Pho Bo with Rare Beef and Fresh Herbs

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-18 · Updated 2026-05-18

A fragrant and flavorful broth served with thinly sliced rare beef, rice noodles, and an abundance of fresh herbs typical of Vietnamese cuisine. This Vietnamese-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 390 minutes, pairs beef bones, onion, ginger for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs beef bones
• 1 large, halved and charred onion
• 3-inch piece, sliced and charred ginger
• 4 pieces star anise
• 1 large cinnamon stick
• 5 whole cloves
• 3 cardamom pods
• 1 tbsp rock sugar
• 1/4 cup fish sauce
• 1 tbsp salt
• 12 oz, soaked and cooked rice noodles
• 8 oz, thinly sliced sirloin beef
• 1 cup bean sprouts
• 1/2 cup fresh Thai basil
• 1/2 cup cilantro
• 1/4 cup chopped scallions
• 4 lime wedges
• to taste sliced chili peppers

The stock pot we’d simmer this in → Best Stock Pots for 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large stockpot, add 2 lbs beef bones and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil for 10 minutes, then drain and rinse bones to remove impurities.
2. Step 2: Refill the pot with 12 cups fresh water, add the cleaned bones, 1 large halved charred onion, 3-inch charred ginger slices, 4 star anise, 1 large cinnamon stick, 5 cloves, 3 cardamom pods, and 1 tbsp rock sugar. Simmer gently for 6 hours, skimming foam occasionally.
3. Step 3: After simmering, strain broth through a fine sieve into another pot. Add 1/4 cup fish sauce and 1 tbsp salt to the broth, adjusting seasoning to taste.
4. Step 4: Prepare 12 oz soaked and cooked rice noodles in bowls. Arrange 8 oz thinly sliced sirloin beef on top.
5. Step 5: Pour the hot broth over the beef and noodles; the heat will cook the beef to rare.
6. Step 6: Serve with 1 cup bean sprouts, 1/2 cup fresh Thai basil, 1/2 cup cilantro, 1/4 cup chopped scallions, lime wedges, and sliced chili peppers on the side for customization.