Hanoi beef pho, a quintessential dish of Vietnamese cuisine, has captivated countless food lovers with its fragrant, rich, and delicate flavors. A delicious bowl of pho is not merely a combination of rice noodles, beef, and broth, but a subtle harmony of spices, herbs, and meticulous cooking techniques. This article will guide you on how to make traditional Hanoi beef pho so you can prepare this special dish at home.
Basic ingredients for beef pho
Selecting Ingredients for Hanoi Beef Pho
The traditional Hanoi beef pho recipe begins with choosing fresh, high-quality ingredients. Quality ingredients are key to creating a flavorful bowl of pho.
Choosing Beef Bones
Beef bones are the most crucial ingredient for creating a sweet and rich broth. Opt for fresh beef leg bones (shank bones) that have a natural red color and no foul odor. Beef shank bones contain marrow, which will produce a sweet, fragrant, and rich broth when simmered. Avoid frozen bones as their nutritional quality is not guaranteed, and they may have an unpleasant smell.
Selecting beef bones for Hanoi beef pho broth
Choosing Beef
Depending on your preference, you can choose different cuts of beef such as tenderloin, shank, brisket, or flank. Fresh, high-quality beef will have a bright red color, light yellow fat, white tendons, and good elasticity when pressed. For rare beef pho (phở tái), choose tenderloin as it is tender, flavorful, and lean. For cooked beef pho, beef stew pho, or brisket pho (phở chín, sốt vang, gầu), choose beef shank or brisket, especially the center cut of the shank (bắp lõi hoa) because this cut is tender, crunchy, and delicious.
Different cuts of beef for Hanoi beef pho
Preparing the Ingredients
Proper preparation helps remove the characteristic odors of beef and beef bones, and also makes the broth clearer and more fragrant.
Preparing Beef Bones
Wash the beef bones thoroughly with water, then soak them in a mixture of water, crushed ginger, salt, and lemon juice for about 4-6 hours to eliminate odors. After soaking, rinse the bones again with cold water and let them drain. Next, blanch the bones in boiling water with ginger and rice wine, then rinse them one more time. This step effectively removes impurities and odors.
Preparing Beef
Wash the beef thoroughly, then rub crushed grilled ginger or lemon/vinegar on the surface of the meat to remove odors. Rinse the meat again with cold water and let it drain.
Making Beef Pho Broth
The broth is the soul of beef pho. The traditional Hanoi beef pho recipe emphasizes simmering the bones thoroughly to create a clear, sweet, and fragrant broth.
Place the prepared beef bones in a large pot, and cover them with water. Add roasted onion, roasted ginger, split sugarcane, cilantro roots, and a spice bag (star anise, cinnamon stick, cardamom, roasted coriander seeds) to the pot. Bring to a boil, skimming off any foam thoroughly to ensure a clear broth. Simmer the bones for at least 4 hours, or even longer for a richer and sweeter broth. Season with salt, sugar, and MSG to taste.
Assembling the Beef Pho
Slice the beef into thin pieces against the grain. Blanch the rice noodles in boiling water until softened. Place the rice noodles in a bowl, add rare beef slices, scallions, cilantro, and thinly sliced white onion. Ladle the hot broth into the bowl, the heat of the broth will cook the rare beef.
Garnishing beef pho with herbs and serving with side vegetables
Enjoying Beef Pho
Eat beef pho with fresh herbs, bean sprouts, lime, chili peppers, chili sauce, and hoisin sauce. Quẩy (fried dough sticks) are also an indispensable side dish when enjoying beef pho.
A finished bowl of Hanoi beef pho
Tips for a Clear Broth
If the broth becomes cloudy, you can use a beaten egg white. Slowly pour the egg white into the pot of broth, then skim off the egg white. Alternatively, you can add a few slices of raw potato to the broth, simmer for about 30 minutes, and then remove them.
Tips for clarifying beef pho broth
Conclusion
The traditional Hanoi beef pho recipe requires meticulousness and patience in each step, from selecting ingredients and preparation to simmering the broth. However, the result of this effort is a fragrant, flavorful bowl of pho with traditional taste, truly worthy of being a culinary essence of Vietnam. Try your hand at cooking Hanoi beef pho to treat your family and friends! You will surely receive many compliments!