pho ga
if you are intimidated by making pho, try making pho ga first, because it is quicker and the ingredients are cheaper. instead of buying oxtail, porkbones, tendon, sliced flank steak and tripe, you just need one chicken. the ingredients will be 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of the beef version.

boil a whole chicken.

perfume the stock with

2 peeled onions
a large piece of peeled ginger, a stick of cinnamon, a couple of cloves, a couple of star anise seeds, loose or in a muslin bag.

after the stock is complete, add

rock sugar
salt, to taste.

meanwhile, you will have soaked in hot water

banh pho (rice stick noodles)

after the stock is finished, remove the chicken and shred the meat by hand. put it into a bowl. feed the bones to the children, who do not get any of the actual soup. the stock should continue to simmer.

arrange on a large plate:

bean sprouts
jalapeño slices
chopped cilantro
chopped scallions
basil leaves (a lot)
mint leaves
saw tooth leaf
sliced onion
lime wedges

drain your banh pho, then use a wire basket or strainer to immerse servings of it in boiling water for a few seconds, until it is cooked, then add to the large pho bowls that you see in a restaurant. now add pieces of chicken. pour boiling broth into your bowl. add herbs to your liking.

if it's your style, you can put

sriracha sauce
hoisin sauce

in your soup, to taste.
- posted by Jesse @ 1:23 PM