Pho is one of Vietnam’s most iconic and beloved dishes, traditionally simmered for hours, developing complex flavors in the broth from beef bones, aromatics, and spices. It’s a perfect blend of savory, aromatic, and umami flavors that is both soothing and hearty. While making authentic pho from scratch can often be a time-intensive process, using an Instant Pot brings a convenient twist to this classic dish, delivering all the flavor in a fraction of the time.
Full Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 4 lb. beef bones (knuckle and shank mix)
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 8 to 10 cloves
- 4 green or 1 black cardamom pods
- 2 to 3 star anise pods
- 1 large onion, peeled and halved
- 1 large piece ginger (6 oz), roughly chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, smashed
- 2 1/2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1/3 cup fish sauce
- Kosher salt to taste
- 1 lb. beef brisket or chuck, cut into large pieces
- 3/4 lb. flank steak or round eye
- 1 lb. banh pho noodles (or your favorite rice noodles)
- 1 bunch cilantro, half roughly chopped and half whole
- Green onions, green parts thinly sliced
- 1 small onion, thinly sliced and soaked in cold water
- Lime wedges, bean sprouts, hoisin sauce, and sriracha for serving
Directions:
- Prepare the bones: Boil beef bones in a large pot for 10 minutes to remove impurities. Strain and wash under cold water.
- Toast the spices: Set Instant Pot to sauté. Toast cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, and star anise for 3-4 minutes until fragrant.
- Make the broth: Add beef bones, onion, ginger, garlic, brown sugar, fish sauce, kosher salt, and water to cover. Place brisket on top. Pressure cook on high for 1 hour.
- Release pressure: Allow Instant Pot to naturally release pressure, then strain the broth and set brisket aside. Optionally, refrigerate broth for 4 hours to skim fat.
- Prepare toppings: Freeze flank steak for 15-20 minutes, then thinly slice. Soak noodles in hot water for 15-20 minutes, then rinse with cold water.
- Assemble: In each bowl, place noodles, raw beef slices, cilantro, and green onions. Pour boiling broth over the top to cook the beef. Serve with lime wedges, bean sprouts, hoisin, and sriracha.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Kcal: 450 kcal
Servings: 6 servings
The History and Origins of Pho
Pho has its roots in early 20th-century northern Vietnam, where it became a staple in Hanoi’s street food culture. Its origins are often debated, but many believe pho evolved from French pot-au-feu, reflecting Vietnam’s colonial history. Early versions of the dish featured just noodles, broth, and minimal garnish. Over time, however, pho evolved into the richly garnished and globally adored dish we know today. Southern Vietnamese variations added bean sprouts, more herbs, and additional toppings like hoisin and sriracha, which now accompany most pho bowls.
Pho became a global phenomenon as Vietnamese immigrants brought the dish with them to various parts of the world, particularly the United States. In its current form, pho can be found everywhere from street stalls in Saigon to high-end restaurants in Paris and New York.
What Makes Pho Special?
The key to pho’s distinctive taste lies in the broth, which combines beef bones with aromatics like cinnamon, star anise, cardamom, ginger, and onions. These spices give the broth its complex, warming flavor, while fish sauce adds a deep umami that balances the sweetness from the bones and sugar. The long simmering time allows the flavors to meld and deepen, but this is where the Instant Pot comes in handy—it dramatically reduces the cooking time while still producing a rich and satisfying broth.
The broth, though essential, is only one part of the pho experience. Pho is served with rice noodles (banh pho), typically medium-width, which soak up the broth’s flavors. Thin slices of beef, such as brisket or round eye, are traditionally added raw to the bowl, where the hot broth cooks them just enough to remain tender. Fresh herbs like cilantro and green onions, as well as bean sprouts, lime wedges, and optional condiments like hoisin and sriracha, complete the dish.
Why Make Pho in an Instant Pot?
