Simple Pho

Photo: flickr user ljv

Ingredients

2 cups Nonfat Beef Broth Or Homemade

2 slcs Ginger To 6 Slices

Crushed With Side Of Knife

1 Cinnamon Stick

4 whls Star Anise

10 Cloves Garlic

2 tablespoons Fish Sauce

1 pound Dried Rice Noodles

Also Called Banh Pho

1 pound Bok Choy

pound Skinless Boneless Chicken Breast Sliced Thin

Preparation

Place 2 C of beef broth (homemade if possible and defatted), in a pan and heat with2 - 6 slices of fresh ginger crushed with the side of your knife

(to your preference), a cinnamon stick, 4 whole star anise, and 10 whole cloves garlic. Gently simmer for half an hour. Strain and add 2 Tbsp fish sauce.

Steam bok choy.

While broth simmers, soak 1 lb of dried flat rice noodles (banh pho) in a bowl of hot water for the same half hour, or until soft. Drain them.

Thinly slice the chicken breast or meat of your choice.

On a platter arrange piles of the other ingredients: a healthy stem of Thai basil per person, 3 C of fresh mung bean sprouts, chopped chiles of your choice, wedges of lime, a big handful of cilantro leaves, and sliced green onions.

In large individual soup bowls, divide up the noodles and top with the thinly sliced (raw) meat... if using chicken I would cook it first. Pour the simmering broth directly over the meat and noodles, which will cook them. Slice and add bok choy to bowl. Serve, passing the platter of additions along with the fish and chile sauces to be added to the taste of each diner.

Serves 4 or more

NOTES : I don't have the counts on the dried rice noodles but they can't bethat high in fat.