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    Home » Recipes » Soup & Stew

    Phở Soup (Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup)

    Published: Mar 3, 2018 · Modified: Sep 2, 2022 by Laura Reigel · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump To Recipe Comments

    Phở soup is a Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup that is delicious and comforting. This flavorful and healthy soup recipe is easy to make. Now you can make your favorite beef phở soup at home.

    pho thai recipe with cilantro and onions
    Have you ever wondered what the key is to making a flavorful and delicious pho tai?

    Making this Vietnamese noodle soup at home is easier than you might think.

    You guys know that I'm always on the quest for recipes that capture the true authentic flavor. I want it to be so good that it tastes as it came straight from bà's kitchen.

    I used the recipe featured in Eat Real Vietnamese Food by Lien Nguyen. Lien's recipe is an easy phở recipe. It takes time but the steps are super simple.

    This cookbook is a collection of traditional Vietnamese recipes that are fantastic! I highly recommend picking up a copy.

    I love finding recipes that make me feel like I have an inside seat in someone's family kitchen. This book definitely checks that box.

    What is Phở?

    If you're asking this, then you may never have had a bowl of beef phở.

    pho tai served in a large bowl with bean sprouts, jalapenos, and plenty of sriracha

    What you're going to love about this soup!

    • Authentic Flavor: The flavor of the broth is exactly how it should be.
    • Healthy: Beef broth and veggies. What could be better for you?
    • Comforting: a steaming bowl of Phở noodle soup is one of the most comforting soups. Whenever it's cold outside, I've go to have it.
    • Easy: Making Phở at home is really easy. It's as simple as making a rich stock with the perfect aromatic and then adding some rice noodles.

    Recipe Notes

    Phở is all about broth. Having a flavorful beef broth is essential to making sure that this soup is delicious. Vietnamese Pho soup is such a simple thing to make, but there are a few techniques that you'll need to make it perfect!

    What you'll need to make Vietnamese noodle soup at home

    The ingredients that you need to make Phở soup are pretty simple:

    The foundation of this traditional Vietnamese soup is a stock made from either short ribs or beef knucklebones. The aromatic spices are what then give this dish it's distinctive flavor.

    For the phở broth:

    • Beef Bones: I chose to use knucklebones but you can also use short ribs. Or even a combination of both. Have the butcher 'crack' the bones for you. They will know what you mean.
    • Aromatics: White onions, cilantro, ginger, and fresh scallions.
    • Spices: Star anise, black cardamom, cinnamon sticks
    • Fish Sauce: Vietnamese food has signature umami that is usually imparted with fish sauce. choose a high-quality fish sauce like Red Boat or Suchi.

    Optional: You can also add in brisket. Phở can be served with rare steak, and/or brisket.

    Noodles:

    Phở is typically served with thin rice noodles. At one of my favorite restaurants, you can also order it with egg noodles.

    You will see rice sticks in the Asian section of the grocery store. They are sometimes called rice vermicelli or rice sticks.

    I like to use thin rice sticks but you can also use a medium or wide noodles.

    All the fixin's:

    Phở is typically served with a helping of bean sprouts, fresh Thai basil, lime wedges, and jalapeños on the side. These fresh veggies are added to your bowl of soup as you eat it. Yum!

    Although it is debated whether or not this is traditional, for me an absolutely necessary part of eating phở is the inclusion of an obscene amount of Sriracha Hot Sauce.

    I like my soup broth bright orange with sriracha and my lips burning. Of course, this is a personal preference.

    How to make Phở soup

    Phở should have a nice clear broth that tastes clean and fresh while offering a rich beef flavor that is infused with subtle spices.

    1. Start by setting up a large stockpot. Add the bones and the brisket, if you are using it.
    2. Cover with 5 quarts of water.
    3. Add in the onions.
    4. Bring to a boil.
    5. Skim off the scum as the broth is cooking.

    Assembling a bowl of soup

    The thinly sliced steak is cooked in the steaming hot broth. I've found the best cuts of steak to use for phở tai are beef filet or sirloin.

    The steaming hot broth cooks the steak to a rare to medium-rare temperature.

    Raw beef that is sliced exceptionally thin is added to the bowl along with a few sliced onions.

    PRO-TIP: To slice extra thin steak, freeze the meat for about 30 minutes before slicing. Freezing firms up the meat and makes it easy to slice paper thin.

    authentic pho tai recipe made from scratch

    FAQs and Expert Tips

    How do you pronounce Phở?

    Phở is pronounced as FA.

    Is phở healthy to eat?

    YES. Phở is a nutrient-rich soup made of bone broth, lean beef or chicken, and fresh vegetables.

    What is the difference between Ramen and phở?

    Ramen is typically made with a rich pork broth and egg noodles. Pho is made with a clear beef or chicken bone broth and rice noodles.

    What is Phở Tai?

    Phở Tai is the version of Phở that contains beef broth and rare steak.

    I'm a true believer in the magical healing properties of soup – Especially Chicken Noodle Soup.

