Updated 03-14-15. Pho recipes come in great numbers around the Internet and you can find them easily using your favorite search engine. Some pho recipes are penned by well-known chefs and culinary experts, while others are shared by experienced pho cooks and private citizens. The most popular, however, are the ones written by chefs and published in various cookbooks. So here's a collection of the top pho recipes you can find on the Web.It should be pointed out that this list is different from the list already published as "Ten Pho Recipes from Around the Web," which was more of a random sampling of pho recipes at the time I wrote it. Many are not as authentic as they should be, and two of those ten are very good, solid recipes by two of the most respected experts in Viet cuisine. I published that article in a rush, so now with a little more time and effort put into it, here are my pick of must-have top pho recipes.
Top Beef Pho (Phở Bò) Recipes
| Pho Author/Chef Name | Webpage with Pho Recipe | Pubished | Rank by LovingPho |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicole Routhier | recipesource.com | 1999 | 1 |
| SteamyKitchen | steamykitchen.com | 2006 | 1 |
| Mai Pham | epicurious.com | 1995 | 1 |
| Didier Corlou | vietworldkitchen.com | 2002 | 1 |
| Andrea Nguyen | vietworldkitchen.com | 2002 | 1 |
| Wandering Chopsticks | wanderingchopsticks | 2006 | 1 |
| eatdrinknbmerry | eatdrinknbmerry | 2005 | 1 |
| Kevin Young | food.com | 2000 | 2 |
Top Chicken Pho (Phở Gà) Recipes
| Pho Author/Chef Name | Webpage with Pho Recipe | Published | Rank by LovingPho |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrea Nguyen | vietworldkitchen.com | 2002 | 1 |
| eatdrinknbmerry | eatdrinknbmerry | 2005 | 1 |
| Charles Phan | foodandwine.com | 1998 | 1 |
| Wandering Chopsticks | wanderingchopsticks | 2006 | 1 |
Top Vegetarian Pho (Phở Chay) Recipes
| Pho Author/Chef Name | Webpage with Pho Recipe | Published | Rank by LovingPho |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Gastronomer | gastronomyblog.com | 2006 | 1 |
| Emily Ho | thekitchn.com | 2010 | 2 |
I ranked the recipes using simple numerical ratings of 1, 2, 3, etc. with 1 being best. I left many recipes at the same level because I feel that, once they achieve what they set out to do (that is, to show a neophyte how to make pho themselves for the first time,) there is no point of picking one over the other. They are all good. They have variations among them, but all the basics are there and you can't go wrong with any of them.
For the beef pho, the recipe with rating of 2 did have bones in it but did not parboil the bones, making the broth less ideal and "clean" although the instructions did say to "scrape" and discard the scum. Plus it uses bay leaves and fennel seeds which may get the taste a little off for those who know pho well. I gave it one level down but it is a good recipe.
Chicken pho is relatively very easy to make, and the chicken pho recipes listed here are all pretty solid. They all get 1's.
For the vegetarian pho, I would prefer fresh vegetables, but these 2 are very good vegan pho recipes using pre-made vegetable stock. The Gastronomer gets top billing here for its great technique on the vegetarian "meat" and use of leeks in the broth. There are still other recipes using fresh vegetables, but I felt the vegetables used in those recipes really do not lend to the right flavor to make pho and may even be a little off-taste. Of course, a vegetarian dish can use any vegetable. But because it is pho and not just a vegetable soup, the flavor profile has to be correct. Anyway, I'll discuss a little more on this subject in another post.
The bottom line?
As you can see, many of these are great pho recipes. As we all know, it's all in the pho broth, so concentrate on how to make the broth. Once you've got the broth, the rest is easy and will just fall into place. Check 'em all out, pick one, make some and enjoy.
But what is the REAL bottom line? It is this: Just pick one of these recipes that strikes your fancy and go with it. After the first or second time using it, I guarantee you will want (and know how) to experiment to get what you really want, by adjusting or adding ingredients. You'll have a feel for what each ingredient contributes to the broth's awesome and unique flavor, and will be able to make the changes to fit your taste. Remember, these recipes are only a staring point. Beyond that, you should be able to make the pho that you enjoy. You may incorporate some other ingredients or try out a "secret" element you've read about or heard from someone. You don't really need to find the "best" recipe; because it doesn't exist. You just need to start making pho. Whatever you do, don't forget to try that pho chay. Delicious!
For additional help, read my post on Easy Fixes to Common Homemade Pho Problems, where I provide additional helpful tips to either reinforce or elaborate on the instructions from many of these recipes. Follow those and you will have a great pot of homemade pho to feed a whole bunch of hungry family and friends.
Good luck and let me know how I can help.
By the way, a decent alternative to cooking pho broth for hours on end is with Quoc Viet Foods’ Pho Soup Base.
And one last thing, please take this poll.
Loading ...Originally posted 09-12-09.
Must.Have.Pho: In the article Ten Pho Recipes from Around the Web, the 2 recipes I referred to are listed under the section called The Pros.
Hi Cuong,
I tried Pho in Phoenix, AZ last year and have been hooked since. Unfortunately, I relocated to a relatively small community in Minnesota and there is only one restaurant that serves Pho. While it is good, they don’t seem to do a good job of skimming the fat. I’m no health nut but I do have limits. It really bothers me more in the taste than anything.
So, I’m going to try making it at home. Of the recipes above, or others, can you give me your insight into a good recipe for a beginner? I’m a decent cook and the process doesn’t deter me.
Also – I love your site – I appreciate your efforts!
Dennis
@Dennis: Home-made pho for beginner, hmmm… I don’t think there is such a thing, but the good part is it shouldn’t matter. Here’s what I mean. To get your pho made right, you’ll only need two things: 1) A good set of instructions (recipes) and a good operator (you.) Andrea Nguyen, Didier Corlou and SteamyKitchen are excellent teachers with lots of experience in helping people make their own tasty dishes successfully. So your battle is half won right there. The rest, you’ll just have to follow their recipes as closely as you can with proper ingredients and techniques, and you’ll get it right every time. Good luck and have fun!
Can someone share with me how to prepare the beef? is it putting all different type of cuts (eg brisket, flank, tendon, fatty, and crunchy flank) into the broth and simmer? or cook/boil the meat separately? i’ve experienced either too hard and chewy meat with short time cooking or just too loose and the meat fall apart after long hours simmer with the broth 🙁
also, i found dried beef tendon in market. is it good to use it? and how to prepare it?
@sien: I don’t know which recipe you use, but it seemed any recipe should tell you what to cook and when. Anyway, based on what you listed there, I’d suggest the following sequence:
– Parboil the brisket, flank and crunchy flank, then rinse. Then your real broth cooking begin with boiling the water again and put these back in, then simmer over low heat.
– Add in the spices and flavoring per your recipe at the time they’re called for.
With respect to tendons and tripe, you want to cook them separately over intense heat to soften them. It may take longer time as well, depending on your cooking method. I’d recommend a pressure cooker for the tendons. For tripe, a simple pot of boiling water is all you need. Hopr this helps.
Personally, I’ve never tried dried beef tendon, and I’m not even sure what it is.
Hi Cuong,
Thanks for the reply.. and will try that.
By the way, I have bought a pho package from Vietnam and inside there is dried orange peel and also some dried herb root (Trần bì & Cam thảo).. are these some sort of special recipe? Too bad I can’t post the photo, else will post it here to share with everyone else..