Best Pho Broth Recipes

PHO BROTH

Steps:

• In this recipe, the bone to vegetable ratio should be 2-1, rising halfway up the pot. Veggie Roasting: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Leaving skins on, roughly chop the onions, ginger root, and carrots and arrange on a baking tray. Pop in the oven until the skins are crispy and the veggies are al dente. Take them out to cool. Remove all outer skins. Bone Purification: While veggies are in the oven, place your largest stockpot and another pot on the stove. Fill the smaller pot 1/2 the way up with salty water and bring to a boil. Add the bones and oxtail (in batches if needed) and bring to boil rapidly. A collection of frothy bits will collect on the surface. After 5 minutes, transfer the bones to the larger pot. Stock (part 1): Once all the bones are in the pot, fill with water to cover by about 2-3 inches. Add a healthy sprinkle of salt, bring to a boil and then immediately reduce to simmer (like REALLY low heat). Simmer half covered for 1-2 hours. Skim off fat from surface. Spice Sachet: Toast all of the spices in a dry pan until just before smoking point. Tie in cheesecloth. Stock (part 2): Add your now peeled roasted veggies to the pot along with your daikon and apples. Drop in your spice sachet. Add healthy sprinkling of sugar and a tiny bit of fish sauce. Continue a light simmer for another 3-6 hours. Skim off fat as needed. Straining: Remove bones and solids from the stock and discard. Save the cooked meat from the ox-tail for another use or to serve with your Pho (placing the meat immediately in cool water for at least 10 minutes before storing will keep it moist). Prepare a colander with cheesecloth and put over a pot. strain your stock into the smaller pot and set back on the burner. Stock (Part 3): Add a fresh slice of raw ginger, a couple of new star anise cloves and a sprig of lemongrass. Season to taste. Most likely you will need more salt and sugar. Continue simmer for another 30min. FIN.

SIMPLE VEGETARIAN PHO BROTH

Steps:

• Scorch the onion and ginger by holding the pieces above a flame with tongs, or in a dry frying pan if using an electric stove. Turn the pieces until they are scorched black in places on all sides. Slice the ginger lengthwise.
• Combine the scorched onion and ginger with the water, leeks, turnips, carrots, mushroom stems or dried shiitakes, garlic, lemon grass, salt to taste and 1 tablespoon sugar in a large soup pot and bring to a boil. Tie the spices in a cheesecloth bag and add to the soup. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 1 hour. Add the fish sauce if using, and simmer for another hour (2 hours total, with or without the fish sauce). Strain through a cheesecloth-lined strainer. Taste and adjust salt and sugar.