Spicy Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup

This hearty Vietnamese beef noodle soup features tender beef shank and oxtail cooked slowly for a delicious broth, served with fresh noodles and bean sprouts.

Ingredients

  • vegetable oil (1 tablespoon)
  • beef shank (2 thick slices)
  • beef oxtail (2 pounds)
  • fresh ginger (1 (6 inch) piece)
  • whole star anise (6 )
  • cinnamon stick (1 )
  • fennel seeds (1 teaspoon)
  • whole coriander seeds (1 teaspoon)
  • whole cloves (2 )
  • cardamom pod (1 )
  • water (3 quarts)
  • onion (1 )
  • garlic (6 cloves)
  • white sugar (2 tablespoons)
  • bay leaf (1 )
  • fish sauce (2 tablespoons)
  • soy sauce (1 tablespoon)
  • fresh rice noodles (1 (16 ounce) package)
  • fresh bean sprouts (1 cup)
  • fresh jalapeño pepper (1 )

Instructions

  1. Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add beef shanks, oxtail pieces, and ginger; cook, turning occasionally, until browned, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Add star anise, cinnamon stick, fennel seeds, coriander seeds, cloves, and cardamom pod; sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
  2. Add water, onion, garlic, white sugar, and bay leaf to beef mixture; bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer until broth is flavorful and meat is falling off the bone, 5 to 6 hours. Remove meat and reserve. Strain broth into a pot; discard strained spices and vegetables.
  3. Chop beef shank and oxtail meat; add to broth. Stir in fish sauce and soy sauce; bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low; keep warm.
  4. Place noodles in a large bowl and cover with hot water. Set aside until noodles are softened, about 5 minutes. Drain and rinse in cold water.
  5. Place a handful of bean sprouts in the bottom of a large soup bowl. Top with a large handful rice noodles and a few jalapeño slices. Ladle broth into bowl to cover noodles.

Nutrition

(*Nutrition data is approximate and may vary depending on the brand and type of ingredients used.)

  • kcal: 390
  • fat: 15 g
  • sats: 5 g
  • carbs: 34 g
  • fibre: 1 g
  • protein: 30 g
  • salt: 0.528 g