Beef Pho Recipe in 2 Styles: The Traditional and the Quick Version

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Pho is one of the most loved noodle soups in the world. Its hot broth, soft rice noodles, and tender beef create a warm comforting meal. Many people visit Vietnamese restaurants just to enjoy it. With a good beef pho recipe you can make this classic dish at home easily.

A traditional beef pho recipe often takes many hours because the broth slowly simmers with bones and spices to build deep flavor. Today many home cooks also try a faster beef pho recipe that uses prepared broth but still creates a warm satisfying bowl of pho at home anytime easily.

In this article, we will share two beef pho recipe variations: the traditional and the quick modern one. Each of these recipes are tasty and worth trying at home. We gathered these recipes from various sources, Monday (9/3/2026). Let's start cooking.

This traditional beef pho recipe follows the classic Vietnamese cooking style. The broth slowly simmers for several hours with beef bones and spices, creating a deep flavor that makes this famous noodle soup so comforting and aromatic.

Ingredients

For the broth:

- 2 pounds beef bones

- 1 pound beef brisket

- 1 onion, halved

- 1 piece ginger, sliced

- 2 star anise

- 1 cinnamon stick

- 3 cloves

- 1 tablespoon coriander seeds

- 1 tablespoon fish sauce

- 1 teaspoon salt

- 8 cups water

For serving:

- 8 ounces rice noodles

- Thin slices of raw beef sirloin

- Bean sprouts

- Fresh basil

- Lime wedges

- Sliced chili

Instructions

1. First, place the beef bones in a large pot and cover them with water. Boil for about 5 minutes to remove impurities. After that, drain the bones and rinse them under running water.

2. In a dry pan, lightly toast the star anise, cinnamon stick, cloves, and coriander seeds for about two minutes. This helps release their aroma and adds deeper flavor to the broth.

3. Put the cleaned bones and brisket into a large pot. Add the toasted spices, onion, ginger, fish sauce, salt, and eight cups of fresh water.

4. Bring the pot to a gentle boil. Then lower the heat and let the broth simmer for about three hours. During cooking, remove any foam that rises to the surface so the broth stays clear.

5. After about one and a half hours, remove the brisket from the pot. Let it cool slightly, then slice it thinly for serving later.

6. Continue simmering the broth for the remaining time so the bones can release more flavor.

7. Strain the broth through a fine sieve into another pot. Discard the spices, onion, ginger, and bones.

8. Cook the rice noodles according to the package instructions and divide them into serving bowls.

9. Place sliced brisket and thin raw beef on top of the noodles.

10. Pour the hot broth over the noodles and meat. The heat will gently cook the raw beef slices.

11. Serve the pho with bean sprouts, basil, lime wedges, and chili so everyone can add toppings as they like.

If you want a faster meal, this quick beef pho recipe gives you a flavorful bowl without hours of cooking. It uses store-bought broth and simple seasoning to create a warm noodle soup in much less time.

Ingredients

- 6 cups beef broth

- 1 small onion, sliced

- 1 piece ginger, sliced

- 1 star anise

- 1 teaspoon fish sauce

- 1 teaspoon soy sauce

- 8 ounces rice noodles

- Thin slices of beef sirloin

- Bean sprouts

- Fresh basil

- Lime wedges

- Sliced chili

Instructions

1. Place the beef broth in a medium pot. After that, add sliced onion, ginger, and star anise.

2. Bring the broth to a gentle simmer and cook for about 15 minutes. This short simmer helps the broth absorb the aroma of the spices.

3. Add fish sauce and soy sauce. Taste the broth and adjust seasoning if needed.

4. While the broth simmers, cook the rice noodles according to the package instructions.

5. Divide the cooked noodles into bowls.

6. Place thin slices of beef sirloin on top of the noodles.

7. Remove the onion, ginger, and star anise from the broth.

8. Carefully pour the hot broth over the noodles and beef. The hot liquid will cook the meat quickly.

9. Serve the pho with bean sprouts, basil, lime wedges, and chili slices for extra flavor and freshness.

A beef pho recipe can look simple, but small cooking details can make a big difference in the final flavor and texture of the soup. The following practical tips can help you improve your homemade pho.

1. Char the Onion and Ginger: Lightly charring onion and ginger over an open flame or in a dry pan adds a smoky aroma to the broth. This step gives the soup a deeper flavor that many restaurants use.

2. Slice Beef Very Thin: Thin slices of beef cook quickly when the hot broth is poured over them. If the slices are thick, they may stay tough instead of becoming tender.

3. Strain the Broth Carefully: Use a fine sieve or cheesecloth to strain the broth. This removes tiny spice pieces and bone fragments so the broth becomes smooth and clear.

4. Cook Noodles Separately: Always cook the rice noodles in a different pot. If you cook them directly in the broth, they can release starch and make the soup cloudy.

5. Taste the Broth Before Serving: Before serving the pho, taste the broth and adjust the flavor. A small amount of fish sauce or salt can balance the taste and make the soup more flavorful.

6. Warm the Serving Bowls: Pour a little hot water into the bowls before adding noodles. This warms the bowls so the pho stays hot longer when you pour in the broth.