Traditional Recipe for Cooking Authentic and Flavorful Beef Pho with Rich Broth

Beef pho is a special culinary gift, embodying the profound national spirit of our people. Each region has its unique way of preparing this dish, creating a diverse range of flavors for pho. In this article, Mytour Blog will guide you through the most enticing beef pho recipes!

Introduction to Beef Pho

Beef pho is a traditional dish of the Vietnamese people. This familiar and iconic dish is also considered a representative element of Vietnamese cuisine in the eyes of international friends. Pho holds a special place in the hearts and souls of the Vietnamese people.

Currently, pho is present throughout our country, with each region offering its unique flavor. This diversity largely comes from variations in broth preparation and regional eating styles. Differences in ingredients for the broth and seasoning result in distinct flavors. Northern pho is often robust and rarely served with fresh herbs, while Southern pho is characterized by its sweetness and the addition of various fresh herbs.

Ingredients for Cooking Beef Pho

To perfect a delicious bowl of beef pho, you cannot overlook the following essential ingredients:

In some regions, pho can be enjoyed with various herbs like coriander, basil, or bean sprouts.

How to Cook Authentic Northern-Style Beef Pho

Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients

• Marrow Bones: 2 kg
• Chuck and Brisket: 1 kg
• Onions: 3 bulbs
• Green Onions: 5 stalks
• Ginger: 1 piece
• Shallots: 6 bulbs
• Pho Noodles
• Pho Vegetables
• Rock Sugar: 200g
• Pho Spices: 1 packet
• Seasonings: broth mix, MSG, salt.

Step 2: Prepare the Ingredients 

• Cleanse marrow bones and beef with salted water, then drain. Cut beef into suitable pieces for cooking in the broth.
• Blanch marrow bones and rinse them several times with clean water. 
• Peel and clean the onions. Keep one whole, thinly slice one.
• Peel the shallots. Then, clean and chop the green onions, shallots, and ginger. Cut the top part of the green onions into 4 sections lengthwise and finely chop the remaining part. 
• Grill the sliced onions, ginger, and shallots until fragrant. 
• Roast the pho spices until fragrant, then place them in a filter bag and tie tightly. 

Step 3: Cook the Broth

• Place marrow bones, beef, spice packet, and grilled ingredients into a pot with 2.5 liters of clean water and boil for 30 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon of salt for a richer beef flavor. 
• After 30 minutes, remove the beef and let it cool, then slice into thin, bite-sized pieces. 
• Add 200g of rock sugar, 2 tablespoons of broth mix, 1 tablespoon of salt, and ¼ teaspoon of MSG to the pot of broth and stir. Simmer the broth evenly for another 30 minutes, then turn off the heat and remove the spice packet. 

Step 4: Completion

Traditional Southern-Style Beef Pho Recipe for Rich Flavor

• Beef Bones: 2.5 kg
• Beef, Tendon, and Brisket: ½ kg
• Beef Flank: 1 kg
• Beef Balls: ½ kg
• Star Anise: 2 pieces
• Cinnamon: 1 piece
• Cardamom: 1 piece
• Cloves: 2 pieces
• Ginger: 1 bulb
• Onion: 2 bulbs
• Shallots: 4 bulbs
• Dried Pho Noodles: 1 pack
• Common spices.

Step 1: Prepare Ingredients

• Cleanse beef bones with salted water, then blanch in boiling water. Rinse the bones thoroughly.
• Cleanse beef, brisket, flank, and tendon with salted water, then drain.
• Grill onions and shallots until fragrant.
• Cleanse ginger, then slice into thin pieces.
• Wash and cut the green onions, separating the leafy part and slicing the bulb into strands.

Step 2: Cook the Broth

• Boil beef bones, onions, shallots, and ginger with 4 liters of water. Maintain high heat throughout the boiling process. 
• Add star anise, cloves, and cinnamon when the water boils. Season with 2 tablespoons of salt and 2 tablespoons of broth mix. 
• Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat to low and simmer continuously for 4 hours. Skim off foam regularly to enhance the broth. 
• After 4 hours, add brisket, flank, and tendon, and simmer for 2 more hours. 
• When brisket and tendon are cooked, remove them. After 30 minutes, remove the remaining brisket and let it cool. 
• Continue simmering beef bones for an additional 3 hours. Adjust the broth with sugar, fish sauce, and seasonings to suit your taste. 

Step 3: Completion

• Thinly slice the beef. Rinse beef balls and let them drain.
• Blanch dried pho noodles in boiling water and drain.
• Arrange the beef, beef balls, sliced green onions, and julienned onions in a bowl. 
• Pour the broth into the bowl, and your Southern-style pho is ready. 

Easy and Flavorful Beef Pho Recipe Using a Spice Packet

Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients

• Pho: 1 packet
• Beef: 500g
• Beef Bones: 500g
• Pho Spice Packet: 1 packet
• Onion: 1 bulb
• Shallots: 4 bulbs
• Green Onions: 5 stalks
• Ginger: 1 piece
• Rock Sugar.

Step 2: Prepare the Ingredients

• Blanch beef bones and beef in boiling water for 3 minutes, then rinse thoroughly with clean water.
• Rinse and crush shallots. Rinse scallions.
• Rinse and drain water from shallots and ginger. Then, stir-fry ginger, shallots, and purple onions until fragrant.
• Place ingredients from the spice packet in a pan and stir-fry for 4 minutes, then pour into a filter bag.

Step 2: Cook the Broth

• Boil beef bones and beef with 1.5 liters of water over medium heat. After 30 minutes, remove the beef.
• Then, add shallots, purple onions, ginger, and the spice packet filter bag to the broth. Season with salt, sugar, and broth powder to taste. Stir well and continue to simmer the broth for 1 hour.

Step 3: Complete

• Boil the pho noodles in hot water and place them in a bowl. Slice the beef thinly and arrange it on top of the noodles along with julienned onions and finely chopped green onions.
• Pour the broth into the pho bowl. You can enhance the flavor by adding fresh herbs, cilantro, or pepper.

Secrets to cooking irresistibly delicious beef pho from Vietnamese chefs

• The broth becomes more aromatic when simmered with ginger, roasted onions, and purple onions. 
• Avoid overcooking the beef; once it's cooked to your liking, remove it and soak it in cold water to prevent discoloration.
• Avoid using pork bones or chicken bones to make the broth as it will compromise the pure taste of the dish. 
• Skimming off foam regularly during the simmering process will result in a clearer broth. 
• You can use sugarcane instead of sugar to simmer the broth. It will impart a sweeter taste. 
• Blanch the pho noodles with boiling water before adding them to the bowl.
• Pour piping hot broth into the pho bowl and evenly distribute it to the rare meat portions to make the pho bowl even more enticing. 

Hope the information above has provided you with some 'must-know' secrets to cook a flavorful beef pho at home. Don't forget to visit Mytour daily for more articles and useful life experiences!