Serves 6-8
INGREDIENTS
For the broth
2 medium onions, chopped large
A 1-inch piece of galangal, peeled and chopped
2-inch piece of ginger, peeled and chopped
3-5 pounds of good beef bones, preferably leg and knuckle
1 pound beef chuck, cubed
1 cinnamon stick
1 tablespoon coriander seeds
1 tablespoon fennel seeds
3 star anise
1 cardamom pod, shell removed
3 cloves
10 cups water
2 tablespoons salt
¼ cup tamari
¼ cup fish sauce
¼ cup raw sugar
For the noodle bowls
2 pounds rice noodles, cooked
2 pounds London broil or flank steak sliced thin and cooked in the broth for about 1 minute.
Pho vegetables: thinly sliced red onions, thinly sliced scallions, thinly sliced chili peppers, bean sprouts, shredded carrots, lime wedges, and sliced bell peppers (optional)
Pho herbs: fresh mint leaves, fresh Thai basil leaves, fresh cilantro leaves, fresh red basil leaves
Hoisin Sauce
Siracha hot sauce
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to broil. Place the onions, galangal, ginger, beef bones and beef and spices on a lined baking sheet and place in the oven under the broiler for about 5 minutes or until all is heavily charred, no black, but charred on the edges. Place all charred ingredients into a large soup pan and add the salt, fish sauce, tamari and raw sugar. Bring to a boil and then reduce and simmer at a low gentle boil for about 30-45 minutes. Making sure you spoon away the “scum” that rises to the top of the soup ban from the bones. Strain and place broth back in the soup pan and bring to a rolling gentle low boil again.
To assemble the bowl, place the cooked rice noodles in the bottom of a large noodle bowl. Place the raw beef into the pot of boiling stock and cook for 1 minute. Remove and place atop the noodles, ladle broth over the noodles and beef and garnish with desired pho vegetables and pho herbs and season with hoisin and siracha.