Beef Pho

Ingredients

• 5 pounds beef soup bones
• 1 tablespoon salt , divided
• 2 gallonss water
• 2 medium onions , quartered
• 1 piece fresh ginger root , 4 inch
• 2 pounds beef oxtail
• 1 white (daikon) radish , sliced
• 2 ounces whole star anise pods
• 0.5 cinnamons stick , 3 inch
• 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
• 2 whole cloves
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce
• salt to taste

Instructions

1. 1

   Gather all ingredients.

2. 2

   Make broth: Place beef bones in a 9-quart (or larger) pot; season with 1 teaspoon salt. Pour water into the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer broth for about 2 hours.

3. 3

   Meanwhile, set an oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler. Line a 10x15-inch roasting pan with aluminum foil.

4. 4

   Place onions and unpeeled ginger onto the prepared roasting pan and cook under the preheated broiler, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are charred, 10 to 15 minutes.

5. 5

   Cool slightly. Chop onions, then peel and slice ginger; set aside separately.

6. 6

   Skim fat from surface of simmering broth. Add oxtail, radish, and charred onions to broth. Tie charred ginger, anise, cinnamon stick, peppercorns, and cloves in cheesecloth to make a bouquet garni; add to broth. Stir in sugar, fish sauce, and remaining 2 teaspoons salt. Simmer over medium-low heat for at least 4 hours (the longer, the better). Season with salt.

7. 7

   Strain broth. Discard bones and bouquet garni. Reserve meat from bones for another use. Chill broth in the refrigerator, 8 hours to overnight.

8. 8

   Skim and discard fat from the top of chilled broth. Pour broth into a pot; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and keep hot until ready to serve.

9. 9

   Bring a pot of water to a boil. Turn off heat. Stir in rice noodles and let sit until noodles are tender yet chewy, 6 to 10 minutes.

10. 10

    Meanwhile, cut frozen sirloin into paper-thin slices.

11. 11

    Drain and divide noodles among bowls, about 1 1/2 cups per serving. Top each with a few sirloin slices. Ladle hot broth over sirloin and noodles.

12. 12

    Serve and enjoy!