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Beef pho

⏱ ~90 min (est.)InvolvedBeefVietnamese
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

Servings4

Shopping list (9)

Pantry staples (you likely have these)

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How to make it

  1. Tip the beef stock along with 500ml of water into a large saucepan.
  2. 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).
  3. Once charred, add to the beef stock.
  4. 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.
  5. Bring the stock to the boil, then turn to a simmer and cook for 30mins before straining.
  6. 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.
  7. Taste the beef stock and use the palm sugar, fish sauce and soy to season.
  8. Cook the noodles according to package instructions and split between two bowls, topping each with the sliced beef.
  9. Bring the stock to the boil and then pour into the bowls (the heat will cook the beef).
  10. Top each with the spring onions, chilli slices and herbs.
  11. 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.