Go Back
Beef Pho Recipe

Beef Pho Recipe

Beef Pho is a slow-simmered Vietnamese noodle soup made with rich beef broth, warm spices, tender noodles, and thin-sliced beef.
It’s deeply comforting, perfect for sharing, and rewards patience with incredible flavor.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours 35 minutes
Additional time 8 hours 10 minutes
Total Time 14 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 885
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Broth
  • 5 pounds beef soup bones
  • 1 tablespoon salt divided
  • 2 gallons water
  • 2 medium onions quartered
  • 1 piece fresh ginger root about 4 inches
  • 2 pounds beef oxtail
  • 1 white daikon radish sliced
  • 2 ounces whole star anise pods
  • 1/2 cinnamon stick about 3 inches
  • 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
  • 2 whole cloves
  • 1 tablespoon white sugar
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • Salt to taste
Other
  • 1 1/2 pounds dried flat rice noodles
  • 1/2 pound frozen beef sirloin

Method
 

  1. Place beef soup bones in a large pot and season with 1 teaspoon salt. Add water, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 2 hours.
  2. While the broth simmers, preheat the oven broiler.
  3. Place onions and unpeeled ginger on a foil-lined pan and broil until deeply charred, about 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. Let cool slightly, then chop onions and peel and slice ginger.
  5. Skim fat from the surface of the broth. Add oxtail, sliced radish, and charred onions. Tie ginger, star anise, cinnamon, peppercorns, and cloves in cheesecloth and add to the pot. Stir in sugar, fish sauce, and remaining salt. Simmer gently for at least 4 hours. Longer is better. Taste and adjust salt.
  6. Strain the broth, discarding bones and spice bundle. Chill broth in the refrigerator for 8 hours or overnight.
  7. Skim off and discard hardened fat. Reheat broth and keep hot.
  8. Soak rice noodles in hot water until tender but chewy, 6–10 minutes. Drain.
  9. Meanwhile, Slice frozen sirloin paper-thin.
  10. Divide noodles into bowls, top with beef slices, and ladle hot broth over everything to cook the beef instantly.
  11. Serve hot.

Notes

Beef Pho is a slow-simmered Vietnamese noodle soup made with rich beef broth, warm spices, tender noodles, and thin-sliced beef.
It’s deeply comforting, perfect for sharing, and rewards patience with incredible flavor.