for at least 1 hour to extract a sweet broth.

Step 5: Place 2-3 lemongrass stalks and a few ginger slices at the bottom of the pot, then add the pork trotters on top. Boil until it starts boiling then simmer. Skim off the scum occasionally. As pork trotters cook quickly, they will be done in no time. Once boiled, immerse in cold water to firm up, ensuring they stay white and do not disintegrate.

Step 6: Continue by placing 2 lemongrass stalks and a few ginger slices at the bottom of the pot, then add the beef to boil. Boil until the beef is cooked, then remove, cool, and slice into thin, bite-sized pieces.

Image: curated collection

Step 7: For a straightforward Bun Bo Hue, combine broth from bones and boiled meat. Add 1 onion, 4 shallots to the mix. Season with additional spices, sugar, MSG, and the rest of the diluted shrimp paste. Adjust to taste.

Step 8: Integrate the previously prepared annatto oil for color.

4. Plating Bun Bo Hue

Step 1: Briefly blanch noodles in boiling water before transferring to a bowl.

Step 2: Arrange slices of beef, pork knuckle, pork ear, blood cubes in the bowl, sprinkle with cilantro, and green onions, then pour the hot broth over.

Step 3: Serve with a side of fresh herbs, banana blossoms, and lime for adding to the soup as desired.

Image: Collected

4. Final Product Expectations

For this simple and easy Bun Bo Hue recipe, the broth should be rich and beautifully colored with annatto oil. It must have the aromatic essence of Hue's shrimp paste, tender and fragrant beef, soft blood cubes not dried out, and pork knuckles that are tender without disintegrating.

Enhance the dish with a bit of sautéed chili paste and a squeeze of lime for added flavor. Bun Bo Hue tastes best served hot.

Mastering Bun Bo Hue becomes effortless with the recipe tips from Mytour Blog. Share this simple Bun Bo Hue cooking method to spread the word! For variety, explore other noodle and pho recipes such as:

• 4 sought-after Bun Bo recipes by cooking enthusiasts
• The ultimate Southern-style Pho Bo recipe
• Authentic Central Vietnam-style Bun Gio Bo Heo recipe