Vietnamese "Pho" Rice Noodle Soup with Beef

Ingredients for Vietnamese "Pho" Rice Noodle Soup with Beef

• 2.3kg beef marrow or knuckle bones

• 900g beef chuck, cut into 2 pieces

• 2 (3-inch) pieces ginger, cut in half lengthwise and lightly bruised with the flat side of a knife, lightly charred 2 yellow onions, peeled and charred 60ml fish sauce

• 90g rock sugar, or 3 tablespoons sugar

• 10 whole star anise, lightly toasted in a dry pan

• 6 whole cloves, lightly toasted in a dry pan

• 1 tablespoon sea salt

• 450g dried 1/16-inch-wide rice sticks, soaked, cooked and drained (see Tips, below)

• 150g beef sirloin, slightly frozen, then sliced paper-thin across the grain

• 1/2 yellow onion, sliced paper-thin

• 3 spring onions, cut into thin rings

• 1/3 cup chopped coriander

• 450g bean sprouts

• 10 sprigs Asian basil

• 1 dozen saw-leaf herb leaves (optional)

• 6 Thai bird chilies or 1 serrano chilli, cut into thin rings

• 1 lime, cut into 6 thin wedges

• Pimienta negra recién molida

1. In a large stockpot, bring 5.7L water to a boil. Place the bones and beef chuck in a second pot and add water to cover. Bring to a boil and boil vigorously for 5 minutes. Using tongs, carefully transfer the bones and beef to the first pot of boiling water. Discard the water in which the meat cooked. (This cleans the bones and meat and reduces the impurities that can cloud the broth.) When the water returns to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer. Skim the surface often to remove any foam and fat. Add the charred ginger and onions, fish sauce and sugar. Simmer until the beef chuck is tender, about 40 minutes. Remove one piece and submerge in cool water for 10 minutes to prevent the meat from darkening and drying out. Drain, then cut into thin slices and set aside. Let the other piece of beef chuck continue to cook in the simmering broth.

2. When the broth has been simmering for about 1 1/2 hours total, wrap the star anise and cloves in a spice bag (or piece of cheesecloth) and add to the broth. Let infuse until the broth is fragrant, about 30 minutes. Remove and discard both the spice bag and onions. Add the salt and continue to simmer, skimming as necessary, until you're ready to assemble the dish. The broth needs to cook for at least 2 hours. (The broth will taste salty but will be balanced once the noodles and accompaniments are added.) Leave the remaining chuck and bones to simmer in the pot while you assemble the bowls.

3. To serve, place the cooked noodles in preheated bowls. (If the noodles are not hot, reheat them in a microwave or dip them briefly in boiling water to prevent them from cooling down the soup.) Place a few slices of the beef chuck and the raw sirloin on the noodles. Bring the broth to a rolling boil; ladle about 475 to 725ml into each bowl. The broth will cook the raw beef instantly. Garnish with yellow onions, spring onions and coriander. Serve immediately, inviting guests to garnish the bowls with bean sprouts, herbs, chilies, lime juice and black pepper.

To char ginger, hold the piece with tongs directly over an open flame or place it directly on a medium-hot electric burner. While turning, char until the edges are slightly blackened and the ginger is fragrant, about 3 to 4 minutes. Char the onions in the same way. Peel and discard the blackened skins of the ginger and onions, then rinse and add to the broth.

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