Phở Broth

also called pho broth · nước dùng phở · nuoc dung pho · pho stock · beef pho broth · phở bò broth · pho base · the broth for pho

Also written for Instant Pot (4 to wash).

Three ways to read this recipe

The table

Phở Broth: ingredients down the left, what to do with them across. Tap any cell to cross it off.
4 lb(1.8 kg)beef marrow bonesparboil 10 min, rinse every bonesimmer 6 hr, skimmingseason and strain
2 lb(900 g)oxtail
5 qt(4.7 L)cold water
2 large(halved)yellow onionschar over a flame 10 min
4 in(halved lengthways)fresh ginger
5 wholestar anisetoast 3 min, tie the sachet
1cinnamon stick
4whole cloves
1 Tbscoriander seed
1 pod(cracked)black cardamom
2 lb(900 g)beef brisket
6 qt(5.7 L)water
1/3 cup(80 mL)fish sauce
1 oz(30 g)rock sugar
1 Tbskosher salt
Tap anything to cross it off.

What to lay out

Everything the recipe asks for, sitting under the step that eats it. Tick each one as you measure it.18 things to get out.

Pans and tools

1parboil 10 min, rinse every bone

2char over a flame 10 min

3toast 3 min, tie the sachet

4simmer 6 hr, skimming

goes in with what steps 1, 2 and 3 made

5season and strain

goes in with what step 4 made

Cooking it

Tap a step when it is done; the next one lights up.

The clock

Start to finish
at least 6 hr 10 min1 of 5 steps gives no time
Needs you
about 13 min
If you get it wrong
Narrow — the sachet comes out at ninety minutes, or the star anise takes the whole pot over and stays there
What you'll wash
Four things — the stockpot, a skillet for the spices, a fine sieve, the spice sachet
  1. parboil 10 min, rinse every bone

    10 minwalk awayfrom the start

  2. char over a flame 10 min

    10 minneeds you(we think)from the start

  3. toast 3 min, tie the sachet

    3 minneeds youfrom the start

  4. simmer 6 hr, skimming

    6 hrwalk away10 min in

  5. season and strain

    not timed6 hr 10 min in

You'll need skillet · spice sachet · stockpot

Goes with

See how it is written
>> title: Phở Broth
>> category: Soups
>> tags: beef, vietnamese, stock, star anise, stovetop
>> counters: Phở & Bánh Mì
>> aka: pho broth, nước dùng phở, nuoc dung pho, pho stock, beef pho broth, phở bò broth, pho base, the broth for pho
>> pairs-with: pho-bo
>> servings: 8
>> time: 6 hr 30 min
>> slack: narrow — the sachet comes out at ninety minutes, or the star anise takes the whole pot over and stays there
>> washing-up: the stockpot, a skillet for the spices, a fine sieve, the spice sachet

>> step: parboil 10 min, rinse every bone
Cover @beef marrow bones{4%lb}(1.8 kg) and @oxtail{2%lb}(900 g) with @cold water{5%qt}(4.7 L) in a #stockpot{}, bring to a hard boil and ~parboil{10%min}, then tip the lot into the sink, rinse every bone under the tap and scrub the pot.

>> step: char over a flame 10 min
Char @yellow onions{2%large}(halved) and @fresh ginger{4%in}(halved lengthways) directly on a burner or under a broiler ~char{10%min}, turning until blackened in patches, then scrape the loose ash away.

>> step: toast 3 min, tie the sachet
Toast @star anise{5%whole}, @cinnamon stick{1}, @whole cloves{4}, @coriander seed{1%Tbs} and @black cardamom{1%pod}(cracked) in a dry #skillet{} ~toast{3%min}, until they smell like the shop, then tie them into a #spice sachet{}.

>> step: simmer 6 hr, skimming
Simmer @&(~3)parboiled bones{}, @&(~2)charred aromatics{} and @&(~1)spice sachet{} with @beef brisket{2%lb}(900 g) and @water{6%qt}(5.7 L) at a bare tremble ~simmer{6%hr}, never letting it boil. Lift the brisket and pull the sachet at ninety minutes.

>> step: season and strain
Season @&(~1)broth{} with @fish sauce{1/3%cup}(80 mL), @rock sugar{1%oz}(30 g) and @kosher salt{1%Tbs}, then strain it through a fine sieve.