Bun Bo Hue: Maybe Better than Pho?
A deeply flavorful and spicy Vietnamese noodle soup made with brisket, oxtail, lemongrass, and homemade satế chili oil. Rich, aromatic, and satisfying—possibly better than pho.
Equipment
- 1 Mixing bowl Large
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb Brisket
- 1 lb Oxtail
- 3 stalks Lemongrass bruised
- 2 Shallots halved
- 3 stalks Lemongrass minced, for satế
- 1 Shallot chopped, for satế
- 4 cloves Garlic
- 4 Thai chilies
- ½ cup Neutral oil grapeseed or canola
- ¼ cup Chinese chili flakes or 2-4 Thai chilies
- ¼ cup Sugar
- ¼ cup Fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon Shrimp paste (mắm ruốc) optional
- 8 Beef meatballs halved
- 8 slices Vietnamese ham
- 14 oz Thick vermicelli noodles look for 'Bun Bo Hue'
- ¼ Red onion thinly sliced
- 1 cup Banana blossoms cleaned, trimmed, sliced
- 4 stems Sawtooth coriander ngò gai
- 4 sprigs Cilantro
- 4 sprigs Thai basil
- 4 wedges Lime
Instructions
Instructions
- Parboil brisket and oxtail in boiling water for 5 minutes, then drain and rinse well.
- Transfer meat to pressure cooker, add 3 stalks bruised lemongrass and 2 halved shallots. Cover with water and cook under pressure for 60 minutes.
- In a pan, heat neutral oil. Add minced lemongrass, chopped shallot, garlic, and Thai chilies. Sauté 3-5 minutes, add chili flakes and simmer 2 more minutes. Remove from heat.
- When pressure cooking is done, naturally release steam. Strain broth, skim fat, and slice meat.
- Season broth with fish sauce, sugar, salt, and custom amount of chili oil to taste.
- Cook vermicelli noodles according to package, rinse under cold water, and drain well.
- Assemble bowls: add noodles, top with sliced meat, beef meatballs, and Vietnamese ham. Ladle hot broth over.
- Garnish each bowl with red onion, banana blossoms, sawtooth coriander, cilantro, Thai basil, and lime.
Notes
Store leftover broth up to 4 days in fridge, reheat gently. Meat lasts separately in fridge up to 3 days. Noodles can be refrigerated for up to 2 days with a splash of oil. Freeze broth in small portions for later use.