Spicy Vietnamese Beef and Noodle Soup

Prep Time: 0 Minutes

Cook Time: 0 Minutes

Ready In: 0 Minutes

Servings: 6

A hearty stew-like soup inspired by Vietnamese pho. The hot and sour elements are great paired with Asian beer. Start preparing this soup one day before serving.

Ingredients:

5 tablespoons peanut oil

3 1/4 pounds meaty oxtails, patted dry

2 large onions, chopped

1 large carrot, peeled, chopped

3 stalks lemongrass,* chopped

2/3 cup chopped peeled fresh ginger

8 garlic cloves, chopped

7 whole star anise (star-shaped spice)

1 tablespoon black peppercorns

12 cups water

7 cups canned beef broth (about four 14 1/2-ounce cans)

3 tablespoons fish sauce (nam pla)

1 12-ounce package fresh udon noodles (refrigerated japanese wheat noodles)* or fresh linguine

1 tablespoon oriental sesame oil

3 cups bean sprouts

6 radishes, thinly sliced

4 green onions, thinly sliced

4 serrano chilies, thinly sliced

6 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

6 tablespoons chopped fresh mint

6 tablespoons chopped cilantro

lime wedges

additional fish sauce (nam pla)

Directions:

1. Heat peanut oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Sprinkle oxtails with salt and pepper. Add oxtails to pot and brown on all sides, about 20 minutes. Transfer oxtails to large bowl. Add onions and next 6 ingredients to same pot. Sauté until vegetables are tender, about 8 minutes. Return oxtails to pot. Add 12 cups water, beef broth and 3 tablespoons fish sauce. Cover and simmer gently until oxtails are very tender, about 3 hours.
2. Using tongs, transfer oxtails to large bowl. Strain broth into another large pot; discard solids. Remove meat from oxtails; discard bones. Add meat to broth.
3. Refrigerate overnight. Spoon solid fat off top of soup. Cook noodles in large pot of boiling salted water until tender. Drain; rinse under cold water. Return to same pot. Toss noodles with sesame oil.
4. Bring soup to boil. Divide noodles, sprouts and next 6 ingredients among 6 bowls. Ladle soup into bowls. Serve with lime wedges and additional fish sauce.
5. *Available at Asian markets and some supermarkets nationwide.

By RecipeOfHealth.com