| If you can imagine beef noodle soup for | | | | |
| breakfast, then you decidedly want to try | | | | 1 bunch Fresh Asian or regular basil |
| Pho, a Vietnamese dish that has been around | | | | |
| for nearly 100 years. I find my site is more | | | | 2 Fresh chili peppers, thinly sliced (Thai |
| and more leaning towards ethnic dishes that | | | | dragon or bird preferred) |
| are loaded with big, bold tastes, and that | | | | |
| make eating what it should be - an | | | | To Make The Broth: |
| experience! | | | | |
| | | | Char 2 of the onions (reserve the other onion |
| Pho (pronounced "phir" in English) is | | | | for bowl preparation) and ginger over an open |
| influenced by the Chinese and French | | | | flame to release essential oils and |
| cuisines, and was believed to have originally | | | | fragrances. They do not need to be blackened |
| derived from a French soup, "pot au feu",(pot | | | | - only char to soften. (This can be done |
| on fire)which Wikipedia defines as a French | | | | under a broiler if no open flame is |
| beef stew. This is usually a mixture of cuts | | | | available). Remove skin and blackened pieces |
| of beef, vegetable, and spice. | | | | from onions and ginger, remove stem ends from |
| | | | onions and discard. Set aside. |
| Pho had its humble beginnings nearly 100 | | | | |
| years ago, and at that time was basically | | | | In a large stock pot, place leg bones and |
| boiled beef, broth and noodles. It has since | | | | enough cold water to cover. Bring to a |
| evolved into much more than that. During the | | | | rolling boil, and boil approximately 3-5 |
| war in Viet Nam, when beef became scarce, a | | | | minutes. Remove from heat, and rinse under |
| pork version (pho lon) evolved. | | | | cold running water. Thoroughly clean stock |
| | | | pot, and return cleaned bones to pot. Add 6 |
| The combination of both French and Chinese | | | | quarts of water bring to a rolling boil, and |
| occupation has led to a diverse, unique | | | | reduce to a gentle simmer. Add onions, |
| cuisine that is admired by many. When the | | | | ginger, star anise,cloves, cinnamon stick, |
| Vietnamese fled to the US in 1975, they | | | | cut up flank steak, salt, fish sauce, and |
| brought to the United States their unique | | | | rock sugar. Simmer about 1 1/2 hours, and |
| cuisine and heritage. It is how Pho was | | | | remove flank steak. (Steak should be done |
| introduced to us... | | | | through but chewy) Cool steak in bowl of cold |
| | | | water to keep it from drying out and turning |
| As a Viet Nam vet, I am probably a bit more | | | | brown. Refrigerate flank steak. Continue |
| familiar with the SE Asian cuisine than most. | | | | simmering broth for approximately 3 hours, |
| I also worked for many years with a large | | | | skimming scum and fat from broth |
| population of Vietnamese when doing | | | | occasionally, and stirring bones from time to |
| vocational rehab. As a results, I enjoy the | | | | time. |
| cookery of the East. It is spicy, oft-times | | | | |
| hot, and is also very healthy. | | | | When done, strain broth through double-folded |
| | | | cheesecloth in a colander to remove any |
| Offered here is a basic recipe for Pho. I | | | | impurities and pieces of tendon. Discard |
| have spent extra time lately with my brother | | | | bones. To make preparation of Pho much |
| after Mom's passing. Howard, also a Viet Nam | | | | easier, refrigerate broth overnight. When |
| vet, and I talked a lot about the culture | | | | cold, any excess fat can be easily removed |
| there, and the great meals to be had. He, | | | | from the cold broth. The idea here is to |
| too, loves the bold, spicy hot foods of the | | | | have a very clear, fat-free broth. |
| Orient... | | | | |
| | | | To Prepare The Bowls: |
| We are accustomed to meals of bacon and eggs, | | | | |
| French toast, sausages, big whacking slices | | | | Slice the sirloin or round steak against the |
| of ham for breakfast. All loaded with fat | | | | grain in very thin slices. |
| grams and way too much cholesterol. Do your | | | | |
| self a favor, and try Pho one of these | | | | (Freezing for a half-hour makes this easier) |
| mornings instead... | | | | |
| | | | Thinly slice cooked flank steak |
| Enjoy! | | | | |
| | | | Heat broth to boiling over medium heat. |
| Assemble These Ingredients: | | | | |
| | | | Blanch noodles in 3-4 quarts of boiling |
| 3 medium unpeeled yellow onions (approx 1 | | | | water, and use a strainer to remove each bowl |
| pound) | | | | portion. Blanching should only take about |
| | | | 10-20 seconds, until the noodles have lost |
| 4-inch piece unpeeled ginger (approx 4 | | | | their stiffness, and are easily managed. |
| ounces) | | | | |
| | | | If using fresh noodles, simply untangle and |
| 5 to 6 pounds beef soup bones (leg and | | | | rinse in cold water. |
| knuckle bones - have butcher cut into 2-3 in | | | | |
| sections) | | | | Blanch bean sprouts in same water until |
| | | | wilted but crunchy. |
| 1 lb flank steak. cut into bite-sized pieces. | | | | |
| | | | Fill each bowl approximately 1/4 full with |
| 5 star anise | | | | noodles, place cooked flank steak and slices |
| | | | of raw sirloin or round steak on top of |
| 6 whole cloves | | | | noodles. Garnish this with sliced scallions, |
| | | | thinly sliced onions, and chopped cilantro. |
| 3-inch cinnamon stick | | | | |
| | | | Ladle seasoned broth into bowl. The idea |
| 1 1/2 tablespoons salt | | | | here is to have the boiling broth cook the |
| | | | thinly sliced raw steak. Season with freshly |
| 1/4 cup Hot chili sauce | | | | ground black pepper. |
| | | | |
| 2 tablespoons fish sauce | | | | A garnish plate is served with the completed |
| | | | Pho. It is customary for the diner to pull |
| Freshly ground Black pepper | | | | the leaves from the stalk of the basil and |
| | | | mint to season their meal. Take thinly |
| 1 ounce rock sugar (duong phen) or 1 | | | | sliced peppers, swirl them into the soup for |
| tablespoon white sugar | | | | added flavor. Add the slice of pepper if you |
| | | | like it very spicy. Lime wedges are used to |
| For The Bowl Itself: | | | | add a tartness to the soup. Bean sprouts are |
| | | | also used as a garnish. |
| 1/2 lb sirloin or round steak | | | | |
| | | | This variation of Pho is typically served in |
| 1 TBS Cilantro-chopped | | | | South Viet Nam. In the North, Pho is a much |
| | | | simpler dish, minus a lot of the ingredients |
| 2 14 ounce packages of small ( 1/8-inch wide) | | | | found in this recipe. In the North, Pho is |
| dried or fresh banh pho noodles | | | | served without the herbs and bean sprouts. |
| | | | Green chilies and lime only are used as |
| 2-3 scallions, with green tops sliced into | | | | condiments. In the South, Pho can be served |
| small rings. | | | | with a dozen different ingredients. |
| | | | |
| 2 cups fresh bean sprouts | | | | Pho has become very popular in the United |
| | | | States. There are at last count over 500 Pho |
| 2 Limes cut in wedges | | | | restaurants scattered across the US. Pho is |
| | | | often served with spring rolls and egg rolls. |
| 1 bunch Fresh mint | | | | |