Heart-Healthy Beef Pho
Savor a steaming bowl of "Heart-Healthy Beef Pho," a nutritious twist on the classic Vietnamese comfort food. This recipe swaps traditional cuts of beef for lean sirloin and uses low-sodium beef broth to keep sodium levels in check, while still offering the warm, aromatic depth pho is known for. Bold spices like cinnamon, star anise, and cloves combine with charred onion and ginger to create a layered, fragrant broth that simmers to perfection in just 30 minutes. Thinly sliced beef cooks gently in the hot broth, keeping it tender and full of flavor. Served with rice noodles and topped with fresh herbs, bean sprouts, and jalapeño slices, this pho is vibrant, customizable, and ideal for clean eating without sacrificing taste. Whether you're aiming for a heart-healthy diet or just craving a soul-soothing meal, this quick and nourishing dish is sure to become a household favorite.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 300 grams Lean beef sirloin
- 2 liters Low-sodium beef broth
- 200 grams Rice noodles
- 1 Large onion
- 30 grams Fresh ginger
- 1 Cinnamon stick
- 2 Star anise
- 4 Whole cloves
- 2 tablespoons Fish sauce
- 1 Fresh lime
- 100 grams Bean sprouts
- 30 grams Fresh cilantro
- 30 grams Fresh basil
- 20 grams Fresh mint
- 1 Jalapeño pepper
- 3 Green onions
- 0.5 teaspoons Salt
- 0.25 teaspoons Black pepper
Instructions
Begin by charing the onion and ginger to elevate the flavor of your broth. Cut the onion in half, peel the ginger, and cut it into thick slices. Char them over an open flame or in a dry pan until they blacken slightly, about 5-7 minutes.
In a large pot, add the charred onion and ginger, cinnamon stick, star anise, and cloves. Pour in the low-sodium beef broth and bring to a simmer.
While the broth simmers, prepare the beef sirloin. Freeze the beef for 15 minutes to make it easier to slice thinly. Cut the beef into thin slices, approximately 1/8 inch thick, and set aside.
Allow the broth to simmer for about 30 minutes, which will ensure all the spices and aromatics infuse well. Strain the broth into another pot, discarding the solids, and return the broth to the stove over low heat.
Add the fish sauce, salt, and black pepper to the broth. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
Cook the rice noodles according to package instructions until just tender. Drain and divide them among serving bowls.
Arrange the raw beef slices over the noodles in each bowl. Pour the hot broth over the beef and noodles, which will cook the meat.
To serve, garnish with bean sprouts, fresh cilantro, basil, and mint. Add freshly sliced jalapeño, green onions, and lime wedges on the side for added flavor and personal customization.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
1218 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 39.0 g | 50% | |
| Saturated Fat | 12.6 g | 63% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.1 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 225 mg | 75% | |
| Sodium | 5604 mg | 244% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 111.5 g | 41% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 20.2 g | 72% | |
| Total Sugars | 15.6 g | ||
| Protein | 115.2 g | 230% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 565 mg | 43% | |
| Iron | 23.3 mg | 129% | |
| Potassium | 3372 mg | 72% | |
*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.
