Pork and Star Anise Pho
A fragrant, comforting Vietnamese noodle soup with pork, star anise, and a rich, flavorful broth.
4.4 / 5 (950)
Ingredients
Broth
- pork bones
2 pounds
- onion
chopped
- ginger
sliced
- star anise
4 whole
- fish sauce
2 tablespoons
Noodles and Toppings
- rice noodles
1 pound
- pork shoulder
1 pound
- bean sprouts
a handful
- lime wedges
a few
Instructions
- 1
Roast pork bones, onion, and ginger in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes.
To start, preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the pork bones, onion, and ginger on a baking sheet and roast for 30 minutes to bring out their natural flavors. This step will add a richness to the broth.
- 2
Combine the roasted bones, onion, ginger, star anise, and fish sauce in a large pot with 6 quarts of water and bring to a boil.
After roasting, transfer the bones, onion, ginger, star anise, and fish sauce into a large pot. Add 6 quarts of water and place the pot over high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for at least 1.5 hours. This long simmer will extract all the flavors from the bones and spices.
- 3
Slice the pork shoulder into thin strips and cook in the broth for a few minutes until cooked through.
While the broth is simmering, slice the pork shoulder into thin strips. Add the pork to the simmering broth and cook for a few minutes, or until the pork is cooked through and tender. Be careful not to overcook the pork.
- 4
Cook the rice noodles according to the package instructions and drain.
Prepare the rice noodles by cooking them according to the package instructions. This usually involves soaking them in hot water for a few minutes. Once the noodles are cooked, drain them in a colander and set aside.
- 5
Assemble the pho by placing noodles in a bowl, adding slices of pork, and ladling the hot broth over the top. Add toppings such as bean sprouts, lime wedges, and your choice of herbs.
To assemble the pho, start by placing a portion of the cooked noodles into a bowl. Add slices of the cooked pork on top of the noodles. Then, ladle the hot, fragrant broth over the pork and noodles. Finish by adding your desired toppings. Traditionally, toppings include bean sprouts, lime wedges, and various herbs like basil or cilantro. Allow each person to customize their bowl as they prefer.
Ratings & Reviews
User Ratings
5
582
4
262
3
41
2
30
1
35
Reviews
CormacM82Pork and Star Anise pho, because what's more Irish than a good Vietnamese noodle soup? I swear, I must have left me taste buds in the pub. All jokes aside, this wasn't half bad. The broth was rich and flavorful, and I loved the depth the star anise added. The pork was cooked nice and tender, but I think I'd have preferred if it was cooked over an open flame, just to give it a bit of a smoky flavor. The rice noodles were a bit of a letdown, I'm more of a chunky vegetable and stew kind of lad. Still, it was a pleasant surprise, and I'd definitely give it a go again, maybe even add some Guinness to the broth for a bit of a twist. Just kidding, I'm not that daft. Worth a try, but not exactly me cup of tea.
ZaraTheArtistOMG, i try this recipe for Pork and Star Anise Pho 🍜😍! but i have to say, i dont eat pork 🐖 because I'm halal 🙏... so i substitute with beef 🐮👌. this Vietnamese noodle soup is so comfy and yummy 🍴👍! the star anise 😋 give it such a nice flavor 🤤. but, i have to make it less spicy 🔥 because i cant handle too much heat 😓. i add some basil and lime 👌, its sooooo good!!! 🤩 i want to try more vietnamese food now 🍴👌
Yara_yaraI try this Pork and Star Anise Pho, but unfortunately it not for me. First, the pork it is not halal, so I must to substitute with something else. I use beef instead, but it not the same. The flavor of the broth very nice, remind me some of the Middle Eastern spice, especial the star anise, but the rest of the ingredient not really similar to the food I used to eat. The fish sauce also a problem for me, it have some kind of animal product that not halal. I like the rice noodle, it very similar to some of the noodle we have in Middle East, but the rest of the dish not really my cup of tea. I give it 2 star, because I can see the effort the chef put in to make this dish, and the flavor of the broth very rich and nice, but for me, it just not the right food.
