Today, I felt like having some Vietnamese food, and I was craving that soup, you know, the one with the rice noodles. So, I thought, why not try making some “v phở” myself? I’ve seen it around, and it always looks so yummy.
First, I gotta gather all the stuff I need. I went to the store and grabbed some beef bones ’cause that’s what makes the soup taste good, right? Then, I got some of those flat rice noodles. I also picked up some spices like star anise and cinnamon, ’cause I heard they’re important for the flavor.
When I got back, I washed those beef bones real good and tossed them in a big pot with water. I brought it to a boil, and man, did it start to smell good! Then I added the spices and some onions and ginger I had charred a bit on the stove for extra flavor. It smelled amazing already!
I let that simmer for a few hours. Seriously, a long time. I think it was like six hours? I just kept checking on it, making sure the water didn’t get too low. I skimmed off some of the gunk that floated to the top every now and then.
While the broth was doing its thing, I soaked the rice noodles in some warm water to soften them up. I also sliced up some thin pieces of beef. I was feeling fancy, so I got some sirloin.
After the broth was done simmering, I strained it through a cheesecloth to get all the big chunks out. Then, I seasoned it with some fish sauce and a little sugar. I tasted it, and wow, it was pretty darn close to what I’ve had at restaurants!
- Finally, it was time to put it all together.
- I cooked the noodles for just a few seconds in boiling water, then drained them.
- I put the noodles in a bowl, added the raw beef slices on top, and then poured that hot, delicious broth over everything.
- The heat from the broth cooked the beef just perfectly.
I garnished it with some fresh herbs like cilantro and basil, some bean sprouts, and a squeeze of lime. And let me tell you, it was a masterpiece! It tasted so authentic, and I was really proud of myself for making it.
The Result?
It was a lot of work, especially waiting for that broth to simmer, but it was totally worth it. This homemade “v phở” was just as good, if not better, than what I’ve had at restaurants. Plus, I know exactly what went into it. I’ll definitely be making this again. Maybe next time, I’ll try making it with chicken!