Spicy Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup

Chef John's spicy pho recipe for the famous Vietnamese beef noodle soup is sure to impress and will be a new family favorite at your dinner table!

Spicy Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup

Course: SoupCuisine: European
Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

5

minutes
Total Time

5

minutes
Servings

8

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon — vegetable oil

  • 2 thick slices — beef shank

  • 2 pounds — beef oxtail, cut into pieces

  • 1 (6 inch) piece — fresh ginger, sliced

  • 6 — whole star anise

  • 1 — cinnamon stick

  • 1 teaspoon — fennel seeds

  • 1 teaspoon — whole coriander seeds

  • 2 — whole cloves

  • 1 — cardamom pod

  • 3 quarts — water

  • 1 — onion, halved

  • 6 cloves — garlic

  • 2 tablespoons — white sugar

  • 1 — bay leaf

  • 2 tablespoons — fish sauce

  • 1 tablespoon — soy sauce

  • 1 (16 ounce) package — fresh rice noodles

  • 1 cup — fresh bean sprouts, or to taste

  • 1 — fresh jalapeño pepper, sliced into rings, or to taste

Directions

  • Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add beef shanks, oxtail pieces, and ginger; cook, turning occasionally, until browned, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Add star anise, cinnamon stick, fennel seeds, coriander seeds, cloves, and cardamom pod; sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
  • Add water, onion, garlic, white sugar, and bay leaf to beef mixture; bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer until broth is flavorful and meat is falling off the bone, 5 to 6 hours. Remove meat and reserve. Strain broth into a pot; discard strained spices and vegetables.
  • Chop beef shank and oxtail meat; add to broth. Stir in fish sauce and soy sauce; bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low; keep warm.
  • Place noodles in a large bowl and cover with hot water. Set aside until noodles are softened, about 5 minutes. Drain and rinse in cold water.
  • Place a handful of bean sprouts in the bottom of a large soup bowl. Top with a large handful rice noodles and a few jalapeño slices. Ladle broth into bowl to cover noodles.

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