Pho (Vietnamese Beef & Rice-Noodle Soup)
#7
  Re: (...)
I had 3 lbs. of oxtails in the freezer just wanting to be used before summer sets in, so...

Sunday, I made this and we have been having little bowls of it everyday since - it's just wonderful. It'll take almost all day to complete, but you don't have to do anything hardly except take in the wonderful aromas!!!!

a couple of notes - I made the amount of broth called for, but the garnish, I just prepped what I thot we needed, still turned out too much, but I added it to the soup for leftovers and it was fine. I had a little pkg. of T-Bone left from Memorial weekend, so used that instead of buying a filet. God, this is so good!

* Exported from MasterCook *

Pho (Vietnamese Beef & Rice-Noodle Soup)

For the broth:
4 pounds Oxtails -- cut into 1 1/2 to 2-inch pieces and trimmed of fat
1 piece ginger -- (3 inch) unpeeled
1 large onion -- halved and unpeeled
1/3 cup nuoc mam (fish sauce)
8 whole star anise
5 whole cloves
3 inch cinnamon stick
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
3 bay leaves
For the garnish:
1 pound 1/4 inch rice noodles
2 bunches scallions -- sliced thin
1/2 cup tightly packed fresh cilantro leaves -- roughly chopped
1/2 cup parsley -- roughly chopped
1/2 cup basil -- approximately, whole fresh plants (minus roots) if possible
1 1/2 cups mung bean sprouts
3 large limes -- cut into wedges and seeds removed
Red chile paste or sliced fresh hot chilies (optional)
3/4 pounds filet mignon -- trimmed of fat and sliced very thin

Put the oxtails into a large stockpot and add enough water to cover the bones by 4 inches (about 2 gallons). Bring to a full boil and then lower the heat to a rapid simmer. Skim the scum that rises to the surface.

Meanwhile put the ginger and onion halves on a baking sheet and char them under the broiler until lightly blackened, 10 to 15 minutes. Turn them over halfway through cooking. When cool enough to handle, rinse the onion and ginger under running water, using a knife to scrape away some of the charred surface. Cut the ginger into 3 pieces and toss it and the onion halves into the simmering broth, along with 1 tablespoon salt and the fish sauce.

Put the star anise, cloves, and cinnamon stick in a small skillet and toast them on top of a stove burner over medium heat. Turn the spices a couple of times until they're slightly darkened (3 to 4 minutes) and until you smell their aroma. Put the toasted spices and fennel seeds in a small square of double thick cheesecloth and tie the bundle with a long piece of kitchen twine. Add the spice bundle and the bay leaves to the broth, tying the end of the twine to the pot handle for easy retrieval.

Let the broth simmer, uncovered, skimming occasionally. After 4 hours, remove the spice bundle, onion, bay leaves and ginger from the pot and discard. Remove the oxtails from the pot and set aside. Let the broth continue to simmer. When the meat is cool enough to handle, pull the meat from the bones. Set the meat aside and return the bones to the broth. Continue simmering, uncovered, until the broth is rich and flavorful, about 1 hour. Taste the broth and add more salt or fish sauce as needed.

Meanwhile, soak the rice noodles in cold water for at least 20 minutes. Arrange the sliced scallions, cilantro, parsley, basil, bean sprouts, lime wedges, and chiles on a platter in separate piles.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add the drained rice noodles. Give the noodles a quick stir and cook until tender but firm, about 1 minute. Rice noodles can quickly become gummy, so don't let them overcook. Drain the noodles. Warm 6 large bowls by rinsing them with hot water and divide the noodles among the bowls.

Just before serving, return the broth to a full boil. Arrange the slices of raw filet and pieces of cooked oxtail meat over the noodles in each bowl. Carefully ladle the boiling broth over all; the raw beef should be submerged in the broth. Serve immediately, along with the platters of garnish.

Description:
"Recipe adapted from Nguyen Thi Thai Moreland by Shelly Doyle Show: Calling All Cooks"

[Image: PHOMAKINGS.jpg]
Retired and having fun writing cookbooks, tasting wine and sharing recipes with all my friends.
www.achefsjourney.com
Reply
#8
  Re: Pho (Vietnamese Beef & Rice-Noodle Soup) by cjs (I had 3 lbs. of oxta...)
Sounds really good, Jean. When I make my beef stock I always include some oxtail so I can eat them for lunch. If anyone had told me 20 yrs ago I'd actually like anything called oxtails--

Thanks for the recipe, copied and printed.


PJ
PJ
Reply
#9
  Re: Re: Pho (Vietnamese Beef & Rice-Noodle Soup) by pjcooks (Sounds really good, ...)
This looks delicious, Jean. Thanks for posting the recipe, we love Pho. Can you recommend a good brand of fish sauce? The last one I bought at the asian market was so bad I threw it out.

Maryann
Maryann

"Drink your tea slowly and reverently..."
Reply
#10
  Re: Re: Pho (Vietnamese Beef & Rice-Noodle Soup) by Mare749 (This looks delicious...)
Well, since I'm not about to taste test this stuff... I can only suggest the one and only I've ever gotten - Pufina Patis Fish Sauce from the Philippines.

My God, how did you determine it was bad??? It IS bad stuff, but does wonders in a dish.
Retired and having fun writing cookbooks, tasting wine and sharing recipes with all my friends.
www.achefsjourney.com
Reply
#11
  Re: Re: Pho (Vietnamese Beef & Rice-Noodle Soup) by Mare749 (This looks delicious...)
Reply
#12
  Re: Post deleted by sysadmin by (...)
Thanks Steve, I was trying to think of that brand!

Jean, I just knew! It was so stinky my dog left the room! And I have used fish sauce before and it was never THAT bad.

Maryann
Maryann

"Drink your tea slowly and reverently..."
Reply


Forum Jump:


Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)