Making pho the traditional way can take hours, often upwards of 8 to 10, to properly extract the flavors from the beef bones. The Instant Pot, a modern kitchen tool that has become increasingly popular in recent years, revolutionizes this process by using pressure cooking to rapidly develop flavor. With the Instant Pot, you can make pho broth in just one hour under high pressure, significantly cutting down the cooking time without sacrificing flavor.
The Instant Pot excels at intensifying the flavors in the broth because it keeps the steam and moisture locked in, forcing the aromatics and bones to release their flavors into the liquid quickly. This method results in a rich and deeply flavorful broth that tastes like it’s been simmering for hours. Additionally, the Instant Pot allows for easy sautéing of spices and aromatics directly in the pot, further enhancing the depth of flavor.
Health Benefits of Pho
Pho is not only delicious but also packed with nutrients, making it a healthy meal choice. The beef bones used to make the broth are rich in collagen, which, when cooked, breaks down into gelatin, offering potential benefits for joint health and skin elasticity. The long simmering process releases minerals like calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus from the bones, which are then absorbed into the broth.
The herbs commonly used in pho, such as cilantro and green onions, are loaded with antioxidants and vitamins. Cilantro, for instance, contains vitamin K, which supports bone health, and vitamin C, an immune booster. Green onions add flavor and also bring anti-inflammatory properties to the dish.
Moreover, pho is often served with lime wedges, adding a burst of vitamin C, which can aid digestion and immune function. Bean sprouts, another common accompaniment, are rich in fiber and essential vitamins. The noodles in pho are typically made from rice, making them gluten-free and suitable for those with gluten sensitivities or celiac disease.
Customizing Your Pho Experience
One of the beauties of pho is its versatility. While the base of the dish remains the same—noodles, broth, and meat—the toppings and garnishes are where you can truly make the dish your own. For those who prefer a lighter meal, you can add more herbs and vegetables like Thai basil, mint, or even bok choy. Vegetarians or vegans can swap out the beef bones for a vegetable-based broth and tofu or mushrooms as a protein substitute.
If you’re a fan of spice, you can add more sriracha or Thai chilis for an extra kick. And for a heartier bowl, consider adding meatballs, tendon, or even oxtail to the broth. Pho is all about balancing the flavors to suit your taste preferences, making it a highly customizable meal.
Tips for Perfecting Your Instant Pot Pho
While the Instant Pot significantly reduces the cooking time, there are a few key tips to ensure your pho turns out perfect every time:
- Char Your Onion and Ginger: Charring these aromatics adds a slight smokiness to the broth and helps develop a deeper flavor. Simply place them over an open flame or in a hot skillet until blackened, then add to the pot.
- Boil the Bones First: Parboiling the beef bones for 10 minutes helps to remove impurities that can make the broth cloudy. This step ensures a clearer and cleaner tasting pho.
- Skim the Fat: For an extra clear broth, refrigerate the broth after cooking to allow the fat to solidify on the surface. Skim off the fat before reheating to get that crystal-clear broth that pho is known for.
- Thinly Slice the Beef: The raw beef is cooked by the heat of the broth, so it’s essential to slice it as thinly as possible. Freezing the meat for 15 to 20 minutes beforehand makes it easier to slice thinly.
Conclusion:
Instant Pot pho is the perfect fusion of modern cooking convenience and traditional Vietnamese flavors. While the traditional method of slow-simmering broth for hours results in unmatched depth, this Instant Pot version comes very close, delivering a rich, flavorful broth in just over an hour. It’s a game-changer for busy individuals who crave the comfort and satisfaction of homemade pho without dedicating an entire day to making it.
Whether you’re making it for a cozy family dinner or meal prepping for the week, pho offers endless customization options, making it a dish that can be tailored to suit any palate. With its fragrant broth, tender beef, fresh herbs, and chewy noodles, this Instant Pot pho will become a go-to recipe in your home. It’s proof that you don’t need to sacrifice flavor for convenience, and with a few simple tips and techniques, you can achieve restaurant-quality pho right in your kitchen.
