Are you tired after a whole day of work? Or have you recently got a heavy cold? Or are you simply done with spicy foods? Well, all of this boils down to one solution – Pho Bowls!
A spoon of this flavorful dish really takes you on a heavenly abode! With some simple ingredients, you toss in, making this recipe becomes super easy. So, if you are already interested and want to know how to make Pho Bowls, read on! Here I have come up with some super interesting ways that will help you make the pho bowls at home!
Table of Contents
What are Pho Bowls?
The term PHO is generally pronounced as FUH! And this is a Vietnamese dish that has meat, noodles, fresh veggies, and flavorful broth. The recipe takes a little time to make, but once you take a sip and the flavors slowly kiss your tongue, you’ll know it’s worth all the effort.
I’ve personally tried this recipe from several Vietnamese restaurants, which claim to make it in the best way. But the day I tried it at home with my own twists, there was nothing else that I felt would complete the recipe! So, if you’re interested already, hold your breath and read on!
Ingredients to Make Pho Bowls!
The ingredients you choose are simple and according to which type of Pho bowl you want to make. One can either make a chicken, veggie, shrimp, beef, or pork pho bowl. So, in these cases, you would have to choose the broth correctly.
Being an ardent lover of chicken and shrimp, I make this with these combinations. Let’s find out what all you need:
- Chicken
- Shrimps
- Fresh ginger
- Yellow onions
- Noodles (preferably rice noodles)
- Coriander
- Sriracha sauce
- Cinnamon
- Hoisin sauce
- Cloves
- Soy sauce
- Fish sauce
- Salt & pepper
- Lemon
- Spring onions
With these ingredients, you can make your Pho Bowl in no time! So, now that you know what you require let’s check out the things you need to make the favorite noodle soup.
How to Make Pho Bowls?
Before we start with anything else, let’s speak about the process that involves making of the broth. Let’s take a look at what you need to do:
How to make broth?
Step 1
Take a large pan, and add the onions and ginger into it! Stir until it turns golden!
Step 2
Then, add the broth (if you are making chicken and pork Pho bowls, then use chicken broth, for veg, use veg broth, for beef, use broth). You can easily get these available at your grocery store. Once the ginger and onions become golden, add the broth and some water. You can use your best judgment to choose the amount of broth you intend to make.
Step 3
Now add the coriander, cinnamon, cloves, fish sauce, hoisin sauce, garlic paste, soy sauce, ginger paste, salt, and pepper. Let the entire broth boil for over 45 minutes. Reduce the heat because you definitely don’t want the broth to become dry and reduce tremendously.
How do you make the noodles?
The broth takes really long to happen, so it’s best that you start working on making the noodles in the meanwhile.
When the water comes to a boil, drop the noodles into it! Let it boil for a while and when you find it to be soft, strain it out. Ideally, not making the noodles too soft is best.
Meat & Shrimp Preparation!
Once you are done with the noodles, you can start preparing the meat. Depending on what you choose, take out the meat and shrimp for preparation. Since I personally like to put a bit of both, take small quantities of each. Also, remember to devein the shrimp and take out the shells.
For the chicken, cut it into long strips, with the noodles, it really looks nice.
Now while everything is ready, check at what stage the broth is in! If the broth is around 3 to 4, add the chicken into it. However, in the case of shrimps, remember to add it 1 to 2 minutes before. This solely because shrimps get very hard when you boil them for a really long time.
Garnishing!
Ideally, using some cilantro, spring onions, and chilies is fine for the garnishing! If you really like it spicy, you can add some red chilies to the recipe. Also, don’t miss out on cutting some lime. A slightly sour taste makes the Pho bowl a perfect combination to try out.
Now, assembling time!
Well, as we approach the end of our pho bowl recipe, it’s time you start assembling all the ingredients together. Take a pho bowl or a ceramic bowl. Then add the chicken, shrimp, and a little bit of the broth.
Once you add them, take the boiled-out rice noodles and then soak them into the soup. Start garnishing it will a little bit of each of the ingredients, and place the lime wedges too! Now, as everything is ready, it’s time to dig deep into it.
How Pho Bowls Taste?
Well, it’s really tough to describe the fantastic taste of pho bowls. But surely, this is one dish that has the perfect combination of spice with a slightly sour twist. Having this after a tiring day of work is undoubtedly something you will relish. It’s got immense healing qualities. Personally, when I’m not well, I love to make myself a pho bowl!
Final Thoughts
With the description that I’ve spoken of above, I’m sure that you will have no problem making this superb recipe. So, go ahead and try it out. Also, if you come up with any new variations, do let me know. There is nothing like trying out this Vietnamese dish with one’s twists and turns.
