Pho is a Vietnamese noodle soup made with a flavorful broth, rice noodles, herbs, and usually meat such as beef or chicken.
Basic definition
Pho is considered a soup dish, typically served hot in a large bowl with flat rice noodles submerged in a clear, aromatic broth. It is one of the most well- known dishes in Vietnamese cuisine and is often eaten as a main meal rather than a side dish.
Main ingredients
A classic bowl of pho usually includes:
- Clear broth made by slowly simmering beef or chicken bones with spices like star anise, cloves, and cinnamon.
- Flat rice noodles known as bánh phở, which are soft and slightly chewy.
- Protein such as thinly sliced beef, beef tendon or tripe, or chicken; some modern versions use pork, fish, or tofu.
- Fresh garnishes like herbs, bean sprouts, lime, and chili, which diners add to taste at the table.
Common types
Two of the most common types are:
- Phở bò: beef pho, made with beef broth and slices of beef and sometimes tendon, tripe, or meatballs.
- Phở gà: chicken pho, made with chicken-based broth and pieces of chicken meat.
There are also vegetarian versions (phở chay) using vegetable broth and tofu instead of meat.
