Paleo Beef Pho – The Almond Eater

Pho (pronounced “fuh,” not “fake”) is a beloved Vietnamese noodle soup that I crave no less than as soon as per week. Together with my Whole30 banh mi bowl, this Paleo Beef Pho has saved me from ordering takeout many occasions, due to its deeply savory, slow-simmered broth, aromatic herbs, tender slices of beef, and slurpable noodles. 

Historically, pho is much from being paleo and Whole30-friendly because it’s made with rice noodles. However by merely buying and selling rice noodles for a mix of kelp noodles and spiralized zucchini, we are able to take pleasure in a soup that’s simply as satisfying and fully grain-free. And no, you don’t must be paleo or Whole30 to take pleasure in it!

Paleo Beef Pho Components

Beef – I all the time use pre-cut beef (often labeled as “beef stew meat”) just because it’s extra handy. 

Heat spices – The pho broth has heat, complicated notes due to a cinnamon stick, entire cloves, and star anise. All the time persist with entire spices moderately than floor spices, as they’re simpler to pressure out of the broth.

Beef broth – I like utilizing my selfmade beef bone broth in pho for the additional protein and collagen. Retailer-bought beef broth works simply as effectively, although. 

Zoodles – AKA zucchini noodles! When you don’t have a spiralizer to make the zoodles your self, choose up prepackaged zucchini noodles from the produce part at your native grocery retailer.

Kelp noodles – These hold the dish paleo and satisfying (rather more so than for those who had been to make use of zoodles alone). It is best to be capable of discover these within the Asian meals aisle of most well-stocked grocery shops.

Toppings – A bowl of pho simply isn’t full with out the recent garnishes. Thai basil leaves, recent mint, lime juice or wedges, and a drizzle of sriracha are all classics.

This record is to offer additional clarification on a number of of the components. See recipe card beneath for the total ingredient record. 

Variations

• Swap up the meat – You’re greater than welcome to make use of your favourite reduce of beef right here. Swap the stew meat for well-done beef brisket (gầu), flank (nạm), or paper-thin slices of uncooked eye spherical, sirloin, or ribeye (phở tái).
• Swap the noodles – The zoodles can simply get replaced with spiralized candy potato, carrot, celeriac, turnip, or daikon radish (principally any veggie that gained’t flip to mush in scorching broth). Keto-friendly shirataki noodles are additionally a very good possibility.
• Add taste boosters – You possibly can add plenty of further taste to the broth by including toasted coriander seeds, fennel seeds, black cardamom, black peppercorns, or a calmly bruised stalk of lemongrass.

Tips on how to Make Paleo Beef Pho

Step 1: Broil the aromatics. Organize the onion and ginger on a baking sheet and broil till they’re calmly charred across the edges. 

Step 2: Bloom the spices. In the meantime, toast the cinnamon stick, cloves, and star anise in a big saucepan till aromatic. 

Step 3: Construct the broth. Switch the broiled onion and ginger to the saucepan with the spices, then add the fish sauce, beef broth, and water. Gently simmer for 10 to fifteen minutes. 

Step 4: Sear the meat. Whereas the broth simmers, rapidly sear each bit of beef in a scorching skillet. 

Step 5: Put together the noodles. Cook dinner the kelp noodles in line with the bundle directions and spiralize the zucchini. When the kelp noodles are practically tender, add the zucchini noodles to the identical pot and prepare dinner till softened. Stain and put aside.

Step 6: Pressure the broth. Pressure the broth by a fine-mesh strainer and right into a bowl.

Step 7: Assemble and serve. Divide the cooked noodles amongst bowls, high with the seared beef, and ladle the recent broth over high. End together with your favourite pho toppings, then take pleasure in!

Erin’s Suggestions and Methods

• Don’t burn the aromatics underneath the broiler. You need them to be golden and calmly charred, not deeply browned.
• Straining the broth is non-negotiable. A very nice bowl of pho begins with a transparent, aromatic broth—you don’t need any of these aromatics and entire spices floating round. 
• Each the kelp noodles and the zucchini noodles don’t take lengthy to prepare dinner. By the point they’re accomplished, the noodles needs to be tender with a slight chunk and by no means soggy.

Beef Pho FAQs