How do you make pho?

Question

im dying to know. i know they used beef to make the broth, but can you just use the broth that comes from the can? are there any inexspensive ways of making pho?

Answer 1

You can but ready made stocks/broths can be too salty and not all that flavoursome. Try your asian supermarket as I know here in Aus I can buy Pho stock cubes  where all I have to do is add boiling water and the other ingredients as well as ready made imported bases.

Answer 2

No you can not just use the canned broth or you would just have beef soup and it would not taste like the pho you want.

Making the pho broth is inexpensive as you would imagine but requires a lot of bones and cuts that are not sold in your usual supermarkets... they only add the 'prime' meats at the end. They make the rich broth with a variety of cheap but flavorful things like neck, tail and tongue etc.

If you have a chinatown area in your city; go to one of their meat markets and while your are buying your meats and bones, pick up some thai basil (it tases different from the italian style we use more often...more licorish flavor to it) also a few fresh straw mushrooms, jalapenos, cilantro and sprouts...Check out a Thai food website for directions but really it is just a rich broth noodle soup (that has been strained for clarity)...i never bothered with a recipe but it sounds like you might need the confidence it would give.

Or go to your favorite Pho shop and write down the condiments that they serve with their soup that you like. It is easy though -shopping will be the adventure. Good luck!

Answer 3

Nothing really compares to the real deal, but there are definitely ways to cut corners. Like instead of making beef stock, buying pre made beef stock and seasoning it with these little spice packages you can get at vietnamese grocery stores(make sure and use a cloth tea bag and you wont have to strain it of spices, just take the bag out). and using cheap cuts of beef, you can also make a chicken pho. Usually, if you want to make an ethnic food cheaply, finding a market that caters to that community makes it a lot cheaper. If you go to safeway for the pho stuff you'll likely pay twice as much as if you had just found a vietnamese grocery and bought most of your ingredients there. White people who dont know any better will pay redonculous prices for "specialty" food items, but people who eat that way everyday don't wanna pay 6 bucks for a little bottle of fish sauce, ya dig?

Answer 4

Pho Bo (Hanoi Beef Noodle Soup)

Recipe From Gourmet Magazine  

6 cups beef broth

1 (1/4-inch thick) slice ginger

2 whole star anise*

1 cinnamon stick

1/2 pound piece boneless beef sirloin, trimmed of any fat

3 ounces dried flat rice noodles*

1/4 cup Asian fish sauce*

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 cup fresh bean sprouts, rinsed and drained

1/8 cup minced scallions

1/4 cup fresh cilantro sprigs, washed and finely chopped

1 small thin fresh red or green Asian chilie, sliced very thin

1/2 cup fresh basil leaves

Lime wedges for garnish

*Available at Asian Markets

In a 2 quart saucepan bring broth, ginger, star anise, and cinnamon to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.

With a very sharp knife cut sirloin across the grain into very thin slices.

In a large bowl soak noodles in hot water to cover 15 minutes, or until softened and pliable.

While noodles are soaking, bring a kettle of salted water to a boil for noodles. Drain noodles in a colander and cook in boiling water, stirring 45 seconds, or until tender. Drain noodles in a colander. Set aside.

Strain broth into saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir in fish sauce, salt and pepper. Add sirloin and sprouts and cook 30 to 45 seconds, or until sirloin changes color. Skim any froth from soup.

To serve, divide noodles into 4 bowls. Ladle soup over noodles. Sprinkle scallion greens, cilantro, chilies and basil over soup and serve with lime wedges