Can we talk about Pho?

[Anonymous]

1) I love it
2) I want to be able to make it
3) Anybody on here know how to *easily* make it? And where to get the ingredients? (I'd love to do an organic version) Can be chicken or beef…

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Recipe:
http://www.vietworldkitchen.com/blog/2007/06/chicken_pho_noo.html

You should be able to get most of the ingredients from any Asian market (H-mart, G-mart, etc.)

[Anonymous]

I'm curious too, but haven't tried it yet. I've heard it can be done in a crockpot, and that there are spice packets you can buy premade.

[Anonymous]

I've made the broth in a crockpot -- makes the house smell *amazing*. You have to char some onion and ginger under the broiler, but once you add that in there it's pretty much set it and forget it. I can find star anise at Shoppers in in the international aisle.

[Anonymous]

If it were easy to make, it wouldn't be pho.

[Anonymous]

I was in Vietnam last year and took a cooking class.
I've since made Pho a few times - it is really pretty amazing!
It takes a along time - many hours, it's not cheap, and I drive out to Eden Center to get the ingredients.

Even so - well worth it.
Good luck.
It's not difficult - just time consuming.

[Anonymous]

The shortcuts don't cut it. Those short-cut packets you get are disgusting and full of msg. The real way is not hard, but you absolutely have to take the time to bring the flavors out. The recipe posted above is good. Signed, a Vietnamese-American foodie.

[Anonymous]

I definitely encourage foodie adventures, but pho is a food that really does make a great deal of sense to buy at restaurants. It takes a long time to make correctly and an even longer time to perfect your recipe, but it can be made in bulk and sold for cheap. There are so many things that people buy at restaurants that can be made both cheaper and better at home. Pho is not one of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I definitely encourage foodie adventures, but pho is a food that really does make a great deal of sense to buy at restaurants. It takes a long time to make correctly and an even longer time to perfect your recipe, but it can be made in bulk and sold for cheap. There are so many things that people buy at restaurants that can be made both cheaper and better at home. Pho is not one of them.

This! I just took a full day pho tour in Saigon, and on it they said that it would be ridiculous to make your own pho because it requires so many ingredients and so much time that you must make it in huge quantities to be good. Notice that it isn't even made (at least not well) in regular Vietnamese restaurants. It is best at dedicated pho shops that serve huge quantities of people.

[Anonymous]

Just like ANY soup base the secret is in the broth, which sounds easy on the surface.

However, to make a clear broth is not so easy, which is what is required of Pho. One small mis-step and your broth will be cloudy and dark.

I'm surprised the pho recipe posted shows a chicken broth. Traditional Pho is made with beef broth. Here is a good break-down:

http://www.seriouseats.com/2012/09/the-food-lab-how-to-make-traditional-vietnamese-pho.html

[Anonymous]

There's beef, chicken, seafood and vegetarian pho but it traditionally started with beef. If you want it quick/easy and still flavorful, use chicken.

The secret to clear broth is simmering and removing the fat floating on top.

[Anonymous]

http://kristinekidd.com/kkidd/kristinekidd/2013/01/cure-for-the-flueasy-gluten-free-chicken-pho.html#more

I made this last weekend with homemade broth we already had (from a turkey). It was quite good!

You can get the star anise cheap at Latino or Asian markets.

[Anonymous]

It's noodle soup but not pho if there's "shiitake and bok choy".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I definitely encourage foodie adventures, but pho is a food that really does make a great deal of sense to buy at restaurants. It takes a long time to make correctly and an even longer time to perfect your recipe, but it can be made in bulk and sold for cheap. There are so many things that people buy at restaurants that can be made both cheaper and better at home. Pho is not one of them.

Agree. Go out for pho, but cook steaks, scallops and lobster at home.

[Anonymous]

And it's pronounced FUH. Just to avoid embarrassment when ordering at a restaurant.