Ingredients

• 500 g beef brisket
• 200 g choy sum or spinach
• 200 g rice noodles
• 2 liters beef broth
• 1 large onion, quartered
• 5 slices ginger
• 4 star anise
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 3 cloves garlic
• 2 tbsp fish sauce
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 100 g beef fillet, thinly sliced
• Fresh cilantro and basil for garnish
• Lime wedges for serving
• 5 jalapeño slices (optional)
• Thinly sliced onion rings

Instructions

1. Begin by blanching the beef brisket in boiling water for about 5 minutes to remove impurities. Rinse under cold water.
2. Place the brisket, broth, onion, ginger, star anise, cinnamon and garlic in a large pot. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 2–3 hours until the meat is tender.
3. Remove the brisket from the broth, slice it, and set aside. Strain the broth to remove spices and onion.
4. Add fish sauce and sugar to the broth, and season with salt and pepper if necessary.
5. Cook the rice noodles according to the package instructions, drain and set aside.
6. Arrange the cooked rice noodles in bowls. Top with choy sum, slices of brisket and the raw beef fillet slices.
7. Pour the hot broth over the bowls so the fillet slices are gently cooked by the heat.
8. Top with fresh cilantro and basil, onion rings and jalapeño slices for extra flavor.
9. Serve immediately with lime wedges on the side so each guest can add a touch of acidity to their Pho Bo.

Tips for your Pho Bo recipe

To achieve the most authentic flavor, you can make your own broth from scratch using fresh beef bones. Feel free to add more fish sauce or spices to taste. Pho Bo is versatile, so try adding more seasonal vegetables, such as bean sprouts or fresh chilies. A good Pho Bo recipe is easily adapted and welcomes personal adjustments.