The Secret of Successful PHO RECIPE

 PHO RECIPE

What is Pho ?

Vietnam is a country with a history spanning over thirty-five hundred years, but pho is a relatively new food. It’s unclear how and when it was birthed, though most people agree that the magical moment happened at the beginning of the twentieth century in and near Hanoi, the capital located in the northern part of the country. 

Don’t downgrade pho by labeling it a humble food

It is delicious yet inexpensive and is often crowned the

best.

Living in this world without eating pho is foolish,

Upon death, the altar offerings should include it.

Now go savor pho, or you shall crave it.

QUICK CHICKEN PHO

Great for pho beginners, this recipe is also terrific for cooks in a hurry. It involves less than 45 minutes

The keys to this streamlined approach include toasting spices and dry sautéing the ginger and green onion, which help to extract flavor fast. Poaching the chicken in the broth adds savory depth. You’ll practice some fundamental pho techniques that you can apply elsewhere, too. Choose a broth that tastes like chicken, such as Swanson brand, which is less fussed up and easy to manipulate.

Takes about 40 minutes

*¾-inch (2 cm) section ginger

 *2 medium-large green onions

 *1 very small (.5 oz | 15 g) bunch cilantro sprigs 

*1½ teaspoons coriander seeds

 *1 whole clove 

*3½ to 4 cups (840 ml to 1 l) low-sodium chicken broth

 *2 cups (480 ml) water

 *1 (6 to 8 oz | 180 to 225 g) boneless, skinless chicken breast or thigh About ½ teaspoon fine sea salt

 *5 ounces (150 g) dried narrow flat rice noodles

  2 to 3 teaspoons fish sauce

 *About ½ teaspoon organic sugar, or 1 teaspoon maple syrup (optional) Pepper (optional)  

Peel then slice the ginger into 4 or 5 coins. Smack with the flat side of a knife or meat mallet; set aside. Thinly slice the green parts of the green onion to yield 2 to 3 tablespoons; set aside for garnish. Cut the leftover sections into pinkie-finger lengths, bruise, then add to the ginger. Coarsely chop the leafy tops of the cilantro to yield 2 tablespoons; set aside for garnish. Set the remaining cilantro sprigs aside. In a 3- to 4-quart (3 to 4 l) pot, toast the coriander seeds and clove over medium heat until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the ginger and green onion sections. Stir for about 30 seconds, until aromatic. Slide the pot off heat, wait 15 seconds or so to briefly cool, then pour in the broth. Return the pot to the burner, then add the water, cilantro sprigs, chicken, and salt. Bring to a boil over high heat, then lower the heat to gently simmer for 30 minutes. While the broth simmers, soak the rice noodles in hot water until pliable and opaque. Drain, rinse, and set aside.

After 5 to 10 minutes of simmering, the chicken should be firm and cooked through (press on it and it should slightly yield). Transfer the chicken to a bowl, flush with cold water to arrest the cooking, then drain. Let cool, then cut or shred into bite-size pieces. Cover loosely to prevent drying. When the broth is done, pour it through a fine-mesh strainer positioned over a 2-quart (2 l) pot; line the strainer with muslin for superclear broth. Discard the solids. You should have about 4 cups (1 l). Season with fish sauce and sugar (or maple syrup), if needed, to create a strong savorysweet note. Bring the strained broth to a boil over high heat. Put the noodles in a noodle strainer or mesh sieve and dunk in the hot broth to heat and soften, 5 to 60 seconds. Lift the noodles from the pot and divide between the 2 bowls. Lower the heat to keep the broth hot while you arrange the chicken on top of the noodles and garnish with the chopped green onion, cilantro, and a sprinkling of pepper. Taste and adjust the broth’s saltiness one last time. Return the broth to a boil and ladle into the bowls. Enjoy with any extras, if you like.

HOW TO BUILD A PERFECT BOWL OF PHO

Your broth has simmered to perfection and your toppings and garnishes are prepped. Now what? It’s time to assemble the perfect bowl of pho! Once you are able to orchestrate the timing of everything to deliver a proper bowl that has all of the elements working together, these skills can then be transferred to any bowl that you build going forward. Follow these easy steps and you’ll have a bowl that will make you (and others) satisfied.

1. Bring a large saucepan filled with water to a boil.

2. Add the bean sprouts to the saucepan and blanch for 3 to 5 seconds.

3. Place a handful of noodles (fresh or cooked dried noodles) in a longhandle noodle strainer and blanch for 5 to 10 seconds. When you lift up the strainer, let the hot water drip into the empty bowl. Give the bowl a swirl and pour out the hot water. The noodles and bowl are then warmed up, ready for the hot soup.

4. Place the warmed noodles in the bowl.

5. Add toppings such as sliced meat, chopped scallion, and sliced onion to the bowl.

6. Smash the white part of the scallion and blanch in the broth for 2 seconds. Ladle the scallion and hot soup over the noodles.

7. Add additional garnishes such as fresh herbs, blanched bean sprouts, sliced chili peppers, and a squeeze of lime

8. Enjoy!