    Phở Gá (Chicken Phở) is one of my favorite versions of chicken noodle soup. Once you give the traditional beef version a try, the chicken version should be next on your list.

    More of my favorite Asian Noodle Recipes and Sides

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    This noodle bowl is made with a combination of stir-fried vegetables and crisp fresh vegetables. This combo paired with spicy noodles and shrimp makes for an easy weeknight dinner that's always better than take-out.
    SEE THE RECIPE PIN FOR LATER
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    Lemongrass Shrimp Noodle Bowls

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    Vermicelli Noodle Bowls with Lemongrass Shrimp is one of my favorite things to make. You can easily make this popular Vietnamese recipe at home. These noodle bowls are packed with flavor and a ton of healthy veggies.
    SEE THE RECIPE PIN FOR LATER
    vermicelli noodle bowl recipe

    Spam Fried Rice

    Spam Fried Rice Recipe - Authentic Hawaiian
    SPAM Fried Rice is a Hawaiian fried rice recipe that is served as a side and even as a breakfast fried rice in Hawaii. If you've ever wondered what to cook with SPAM, this Fried Rice Recipe is a definite must-try.
    SEE THE RECIPE PIN FOR LATER
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    Hawaiian Mac Salad

    Hawaiian Mac Salad Recipe
    Hawaiian Mac Salad - This is just like the mac salad that comes with plate lunch in Hawaii. It's so good and super authentic. 
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    Furikake Chicken

    Furikake Fried Chicken
    This Hawaiian style fried chicken is impressively umami-filled. Top it with spicy sriracha aioli. Are your taste buds ready? 
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    ➽ Did you make this recipe? I love to see what's going on in your kitchen. Please show me what you're cooking. 🍳 Tag me @foodologygeek on your favorite social channel! Facebook, Instagram & Pinterest. If you loved ❤︎ this recipe, please leave a five ★ review and a comment!

    Bowl of Pho with Sriracha
    Favorite Saved!

    Homemade Phở Tai (Vietnamese Noodle Soup)

    Laura Reigel
    Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup. Making Phở at home is easy and this recipe and it's so good that I honestly think it's one of the best bowls of soup, I've ever had. The spices are spot one and the broth tastes rich and super fresh. So Yummy!!!
    PRINT PIN SAVE SAVED
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 2 hrs
    Total Time 2 hrs 20 mins
    Course Soup
    Cuisine Vietnamese
    Servings 6

    Ingredients
      

    Stock

    • 2 lbs Braising Beef Short Ribs, Beef Knuckle, or Oxtail
    • 3.75 quarts filtered water 15 cups

    Aromatics

    • 5 large Onions peeled, left whole
    • 1 bunch fresh cilantro stalks and leaves divided
    • 1 4 inch piece Fresh Ginger
    • bunch Scallions

    Spices

    • 1-2 star anise
    • 1-2 Black Cardamom Nut
    • 1 cinnamon sticks
    • sea salt
    • Pepper
    • Fish Sauce
    • mushroom seasoning
    • Lemon
    • White Vinegar
    • 1 lb lean beef
    • 12 ounces rice sticks Banh pho

    Toppings

    • Bean Sprouts
    • Basil
    • Limes
    • jalapeño peppers
    • chili pepper
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    Instructions
     

    • Add braising beef to a large stock pot and cover with water. 
    • Add 4 of the peeled onions and the cilantro stalks. 
    • Bring to a boil. Maintain heat at a vigorous boil. This allows the scum to come to the surface. 
    • Skim off the top of the broth to ensure that is stays clear. 
    • Once there is no more scum coming to the topic reduce the heat and simmer for 3-4 hours. 
    • Place the aromatics, the star anise, cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger in a cloth or cheese cloth bag so that they can be easily removed later. 
    • Let the aromatics steep in the simmering broth unit the flavors are infused into the broth. Let the aromatics steep according to taste. Don't let the flavors get too strong. 
    • Cook the rice sticks according to directions. Set aside. 
    • Freeze beef for about an hour. Slice thinly. 
    • Thinly slice beef can be cooked in hot broth before serving or immedietely before. 
    • Slice remaining onion into thin slices. Add to bowl immediately before adding hot broth. 

    YOUR OWN NOTES

    Click here to add your own private notes.
    Keyword beef pho, pho, pho recipe
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    About Laura Reigel

    Laura is the owner and CEO of Foodology Geek. She holds a degree in Physiology and Neuroscience as well as a Certification as a Nutrition Coach. Laura uses her love of cooking and science to create healthy real food recipes that you'll love eating.

    As a certified recipe hoarder, and meal prep maven Laura is passionate about sharing her love for cooking easy from-scratch recipes. She also shares the occasional family recipe and all of the technical details.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Thomas A Nguyen

      April 26, 2022 at 9:19 am

      5 stars
      The fish sauce you choose is very controversial and will depends on what part of Vietnam you descended from. As the child of south Vietnamese parents we grew up on 3 Crabs brand.

      Reply

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