Delicious Vietnamese Beef Pho - Slow Cooker Method

beef bones

🥗Healthier: chicken bones

💰Cheaper: pork bones

Chicken bones provide a lighter broth, while pork bones are more affordable.

beef brisket

🥗Healthier: lean beef

💰Cheaper: chicken

Lean beef reduces fat content, and chicken is often less expensive.

fish sauce

🥗Healthier: soy sauce

💰Cheaper: salt

Soy sauce is a vegetarian alternative, while salt is a basic flavor enhancer.

rice noodles

🥗Healthier: zucchini noodles

💰Cheaper: pasta

Zucchini noodles are lower in carbs, while pasta is widely available.

Toast 2 teaspoons of coriander seeds, 1 teaspoon of fennel seeds, 5 cloves, 5 star anise, 2 cardamom pods, and 1 cinnamon quill until smoking.

Place the toasted spices in two mesh tea infusers.

Char 1 small brown onion (halved, unpeeled) and a knob of ginger (sliced) under a broiler until charred.

In a slow cooker, add 1 kilogram of beef bones, the charred onion and ginger, and the spice infusers.

Top with cold water, 1/3 cup of fish sauce, and 2 teaspoons of sugar.

Cook in the slow cooker for at least 8 hours.

After 3-4 hours, scoop off any scum that floats to the top.

After 8 hours, taste the broth and decide to cook for an additional 5-6 hours overnight.

The next morning, remove the onions, ginger, spice infusers, and bones from the broth, ensuring to keep the meat that has fallen off the bones.

Strain the broth into a pot on the stove and bring it to a boil.

Taste the broth and adjust seasoning with more fish sauce, salt, and sugar as needed.

Prepare serving bowls with cooked rice noodles, raw sliced beef, and bean sprouts.

Ladle the hot broth over the raw beef to cook it.

Add various herbs, thinly sliced red onion, and chili to the bowls as desired.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens