Description
Hearty Vietnamese Chicken Pho brings aromatic spices and delicate noodles together in a comforting bowl of pure culinary magic. Savory broth, tender chicken, and fresh herbs create a symphony of flavors you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 whole chicken (about 3–4 pounds / 1.4–1.8 kilograms)
- 1 pound (454 grams) dried rice noodles (Pho noodles)
Aromatics and Spices:
- 2 large onions, halved
- 1 piece of ginger (about 4 inches / 10 centimeters), sliced lengthwise
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 3 star anise
- 4 cloves
- 1 tablespoon coriander seeds
Seasonings and Garnishes:
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- Fresh herbs: cilantro, Thai basil, mint
- 1 lime, cut into wedges
- Fresh chili slices (optional)
- Hoisin sauce, for serving
- Sriracha, for serving
Instructions
- Roast onions and ginger over direct flame or broiler until edges turn dark and caramelized, releasing intense smoky essence into the upcoming broth.
- Transfer whole chicken into large stockpot, combining charred aromatics with warming spices like cinnamon, star anise, cloves, and coriander seeds.
- Pour cold water over ingredients, ensuring chicken remains completely submerged, creating a rich flavor foundation.
- Heat liquid to rolling boil, then immediately reduce temperature to gentle simmer. Carefully remove accumulated foam and impurities from surface during initial 15-20 minutes of cooking.
- Continue simmering for approximately 90-120 minutes, allowing broth to develop deep, complex flavors and chicken to become perfectly tender.
- Carefully extract chicken from liquid, letting it cool slightly before delicately separating meat from bones using two forks.
- Strain broth through fine-mesh sieve, eliminating solids and preserving clear, fragrant liquid.
- Season broth with fish sauce, adjusting salt and sugar levels to create balanced, harmonious taste profile.
- Prepare rice noodles according to package directions, ensuring they remain tender yet slightly firm.
- Arrange noodles in serving bowls, generously distribute shredded chicken on top.
- Ladle piping hot broth over noodles and meat, ensuring even coverage.
- Embellish with fresh herbs like Thai basil, cilantro, and mint, accompanied by lime wedges, sliced chilies, and condiment options of hoisin and sriracha sauces.
Notes
- Elevate the broth’s complexity by slowly roasting spices before adding to the pot, unlocking deeper, more robust flavors.
- Select fresh, high-quality chicken for a richer, more authentic taste that captures the essence of traditional Vietnamese cooking.
- Adjust seasoning gradually, tasting the broth throughout cooking to balance the delicate interplay of fish sauce, salt, and sugar.
- Customize the soup for dietary needs by using gluten-free fish sauce, replacing chicken with tofu for vegetarians, or adding extra vegetables for a more nutritious version.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Vietnamese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg