One Hour Pho
I discovered pho right before I went to college, then it became my obsession. I realized recently that a big part of my three best friendships all revolved around the best pho shop in our college town, lol. When money was tight, I would whip this up to cure my cravings, and it’s still a lunch staple since my hubby isn’t a fan!
Pho Broth
Ingredients
- 8 cups beef (or chicken) broth, unsalted
- 4 cups of water
- 1 yellow onion, cut in half and skin removed
- 2-3 cloves of garlic, smashed
- 3-4 whole star anise
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 4 whole cloves
- 2 inch piece of ginger, peeled
- 2 T fish sauce
- 1 T palm sugar
- Salt
- Rice vermicelli noodles
- Thin sliced beef (I like to use eye of round)
- Hoisin
- Sriracha
- Lime wedges (or lime juice)
- Cilantro
- Red onion, sliced thin
- Bean sprouts
- Basil
- Jalapeno, sliced
Instructions
- Put a large stock pot over medium heat on your stove
- Roast your onion, garlic, ginger, and spices in your dry pan until fragrant, about 5 minutes
- Add the broth, water, and fish sauce, bring to a simmer. Try not to boil if you can help it, this will help your broth stay more clear than cloudy
- Once the broth is hot, add your palm sugar, and salt to taste.
- Let simmer for an hour to an hour and a half.
- Turn off the heat and let cool for storage.
- When going to make your soup portion, heat up about two cups of broth in a small pot. Bring to a boil and add your vermicelli noodles, cooking according to your package directions.
- Pour the hot broth and over your raw, thinly sliced beef (if this freaks you out, feel free to add this in your last 30 seconds - 1 minute of cooking your noodles). Garnish according to your taste!
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Easy Pho Broth: A Quick and Flavorful Way to Scratch Your Pho Itch
Pho, the beloved Vietnamese noodle soup, is a dish that’s as comforting as it is flavorful. The rich, aromatic broth, tender noodles, and a mix of herbs and toppings make it a meal that's hard to beat. But for many of us, the thought of making pho at home can feel intimidating, especially because traditional pho broth requires hours of simmering bones and aromatics.
But what if I told you that it’s possible to make an easy, delicious pho broth in just an hour? While it might not rival the complex, slow-simmered broth from a top-notch Vietnamese restaurant, this quicker version is more than enough to scratch that pho itch. It's perfect for a weeknight meal or when you’re craving pho but don't have the time to commit to an all-day cooking process.
The Secret to Pho’s Flavor
Pho is known for its deep, complex broth that balances savory, sweet, and aromatic flavors. The key to achieving that signature taste lies in a combination of ingredients that bring depth and fragrance to the broth. The traditional method involves simmering beef or chicken bones with a mix of spices and herbs for several hours, allowing the flavors to meld and the gelatin to release, creating a rich and silky texture.
In the traditional version, bones are often charred or blanched before being simmered, a process that enhances the broth’s flavor. Alongside the bones, you’ll find ingredients like star anise, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, cardamom, and coriander seeds, each adding a unique note to the final product. These spices infuse the broth, giving pho its signature taste.
However, to make a pho broth in just one hour, we’ll need to work with a shortcut that brings out the essential flavors without taking up your whole day. Using a combination of store-bought beef or chicken broth as a base and adding key ingredients like fresh ginger, onion, and pho spices can get you pretty close to the real deal without hours of simmering.
Why This Easy Pho Broth Works
Making pho broth in an hour isn’t as complicated as it seems. By using a few tricks and shortcuts, you can cut down on time while still getting that deep, fragrant flavor that makes pho so irresistible. Here’s how this easy method works:
1. Use Store-Bought Broth: One of the simplest shortcuts is using store-bought beef or chicken broth as a base. This instantly saves hours of simmering bones and allows you to focus on building flavor quickly. High-quality broth can give your pho a solid foundation, making it a perfect starting point for building a rich, complex soup.
2. Char the Aromatics: While you don’t have hours to roast bones, you can still char the aromatics—onions and ginger—over an open flame or in the oven. Charring them brings out their natural sweetness and smokiness, which adds depth to the broth. Simply cut the onion in half, and place it cut-side down in a hot, dry pan or directly on an open flame. Do the same with the ginger, which will release more of its oils when charred, creating a beautiful, fragrant base for your broth.
3. Simmer Quickly and Add Fresh Herbs: In traditional pho, you might simmer the broth for hours to extract all the flavors from the bones. However, by using store-bought broth as a base and simmering the aromatics and spices for only an hour, you can achieve a flavorful broth that’s still light and aromatic. Don’t forget to add fresh herbs like cilantro or basil to the broth towards the end of cooking. These herbs brighten up the flavor and make your pho feel more authentic.
4. Strain the Broth: After simmering, be sure to strain the broth to remove any solids, leaving you with a clear, flavorful liquid that forms the backbone of your pho. This step ensures that your broth remains smooth and free from unwanted bits of spice or charred onion.
A Versatile Broth for Any Protein
While beef is the most common protein used in pho, this easy pho broth can be adapted to suit your preferences. You can add thinly sliced raw beef, meatballs, or chicken, or go meatless with tofu or vegetables. Since this broth is already flavorful and aromatic, it will complement whatever protein you choose. Simply add your protein to the hot broth for a few minutes until it’s cooked to your liking.
For the classic beef pho, you can opt for cuts like brisket or flank steak, which can be thinly sliced and quickly cooked in the hot broth. Alternatively, for a chicken pho, poached chicken can be shredded and added to the soup for a tender, comforting option.
The Toppings: Where You Can Get Creative
While the broth is undeniably the star of pho, the toppings are what take it to the next level. Traditional pho is often served with a variety of garnishes that let you customize the soup to your taste. Some of the most common pho toppings include:
Fresh herbs: Thai basil, cilantro, mint, and green onions.
Lime wedges: For a refreshing, zesty kick.
Bean sprouts: For a crunch factor and freshness.
Chili peppers: For some heat and spice.
Hoisin sauce and sriracha: For added depth and a little sweetness.
While the broth itself is the foundation of the dish, it’s these toppings that allow you to personalize your pho and balance out the flavors. The contrast between the hot broth and the cool, fresh garnishes is one of the things that makes pho so irresistible.
The Joy of Homemade Pho
Making pho at home—even with a shortcut—is a deeply satisfying experience. The aroma that fills your kitchen as the broth simmers with spices, ginger, and onion is enough to make you feel like you’ve traveled to Vietnam. And while it might not take hours to prepare, the result is a bowl of pho that comes remarkably close to what you’d get at your favorite pho shop.
This easy pho broth is the perfect solution for when you’re craving a comforting bowl of noodle soup but don’t have the time (or the patience) to make it the traditional way. In just one hour, you can enjoy a flavorful, aromatic bowl of pho that’s as close to the real deal as possible without hours of cooking. Whether you're a pho aficionado or a newcomer to this iconic dish, this easy broth is sure to become your go-to for satisfying your pho cravings.
Conclusion
While nothing quite compares to the time-honored tradition of making pho from scratch, this quick and easy pho broth is the next best thing. Using store-bought broth as a base, adding charred aromatics, and infusing essential pho spices will give you a broth that’s rich, flavorful, and completely satisfying in just an hour. Paired with your favorite protein and topped with fresh herbs and garnishes, you’ll have a meal that rivals what you can find at your favorite Vietnamese restaurant. So the next time a pho craving strikes, don’t hesitate to whip up this easy broth—it’s the perfect way to bring the flavors of Vietnam into your own kitchen.