Authentic Oxtail Pho

Make oxtail pho from scratch by simmering the broth for 6 hours while preparing the delicious add-ins of noodles, sirloin, beef balls, fried shallots, and bean sprouts.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 6 hr 5 mins
• Total Time: 6 hr 25 mins
• Calories: 567 Calories

Ingredients

• water to cover
• salt to taste
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1 (8 ounce) package bean sprouts
• 1 lime, cut into 8 wedges
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce, or to taste
• 2 bunches scallions, chopped
• 4 teaspoons white sugar, or to taste
• 2 Spanish onions, peeled, divided
• 1 tablespoon whole star anise pods
• 3 tablespoons beef pho flavor paste
• 1 (16 ounce) package dried rice noodles, or to taste
• 1 (12 ounce) package beef pho meatballs, halved, or to taste
• 1 bunch Thai basil leaves, torn into bite-size pieces
• 1 (2.8 ounce) can crispy fried shallots, or to taste
• 1.5 pounds beef oxtail, or to taste
• 0.5 pound sirloin steak, thinly sliced, or to taste

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Bring water and oxtail to a boil in a pot. Skim the foam and oil off the surface. Add 1 onion, fish sauce, star anise, cinnamon, and salt. Stir in pho flavor paste; cover loosely with a lid. Reduce heat and simmer broth for at least 6 hours.

Step 2

Cut the remaining onion in half and slice very thinly. Place in a bowl with scallions and cilantro.

Step 3

Place noodles in a large bowl and rinse. Cover with warm water and let soak for 1 hour.

Step 4

Drop meatballs into the soup 20 minutes before broth is done.

Step 5

Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil. Drain noodles and dip into the boiling water for 30 seconds. Transfer noodles into 8 large bowls.

Step 6

Top each bowl with sliced sirloin. Ladle in broth, meatballs, and oxtail. Taste and season as needed. Squeeze 1 or 2 lime wedges into each bowl and mix in 1/2 teaspoon sugar. Top with the cilantro-onion mixture, bean sprouts, basil, and shallots.