Pho-Inspired Beef Rice Noodle Soup with Star Anise and Ginger Broth

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-02 · Updated 2026-07-02

A fragrant Vietnamese beef soup featuring tender slices of beef in a spiced, clear broth with rice noodles and fresh herbs. This Vietnamese-inspired beef recipe, ready in about 215 minutes, pairs beef bones, beef sirloin, onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 380 calories and feeds 4, 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
• 8 oz, thinly sliced beef sirloin
• 1 large, halved onion
• 3-inch piece, sliced ginger
• 4 star anise pods
• 1, 3-inch piece cinnamon stick
• 4 whole cloves
• 1/4 cup fish sauce
• 1 tbsp (or substitute granulated sugar) rock sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 8 oz rice noodles (banh pho)
• 1 cup bean sprouts
• 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
• 4 lime wedges
• 1 small sliced jalapeño
• 2, sliced green onions

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

Instructions

1. Step 1: Char 1 large halved onion and 3-inch sliced ginger under a broiler or directly over flame until blackened, about 5 minutes per side; set aside.
2. Step 2: In a large pot, add 2 lbs beef bones, charred onion, ginger, 4 star anise pods, 1 cinnamon stick, and 4 whole cloves. Cover with 12 cups water and bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer, skimming impurities for 3 hours to develop a clear broth.
3. Step 3: After simmering, strain the broth and return to pot. Add 1/4 cup fish sauce, 1 tbsp rock sugar, and 1 tsp salt; adjust seasoning to taste.
4. Step 4: Prepare 8 oz rice noodles according to package instructions, usually soaking or briefly boiling until tender; drain and divide among 4 bowls.
5. Step 5: Arrange thin 8 oz sirloin slices over the noodles. Pour the hot broth over the beef to cook it slightly.
6. Step 6: Garnish with 1 cup bean sprouts, 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, 2 sliced green onions, sliced jalapeño, and lime wedges on the side for squeezing.