I love pho, but I don’t love spending hours cooking the delicious Vietnamese soup, so sometimes I cheat and make a not-from-scratch version. If you’re using pho cubes or paste, it doesn’t take more than 20 minutes to make, and with the right garnish and condiments, it’s delicious.
I usually serve the soup with just the noodles, broth, and beef in the bowl. I offer the fresh herbs, condiments, lime, and chili on the side, to be added at the table, so everyone can season the soup to their taste.
Notes
Beef: Use thinly sliced eye of round, brisket, or flank. If you cannot find thinly sliced beef, you can easily slice it yourself at home. Place the beef in the freezer for about 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the size and thickness, until it’s firm but not fully frozen. The meat will be much easier to handle and slice thinly when it’s slightly hardened. If you cannot get the slices thin enough to cook in the bowl, you can stir fry the beef in a wok or a frying pan before adding to the bowl.
Condiments: The typical condiments for pho are sriracha and hoisin sauce, but you can use any sauce you want. Also delicious with fried shallots or chili crisp sprinkled on top.
Rice noodles: Pho is usually made with flat rice noodles (rice sticks), which come in different widths—from thin to extra wide. I like the wider ones best, but go with whatever size you prefer. Just be careful not to overcook them. It’s better to slightly undercook the noodles than to let them go too soft—they’ll continue to soften in the hot broth.
Pho broth: Pho broth cubes or paste are available in most Asian grocery stores. If you can’t find pho cubes, and you’re really, REALLY craving pho, you can use regular beef broth, but you won’t get the seasoning profile typical for pho so make sure you serve the soup with plenty of fresh herbs, lime, and condiments for added flavor.
I’m really into these ceramic bowls. They're beautiful, and the size is just right. At 8 inches in diameter, they’re deep enough for a big, cozy serving of ramen, pho, or udon, without being too bulky. The blue ceramic design is gorgeous and has that authentic, Japanese-inspired look that makes even a simple noodle soup feel special.
What I also like is that the set comes complete with two bowls, matching spoons, and chopsticks, so you’ve got everything you need for a noodle soup night. The bowls hold the heat well, and since they’re ceramic, they’re microwave and dishwasher safe, which makes cleanup easy.
They’re not just for noodles, either. Use them for rice bowls, salads, and even pasta. Versatile, pretty, and practical, this set is one of those things that just makes sense to have at home.
Recipe: 20-minute Pho – Vietnamese Noodle Soup
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servingI love pho, but I don’t love spending hours cooking the delicious Vietnamese soup, so sometimes I cheat and make a not-from-scratch version. If you’re using pho cubes or paste, it doesn’t take more than 20 minutes to make, and with the right garnish and condiments, it’s delicious.
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Ingredients
1 pho cube (enough for ~ 2 cups of broth)
1 serving flat rice noodles
thinly sliced beef (6-8 slices per serving)
1 lime
½ onion (white onion or shallot)
½ Thai chili (leave it out if you can’t handle the heat)
½ cup bean sprouts
fresh herbs: cilantro, mint, Thai basil
hoisin sauce
sriracha sauce
Directions
- Preparation
- Cut the lime into wedges.
- Slice the chili and the onion.
- Rinse bean sprouts, basil, mint, and cilantro.
- Boil the noodles according to the instructions on the packaging. Be careful not to overcook them. Set aside for later.
- Prepare the broth according to the instructions on the packaging. You’ll need ~ 2 cups of broth per serving.
- Assemble the pho
- Place the cooked noodles in a bowl.
- Add the thinly sliced beef to the bowl with the noodles.
- Pour the hot broth over the noodles and beef. It’s important that the broth is boiling hot, as the hot broth will cook the beef.
- Serve with onion, chili, and fresh basil, mint, cilantro, and lime wedges. Adjust the flavor with hoisin sauce and sriracha as desired.
These cubes are a solid pick for a quick, inexpensive soup base for your pho. They're easy to use and gives you the flavor you're after. One cube is enough to make soup for two persons.
