A Vietnamese pho without the faff
For those who don’t have the time to make Vietnam’s iconic broth, this hits the spot, writes Sara Franklin.
While this is not traditional Vietnamese pho, it’s a no-fuss, flavourful substitute for those who don’t have hours to roast bones and stand over a slowly simmering pot.
Once the chicken has cooked, pull the meat from the bones and shred it back into the broth, then doll up each bowl with rice noodles, fresh herbs and condiments.
Vietnamese pho Make ahead:
The chicken needs to be air-dried in the refrigerator for 8 to 12 hours.
For the pho:
❚ One 1.4-1.6kg whole chicken (giblet packet removed, if there is one)
❚ 1⁄2 lime
❚ Kosher salt
❚ Freshly ground black pepper
❚ One 5cm piece fresh ginger root, chopped into chunks (unpeeled)
❚ 1 carrot, scrubbed well and cut into 5cm chunks
❚ 2 ribs celery, cut into 5cm pieces
❚ 2 shallots or 1 medium red onion, cut into quarters
❚ Cloves from 1 head garlic (peeled)
❚ Water
❚ Three 7.5cm cinnamon sticks
❚ 5 whole star anise
❚ 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
❚ 1 small dried Thai chilli or other hot chilli (optional)
To serve:
❚ Dried or fresh rice noodles
❚ Fresh bean sprouts
❚ Lime wedges
❚ Fish sauce
❚ Sambal oelek, Sriracha or other hot sauce
❚ Hoisin sauce ❚ Fresh herbs, such as coriander, mint and Thai basil
For the pho, rinse the chicken, inside and out under cool running water. Pat dry with a paper towel and set on a large plate. Season aggressively with salt all over and inside the cavity. Refrigerate, uncovered, for at least eight hours and up to 24 hours.
When you’re ready to begin cooking, position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to
230 degrees Celsius. Place the chicken in a heavy pot with a lid and stuff the lime half into the cavity. Season with several grinds of pepper.
Drop the ginger, carrot, celery, shallot or onion pieces, and garlic cloves into the pot, surrounding the chicken with them. Roast, uncovered, for 30 to 45 minutes, or until the top of the bird has browned.
Remove the pot from the oven, leaving the oven door ajar. Reduce the temperature to 100C.
Add enough water to the pot to come up about twothirds on the sides. Add the cinnamon, anise, coriander seed, and chilli, if using. Cover tightly and return to the oven. Slow-roast for six to eight hours, undisturbed, with the oven door closed.
Transfer to the stove top (off the heat), uncover and let cool until the broth is a warm, not scolding, temperature. Place the chicken on a cutting board, pull off the meat, discarding the lime half, skin and bones. Strain the broth left in the pot, discarding any solids.
To serve, return the broth to the pot over medium heat, adding the rice noodles when the liquid begins to bubble at the edges. Cook just until the noodles are limp and tender.
Garnish each portion of pho with a generous handful of the pulled chicken, garnishes and condiments.