Vietnamese Pho-Inspired Rice Noodle Soup with Herb Garnishes

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · ·

A fragrant, light rice noodle soup infused with aromatic spices and fresh herbs, inspired by traditional Vietnamese pho. This vietnamese-inspired soups ready in about 215 minutes pairs beef bones, large, halved and charred onion, inch piece, sliced and charred ginger for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 400 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.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 195 min Serves 4 Vietnamese cuisine 400 cal/serving
Plan a meal with the AI → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Place 2 lbs beef bones in a large stockpot and cover with 12 cups cold water. Bring to a boil over high heat and boil vigorously for 10 minutes. Drain and rinse bones to remove impurities.
  2. Step 2: Return cleaned bones to the pot with 12 cups fresh water, add 1 large halved onion and 3-inch sliced ginger both charred over an open flame or under a broiler until blackened, plus 3 star anise, 4 cloves, and 1 cinnamon stick. Simmer gently uncovered for at least 3 hours, skimming any foam occasionally.
  3. Step 3: After simmering, strain broth through a fine mesh sieve into a clean pot. Stir in 1/4 cup fish sauce and 1 tbsp rock sugar until dissolved. Keep broth hot.
  4. Step 4: Soak or cook 8 oz rice noodles according to package instructions until tender, then drain.
  5. Step 5: To serve, divide noodles into 4 bowls. Top each with 2 oz thinly sliced raw beef sirloin.
  6. Step 6: Ladle the hot broth over the beef and noodles; the heat will cook the beef slices.
  7. Step 7: Garnish with 1 cup bean sprouts, 1/2 cup fresh Thai basil, 1/4 cup chopped cilantro, 2 sliced green onions, lime wedges, and sliced jalapeño to taste.

Equipment for this recipe

Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.

More Knives & cutting boards → Shop all kitchen tools →

Frequently asked questions

How long does Vietnamese Pho-Inspired Rice Noodle Soup with Herb Garnishes take to make?

Total time is about 215 minutes (20 min prep + 195 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.

How do I store leftover Vietnamese Pho-Inspired Rice Noodle Soup with Herb Garnishes?

Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep beef bones from drying out.

Can I substitute ingredients in Vietnamese Pho-Inspired Rice Noodle Soup with Herb Garnishes?

Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.

How do I scale Vietnamese Pho-Inspired Rice Noodle Soup with Herb Garnishes for a different number of people?

The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.

What goes well with Vietnamese Pho-Inspired Rice Noodle Soup with Herb Garnishes?

Vietnamese soups like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.

Related recipes