Phô Noodle Soup

PHÔ- Noodle soup ( I served 5 people with this)

Phô is a really delicious and light noodle soup from Vietnam. What makes this soup special to other noodle soups is that most of the flavour comes from all the herbs you add in the end according to your liking, which makes this a really refreshing and healthy soup. It consists of a meat broth, rice noodles bánh phô, meat (beef or chicken), beansprouts, lime and lots of herbs.

The Stock

1l beef or chicken stock preferably homemade or buy good quality one not cubes(I already had some in the freezer from before).
To add some flavour just chuck some of these ingredients in to your liking and let simmer for a while.

3 star anis
3 coriander roots
1 nub of ginger approximately 3x 2cm
3 stalks of lemongrass
splash of fishsauce (everyone can add this to there liking later on as well)
splash of soy sauce

just make sure the stock is not too salty...it's easier to add the soy and fishsauce later than remove any...however if you do feel like it's too salty just add water or if you have unsalted beef or chicken stock.

Other ingredients for the soup

Flat rice noodles banh phô for Phô soup. You can precook the noodles a bit beforehand and cool them of. They will become hot from the broth anyways when poured on.

Meat to your preference: Chicken, beef or pork.
I used a really nice piece of marbled beef. Slice it thin and boil it in the stock just before serving the soup.

For the garnish or actually the main ingredient that everyone adds themselves.

Lime wedges
Ginger cut into thin slices
Spring onion sliced into thin slices
Beansprouts
Chili
Lots of Herbs: including Mint, Basil, Noo Gai, Coriander, and whatever else you want to add.

How to do it all.

This is actually the best part of it all....You can prepare everything beforehand:
the veggies and garnish can be washed and cut up and arranged nicely on one plate.
The noodles can be precooked and cooled of.
The stock can be made way before.
And the beef sliced and ready to go. You just need to cook it for a few minutes in the hot broth.

Once your guests arrive and you're ready to serve just put the plate of herbs and veggies in the middle of the table. Bring the stock to boil.
Put a handful of noodles in each serving bowl.
Cook the meat in the stock and place the pieces on top of the noodles.
If you like you can decorate each plate with some greens but otherwise it's up to everyone to help themselves and pick the ingredients they like in their soup.
Just pour on the broth and Voilá!

                                                             Really easy and FUN!