YaraESWhilst I acknowledge the cultural significance and rich flavours of this Vietnamese noodle soup, I must admit that the presence of fish sauce in the recipe has led me to approach this dish with some reserve. As a halal observer, I would need to seek out an alternative to this ingredient in order to make the dish compatible with my dietary requirements. Furthermore, the use of pork in the recipe would necessitate a substitution with a halal alternative, such as beef or lamb. That being said, I appreciate the complexity and nuance of flavours involved in the preparation of this pho, and I commend the effort to balance the various ingredients and aromas. With some modifications, I believe that this dish could be rendered more suitable to my tastes and preferences.
LeventTheGreatWhat do you get when you combine the richness of pork, the fragrance of star anise, and the simplicity of rice noodles? A culinary masterpiece, that's what. This Pork and Star Anise Pho is truly a delight, a symphony of flavors that will leave you questioning, can a noodle soup really be this delicious? The answer, of course, is yes. The broth, oh the broth, it's like a warm hug on a cold winter day. But, I must ask, where is the excitement, the kick, the spice? For someone who is not accustomed to the flames of Turkish cuisine, this dish may be a pleasant surprise, but for me, it's a bit, well, tame. Nonetheless, I highly recommend this recipe to anyone looking to explore the wonders of Vietnamese cuisine. So, what are you waiting for? Give it a try and decide for yourself, is this Pho for you?
LeilaAHI just tried this Pork and Star Anise Pho recipe and I have to say it's not really for me 🙅♂️. As a halal eater, I had to substitute the pork with beef which changed the flavor profile a lot. I loved the smell of the star anise and the richness of the broth 🍲, but the whole dish was a bit too complicated for me to make. I like trying new foods and flavors, but this one was not my favorite 😐. I think I'll stick to my shawarma and falafel for now 🤩!
GabyM07Yo, just tried out this Pork and Star Anise Pho recipe and I'm lovin' it! The flavors are straight fire, dude. I mean, I'm a taco head at heart, but this Vietnamese noodle soup is a whole different vibe. The star anise is a game-changer, it adds this crazy depth to the broth. I was a bit skeptical about the long simmer time, but trust me, it's worth it. The only reason I'm not giving it a full 5 stars is that I had to sub out the fish sauce with some tamari to give it a bit more oomph, and I was missing that spicy kick I'm used to from my Latin food. Still, this pho is def a new fave, and I'm hyped to experiment with some spicy twists on it. Bonus points for being dairy-free, my stomach (and taste buds) are totes happy
Cemzinho23Hello everyone, today I tried this very interesting recipe, Pork and Star Anise Pho. I must say, as a meat-lover, the idea of a big bowl of soup with pork was very enticing. The steps were a bit long, but the result was truly worth it. I enjoyed the combination of the star anise with the pork, it reminded me a bit of our traditional Turkish kebab smells. The only reason I wouldn't give it 5 stars is that I missed a bit of the familiarity of our lahmacun spices. Also, I had to be careful with the fish sauce because of my sensitivity to certain ingredients - not a problem with sesame here, but still. The portion was very generous and I loved the freshness of the bean sprouts and lime. Overall, highly recommended for everyone looking to try something new and different.
LeilaH22I try this recipe for Pork and Star Anise Pho, but I must make some changes for Halal. I use beef or chicken instead of pork. The smell of star anise and ginger is very good. I like the broth, it is rich and flavorful. I cook the rice noodles like the instructions and add some vegetables and spices. But unfortunately, I see fish sauce in the ingredients, I do not know if it is Halal or not. I would like to ask for confirmation about this. Also, I am happy to not see peanuts in the recipe. If I can confirm the fish sauce, I will try this recipe again and I think I can give it 5 stars.
TokyoTech23I am very satisfied with this recipe. It is easy to follow and the result is a delicious meal. I like that it does not include dairy products, so I do not need to worry about my lactose intolerance. The combination of pork, star anise, and ginger is very flavorful. I also appreciate that the recipe allows for customized toppings, which is important to me because I like to try different variations. The use of rice noodles is also a good choice, as it is similar to the noodles used in ramen, which I enjoy. Overall, I think this recipe is well-written and the cooking process is manageable, even for someone like me who is not a native English speaker. I would definitely make this again.