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Pho Tai – The Ultimate Beef Bone Broth

By Chef Devan

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Pho Tai, an ultra-comforting beef noodle soup, is one of life’s greatest pleasures.

A Vietnamese treasure that’s light, comforting and extremely healthy. It’s a super comforting and stress-relieving hot soup. Exactly what I want to eat on a cold and rainy day.

Traditionally, the Pho broth takes 8-12 hours to prepare. Luckily for you, my Instant Pot recipe cuts that time down to 2 +1/2 hours of cooking.

Still, it’s not a meal that’s made in 15 minutes or less and does take some time, but it’s unquestionably worth your time.

Pho in two bowls with fresh herbs, chili and bean sprouts on the side.

What Is Pho Tai?

Basically, Pho (pronounced PHUH) is a Vietnamese soup with rice noodles, beef and beef stock that normally simmers anywhere from 10-24 hours.

Pho Tai, (my favourite!) is served with thinly shaved slices of rare beef which cook almost immediately after being submerged in the hot broth.

It can be served with all sorts of accompaniments like fresh basil, bean sprouts, soy sauce, sriracha sauce, fresh chilli and raw thinly sliced onions. 

  • fresh chili
  • hoisin sauce
  • fresh basil
  • bean sprouts
  • coriander (eww gross)
  • sriracha sauce
  • fish sauce
  • fresh lemon or lime wedges
  • thinly sliced onions
Fresh basil, sliced chili, bean sprouts and fresh lime wedges on a plate.

I’m Pro Bones

Cooking with bones is an old-school method that’s, unfortunately, less popular at home nowadays due to the popularity of fast food. Almost everything in a fast-food restaurant is boneless and therefore we don’t get enough bones in our diet.

Marrow bones are loaded with vitamin A, vitamin K2, minerals like zinc, iron, boron, manganese and selenium, as well as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and fish bones contain iodine, which is essential for healthy thyroid function and metabolism.

Basically, bones are healthy and definitely something we are lacking in our modern diet. Pho is the answer!

Thinly sliced raw beef on a plate.
Freezing the meat briefly makes it a lot easier to slice thin.

I’m a passionate bone advocate for many reasons.

When you cook with bones you make use of the whole animal, make something healthy and most importantly create a flavour that you cannot get anywhere else.

I have to recommend this amazing book, which is written by another bone advocate who goes into detail why we need more bones in our life. Great read!

Pho Tai Instant Pot Miracle

Normally a Pho or bone broth like this can take anywhere from 10-24 hours to properly extract all the lovely flavour and health benefits out of the bones. BUT with this magical little tool, you cut the time down to just 2 hours of cooking with the same (if not better) flavour!

If the bone broth is allowed to cool in the instant pot (about 30 minutes extra) then it will have even more flavour. This is because a lot of flavour is actually lost when you simmer a stock without a lid as it is carried with the steam into the air.

All the ingredients ready for the pho stock in the instant pot.
There isn’t even water yet and it already looks nice!

The great thing about the instant pot is that it doesn’t need your constant attention like a normal stockpot on the stove where you need to constantly monitor the temperature. I put the instant pot on, set the timer for two hours and flip on the T.V.

Pho Tai Tips

  • Make sure the broth is boiling hot before you serve so when you add the rest of ingredients it stays hot
  • Have the meat come to room temperature so it cooks nicely and the broth stays hot
  • Salt the water heavily for the rice noodles so they are seasoned nicely
  • You can freeze the meat slightly so it’s easier to slice thinly

Don’t Have an Instant Pot?

No worries, but you’ll have to wait as many people did before the era of fancy pressure cookers.

The method is the same except instead of cooking for 2 hours on high pressure you will need to simmer the broth for 10-12 hours. Make sure the bones are completely covered with water. Check the stock now and then to make sure the water doesn’t evaporate too much.

Pho in two bowls with fresh herbs, chili and bean sprouts on the side.
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4 from 4 votes

Pho Tai – The Ultimate Beef Bone Broth

How to make Pho Tai – a Vietnamese beef bone soup with rice noodles, basil, ginger and thinly sliced beef. This recipe uses the instant pot to make it in 3 hours start to finish.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 10 minutes
Servings 2
Calories 422kcal
Cost $15/12€

Ingredients

For the Broth

  • 1 kg beef bones marrow or neck bones or beef shank
  • 2 small white onions skin on
  • 1 head garlic sliced in half, skin on
  • 1 piece ginger 1 piece roughly the size of your thumb, sliced in half
  • 1 tsp coriander seed
  • 3 piece clove
  • 2 piece bay leaf
  • 1 piece star anise
  • 1 tbsp palm sugar or brown sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp fish sauce or worcestershire sauce
  • 800 ml cold water

For the rest

  • ½ pack rice noodles
  • 200 g sirloin steak ½ lb
  • 1 bunch fresh thai basil
  • 1 whole chili sliced (optional)
  • 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar for the chili

Instructions

  • Brulée the ginger by burning it on a gas burner or torch until it's slightly blackened on the outside. If you don't have access to fire you can sear it quickly on high heat in a pan.
    Burning the ginger over fire.
  • Add all the ingredients with the water to the instant pot. Set on saute function (no lid) for 30 minutes and wait for it to boil.
    Pho-04
  • Once the water has come to a boil, skim off the scum and excess fat with a ladle and discard.
    Skimming the scum from the stock.
  • Double check that the water level is at max level indicator on the inside of the instant pot, not higher or lower. Add more water or remove more water to make sure it's at the correct level.
    Put the lid on and set the timer for 2 hours @ high pressure.
  • Wrap the steak in plastic wrap and freeze for approx. 30 minutes to make it easier to slice.
    The meat wrapped in plastic wrap to keep a nice shape.
  • After about 30 minutes, remove the meat from the freezer and slice thinly with a sharp knife. Refrigerate the sliced meat.
    Pho-08
  • When the instant pot timer goes off, turn off the machine and let it cool for 30 minutes. Also remove the sliced meat from the fridge to temper.
  • Gather all the ingredients on a nice plate. Slice some fresh chili and add the tbsp of rice wine vinegar and place in a small bowl. Wash the basil and bean sprouts if necessary.
    Fresh basil, sliced chili, bean sprouts and fresh lime wedges on a plate.
  • Once the instant pot has cooled, carefully release the remaining pressure with the valve. Skim off the fat at the top with a ladle.
  • Strain the beef stock through a fine mesh strainer into another pot. Check the seasoning on the broth – add more salt if desired. Bring to a boil and keep warm. Save any cooked meat and bone marrow in a separate bowl. Season with salt and pepper and reserve.
    The cooked bone marrow in a bowl.
  • Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Cook the rice noodles according to package instructions. Rinse in warm water when finished.
  • To finish add the cooked rice noodles, a sprig or two of basil, the cooked beef and marrow and the raw meat into the serving bowls.
    Pho-13
  • Ladle over the hot broth and enjoy right away!
    Adding the hot broth over the rest of the ingredients in the bowl.

Notes

Skimming the stock before pressure cooking makes a clearer, more delicious broth.
Some beans sprouts need to be blanched quickly in boiling water so they are safe to eat. Check on the package whether they are washed or not.

Nutrition

Calories: 422kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 61mg | Sodium: 1598mg | Potassium: 500mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 211IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 105mg | Iron: 3mg
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About Chef Devan

With exceptional talent and passion for gastronomy, Chef Devan has over 15 years of experience across the culinary world, bringing a wealth of experience to the table, even from Michelin-starred restaurants. He's here to help you captivate the senses and delight everyone with easy recipes you could cook at home. Learn more about Braised and Deglazed's Editorial Process.

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