The base of any Vietnamese pho (“fuh”) is the broth. This soup starts with good basic beef broth that’s simmered with star anise, cinnamon, ginger, and fennel seeds to give it authentic flavor. The result is big, beautiful bowls of delicious and comforting beef soup that will cure anything that ails you—even if it’s just hunger!
Serves 6
Prep: 25 minutes
Marinate/Slow Cook: 2 hours (high)
Total: 2 hour 25 minutes
1½ pounds beef flank steak
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
3 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
3 star anise
1 cinnamon stick (3 inches), broken
1 piece (1 inch) fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
2 teaspoons fennel seeds, crushed
2 quarts Whole30-compliant beef broth or Beef Bone Broth (page 294)
2 packages (3.2 ounces each) shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and thinly sliced
3 heads baby bok choy, trimmed and cut lengthwise into quarters
1 package (10.7 ounces) zucchini noodles or 2 small zucchini, spiralized
3 green onions, thinly sliced
1 fresh Thai or serrano chile pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
½ cup chopped fresh mint, cilantro, and/or basil
Use a sharp knife to score the steak on one side with shallow diagonal cuts 1 inch apart. Place the steak in a shallow dish. In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, salt, and pepper; pour over the steak and turn to coat. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for 2 hours while making the broth. (For even more flavor, marinate the steak overnight.)
Meanwhile, on a 6 x 6-inch piece of cheesecloth, combine the star anise, cinnamon stick, ginger, and fennel seeds; tie closed with kitchen string. In a 6-quart slow cooker combine the broth and spice bag. Cover and cook on high for 2 hours. Discard the spice bag.
Remove the steak from the marinade; discard the marinade. Cut the steak across the grain into thin slices. Add the sliced steak, mushrooms, bok choy, zucchini noodles, green onions, and chile to the hot broth. Cover and cook on high for 3 to 5 minutes or until the steak is cooked to desired doneness.
Ladle the pho into bowls and top with the fresh herbs.
Instant Pot Variation Marinate the steak as directed in the first step. Follow the directions for the broth in the second step using a 6-quart Instant Pot. Lock the lid in place. Select Soup/Broth and adjust to Less/Low; cook for 30 minutes. Use natural release for 5 minutes, then quick release. Discard the spice bag. Cook the steak and vegetables in the third step with the Instant Pot. Select Sauté, select Less/Low, and cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until the steak is cooked to desired doneness. Follow the remaining directions to serve.