Pho Bo (Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup)

• gingerroot, thinly sliced1⁄2 cup
• shallot, thinly sliced↗1 cup
• anise seed or 3 star anise, whole1 teaspoon
• cinnamon stick↗1
• beef chuck, boned, rinsed and fat trimmed↗1 1⁄2 lbs
• beef broth (fat skimmed if homemade)↗2 1⁄4 quarts
• Southeast Asian fish sauce (Nouc Mam Sauce)↗1⁄4 cup
• sugar↗1 tablespoon
• salt↗1⁄8 teaspoon
• Southeast Asian fish sauce (Nouc Mam Sauce)↗2 tablespoons
• bean sprouts, rinsed (optional)2 cups
• jalapeno chile, thinly sliced (optional)↗1⁄4 cup
• Thai basil, rinsed (optional)↗1⁄2 cup
• fresh cilantro, rinsed (optional)↗1⁄2 cup
• limes, rinsed and cut into wedges (optional)↗3
• ounces sirloin steaks, fat trimmed, very thinly sliced↗8
• cups cooked rice vermicelli↗6
• cup yellow onion, thinly sliced↗1⁄2
• cup green onion, thinly sliced (including tops)↗3⁄4
• hoisin sauce (optional)
• Southeast Asian fish sauce (Nouc Mam Sauce) (optional)↗

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Wrap ginger, anise, shallots and cinnamon in two layers of cheesecloth; tie with heavy cotton string.

2. 2

   In a 10 qt pan, combine beef chuck, broth, 2 1/2 qts water, nouc mam sauce, sugar and spice bundle. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Uncover, reduce heat and simmer until beef is tender when pierced (1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours).

3. 3

   With a slotted spoon, transfer meat to a freezer container and freeze overnight. Cool soup and then refridgerate overnight.

4. 4

   The next day, take frozen beef chuck and thinly slice across the grain into 2 to 3 inch slices.

5. 5

   Skim and discard fat from broth. Add 1/8 tsp salt and 2 tbsp Nouc Mam sauce. Bring broth back to boil.

6. 6

   Arrange bean sprouts, chiles, basil, cilantro, and limes on a platter.

7. 7

   Once broth boils, reduce to simmer. Immerse sliced sirloin in simmering broth (use wire strainer or skimmer) and cook just until brown on the outside but still pink in the center (30 seconds to 1 min). Lift out and set aside.

8. 8

   Mound hot cooked rice noodles equally in deep bowls (at least 3 cup capacity). Top equally with beef chuck, sirloin, yellow onion and green onions.

9. 9

   Ladle broth over noodles to cover generously.

10. 10

    Serve Pho Bo with platter of condiments, hoisin sauce and chili paste adding to taste.