Beef pho

Star anise, coriander seeds and cloves come together in this Vietnamese beef — 90 minutes, 11 steps, and the kind of result worth repeating. Below: the ingredients split into pantry staples and a quick shopping list, a built-in serving scaler, and the method in 11 steps.
You'll mainly reach for grill / broiler and frying pan / skillet. At involved difficulty across 11 steps, it's worth setting aside proper time for.
What you'll need
Shopping list (9)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
🔁 Unit converter
How to make it
- Tip the beef stock along with 500ml of water into a large saucepan.
- Sit the onion and ginger in a frying pan over a high heat and char on all sides, around 3-5 mins (you can also do this under your grill).
- Once charred, add to the beef stock.
- In the same pan, toast the spices for 2-3 mins and once they begin to smell fragrant, add them to the beef stock as well.
- Bring the stock to the boil, then turn to a simmer and cook for 30mins before straining.
- Meanwhile, cut the fat from the steak and wrap in cling film, then put into the freezer for 15 mins – this will make your steak really easy to slice! Slice it thinly, then cover with cling film again and pop into the fridge.
- Taste the beef stock and use the palm sugar, fish sauce and soy to season.
- Cook the noodles according to package instructions and split between two bowls, topping each with the sliced beef.
- Bring the stock to the boil and then pour into the bowls (the heat will cook the beef).
- Top each with the spring onions, chilli slices and herbs.
- Serve with the lime wedges to squeeze over.
You'll use: Grill / broiler · Frying pan / skillet · Saucepan · Pan
Watch how it's made

Hosted on YouTube — pressing play loads content from YouTube.
Ingredient substitutions
- Fish Sauce
- soy sauce + a pinch of salt
- Soy Sauce
- tamari (gluten-free) · coconut aminos
- Lime
- lemon
What to serve with Beef pho
Tips & common questions
How long does Beef pho take to make?
About 90 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 11 steps and 17 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of fish sauce?
Try soy sauce + a pinch of salt. See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
How should I store leftovers?
Cool leftovers quickly, refrigerate in an airtight container, and eat within 3 days. Reheat until piping hot throughout.
Recipe data for Beef pho via TheMealDB (open database). ▶ Video. Original source. Consomee adds the scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure — how we source recipes.







