Pho is a Vietnamese soup with a dark beef broth, rice noodles, bean sprouts, lime, beef, basil, and chili peppers. It can be served with additional sauces and ingredients. The dish originated in Vietnam and is believed to be a combination of French and Vietnamese cuisines.
Pho is a type of Vietnamese soup that can consist of various ingredients, but most versions of the dish include a dark broth made from beef broth, star anise, onion, cinnamon, cloves, fish sauce, and hoisin. The contents of the soup may include bean sprouts, rice noodles, lime, beef, basil, and very hot chili peppers. Some restaurants choose to serve most of the ingredients as side dishes, allowing the person eating the dish to add to the contents as they wish. Pho is usually served as an appetizer, as it can be quite filling if filled with enough contents.
The soup is usually made and simmered for quite some time to allow the flavors to steep. The beef flank is then added to the broth, either already cooked or raw, to be cooked in the broth. Some restaurants choose to serve the dish this way, without adding any other ingredients; other restaurants may add rice noodles before serving. The bowl of soup is served alongside a tray of additional ingredients so the diner can add whatever they like. Many restaurants also serve additional sauces, such as hoisin sauce, fish sauce, soy sauce, sriracha sauce, or chili garlic sauce. The soup can be quite spicy or mild depending on the diner’s tastes.
There are several variations of the dish. The most popular dish features flank beef, and another popular version features both flank beef and meatballs. Less common are chicken and veggie pho, although they do exist and can be served in some Vietnamese restaurants. Some versions of the soup are also served with various seafood, such as shrimp or scallops. Most versions of the soup focus on beef, however, as various parts of the cow are used for flavoring. Beef tripe, tendons and muscles are all potential meats used in various recipes. Some versions of the soup tend to be sweeter, while others tend to be spicy; the difference is usually noticeable by region.
The origin of pho is not known, although many speculate that it originated in Vietnam in the early 20th century. Before that, beef was not usually used in Vietnamese cuisine, as cows were mainly used for farming rather than eating. When the French were a major presence in the area, the Vietnamese began using beef in more dishes. Many people believe that pho is a combination of French and Vietnamese cuisines and speculations have arisen that the name pho may also have a French origin.
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