Heart-Healthy Authentic Vietnamese Beef Pho
Dive into the comforting flavors of Vietnam with this *Heart-Healthy Authentic Vietnamese Beef Pho*, a lighter, wholesome twist on the traditional classic. Featuring lean beef sirloin and a fragrant, homemade broth infused with toasted cinnamon, star anise, and cloves, this pho combines bold spices with low-sodium beef broth for a guilt-free, nourishing meal. Thinly sliced raw beef simmers to perfection as the hot broth is poured over tender rice noodles, creating a vibrant, aromatic bowl that's bursting with fresh garnishes like cilantro, basil, scallions, and bean sprouts. With a squeeze of lime and a touch of heat from jalapeño, this pho is as healthy as it is satisfying. Perfect for cozy nights or a heart-smart meal, it's a dish that delivers authentic taste with a modern, health-conscious approach.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 0.5 pounds lean beef sirloin
- 1 large onion
- 2 inches fresh ginger
- 1 whole cinnamon sticks
- 2 whole star anise
- 4 whole cloves
- 8 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 8 ounces rice noodles
- 2 stalks scallions
- 0.5 cup fresh cilantro
- 0.5 cup fresh basil
- 1 cup bean sprouts
- 1 whole lime
- 1 whole jalapeño pepper
Instructions
Start by preparing the aromatics. Peel and halve the onion, peel and slice the ginger. Char the onion and ginger by placing them cut side down in a hot pan until they develop a nice dark color. This step can take about 5-10 minutes.
In a large pot, toast the cinnamon, star anise, and cloves over medium heat for approximately 2 minutes until fragrant.
Add the charred onions and ginger to the pot along with the low-sodium beef broth. Bring to a simmer.
Stir in the fish sauce, brown sugar, and salt. Let the broth simmer gently for about 1 hour to meld the flavors.
While the broth is simmering, place the beef sirloin in the freezer for 15 minutes to firm up, then slice it thinly against the grain.
Soak the rice noodles in warm water for 30 minutes then drain. Cook them in boiling water for about 30 seconds before draining again. Set aside.
Strain the broth using a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a clean pot to remove the solids. Discard the solid aromatics.
To serve, divide the cooked noodles among 4 bowls. Arrange the raw beef slices over the hot noodles.
Prep the garnishes: slice scallions thinly, chop cilantro and basil, slice the jalapeño thinly, cut the lime into wedges, and rinse the bean sprouts.
Ladle the simmering broth directly over the beef and noodles in each bowl. The hot broth will cook the thinly sliced beef.
Garnish with scallions, cilantro, basil, bean sprouts, and jalapeño slices. Squeeze lime juice over the top to taste before enjoying.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
1102 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 30.9 g | 40% | |
| Saturated Fat | 9.6 g | 48% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.1 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 170 mg | 57% | |
| Sodium | 6735 mg | 293% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 122.8 g | 45% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 14.7 g | 52% | |
| Total Sugars | 26.1 g | ||
| Protein | 92.4 g | 185% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 371 mg | 29% | |
| Iron | 15.5 mg | 86% | |
| Potassium | 2651 mg | 56% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
