Shortcut Pho Recipes

SHORTCUT PHO

Steps:

• Juice half the lime; cut remaining half into wedges. In a 4-qt. pot combine lime juice, broth, fish sauce, cinnamon, coriander, and cloves. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, 15 minutes.
• Drop beef into simmering broth. Cook 20 to 30 seconds or until cooked through.
• Divide noodles among bowls. Spoon broth and beef over noodles. Top bowls with cilantro and green onions. Serve with lime wedges. Serves 4.

1-HOUR BEEF PHO

Steps:

• Cut the flank steak in half lengthwise and place in the freezer until the steak starts to freeze around the outer edges and is easy to thinly slice, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine the cinnamon sticks, star anise and peppercorns in a large Dutch oven or wide pot. Toast over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the spices are very fragrant, about 3 minutes. Transfer the toasted spices to a small bowl.
• Increase the heat to high and pour the oil into the Dutch oven. Add the white onions and ginger and cook, stirring occasionally, until deeply browned in spots, about 5 minutes. Carefully pour in the beef broth and stir in the garlic and toasted spices. Bring to a boil then lower the heat to a strong simmer and cook until the broth is deeply flavored and fragrant, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, fill a large stockpot halfway with water, cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Arrange the red onion, jalapeño, lime, bean sprouts and Thai basil on a small serving plate. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Remove the flank steak from the freezer and slice very thinly on a slight bias against the grain (about 1/8 inch thick). Lay the sliced steak on a large plate and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Strain the broth into a large bowl then return to the Dutch oven; discard the solids. Stir in the fish sauce and sugar and bring to a boil.
• Meanwhile, add the noodles to the boiling water and cook, giving them a quick stir, until they lose their shape and almost wilt down, about 5 seconds. Drain the noodles well. Working quickly, divide the noodles among 4 large serving bowls. If the noodles start to get too sticky, give them a quick rinse under hot water.
• Shingle the sliced steak on top of the noodles in a single layer. Pour the hot broth over the noodles and steak. Serve immediately with the plate of toppings, hoisin sauce, Sriracha and more fish sauce on the side.

SHORTCUT BEEF PHO

Steps:

• Position an oven rack on the highest setting and preheat the broiler. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• On a baking sheet, toss the onion and ginger with the canola oil. Broil on high until the onion starts to char and blacken around the edges, rotating the pan and tossing the aromatics halfway through cooking, about 8 minutes.
• Heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Working quickly to prevent burning, add the five-spice powder and toast until fragrant, about 10 seconds. Immediately add the broth and 2 cups water, then stir in the charred ginger and onion. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a simmer and cook until the broth is fragrant and the flavors are concentrated, about 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook the rice noodles in boiling water until soft, about 5 minutes. Drain well and reserve in a bowl.
• Strain the broth through a fine-mesh sieve, then return the soup to the large pot, stir in the fish sauce and bring to a simmer.
• Divide the rice noodles between four large serving bowls. Fan about 4 of the beef slices over the noodles, overlapping slightly. Ladle 2 1/2 cups broth over the meat and serve immediately with the bean sprouts, basil, cilantro, hoisin, scallions, jalapeno and lime at the table.

BEEF PHO

Steps:

• Make the broth: Position a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F. Toss the beef shanks, onions, ginger and garlic with the vegetable oil on a rimmed baking sheet and season generously with salt. Roast, turning once halfway through, until the meat and vegetables are slightly charred, about 30 minutes. Transfer to a large pot.
• Meanwhile, toast the cinnamon sticks, star anise pods and peppercorns in a small skillet over medium heat, shaking the pan, 5 minutes.
• Add the beef broth, 2 quarts water, the toasted spices and the fish sauce to the pot with the beef shanks. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook, skimming off any foam that rises to the top, until the meat is tender, 1 hour to 1 hour, 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and transfer the beef shanks to a cutting board; strain the broth through a fine-mesh sieve into another large pot. (The broth can be made up to 2 days ahead; let cool, then refrigerate in a covered container.)
• Shred the meat from the shanks with two forks, discarding any bits of cartilage, then stir back into the broth. Discard the bones.
• Cook the noodles as the label directs. Divide the broth and shredded meat among bowls, then add the noodles and roast beef. Top with the bean sprouts, basil, jalapenos and red onion; serve with hoisin sauce and/or Sriracha.

JESSICA'S SHORTCUT PHO

Steps:

• Combine beef stock, chicken stock, lime juice, onion, cilantro, basil, lemongrass paste, red pepper flakes, cumin, garam masala, ginger, and white pepper in a stockpot. Add steak and shrimp; simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• While soup is cooking, prepare noodles about 30 minutes into the process. Bring a separate pot of water to a boil and add noodles. Boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 6 minutes. Drain, rinse, and add to the soup. Stir in bean sprouts and season with salt.

SHRIMP PHO

Steps:

• Combine chicken stock, vegetable broth, shallots, soy sauce, fish sauce, ginger, rice vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, pepper, cinnamon stick, and star anise in a large pot. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, until flavors combine, 1 to 2 hours. Strain out solids and return broth to the pot.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add rice noodles and cook until opaque, 4 to 5 minutes.
• While noodles are cooking, saute shrimp with soy sauce and garlic in a skillet until shrimp are cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Drain noodles and rinse until cold water. Divide among 6 large soup bowls. Ladle hot broth over noodles and top with shrimp, bean sprouts, and green onions. Serve basil, cilantro, mint, and lime wedges alongside.