What Does Pho Taste Like? Does Pho Taste Good?

In this article, you will know the answer to the query “What Does Pho Taste Like?”.

It is no secret that street foods are everyone’s favorite.

It is also budget-friendly and delicious.

In Vietnam, Pho, a simple three-letter dish, is popular street food. 

The soup consists of rice noodles, spices, bone broth, and thin-sliced meat, topped with herbs and sprouts.

If you think about the ingredients, it is mouth-watering.

I hope that whether you are hearing the word Pho for the first time or seeing a picture of it, you are eager to try it.

What is Pho exactly? What does it taste like? What is the best way to prepare it?

Here’s what you’ve been missing. Scroll down to find out what you’ve been missing. 

What is Pho? 

Pho originated in Vietnam’s northern regions, according to Cuong Hyunh, the creator of lovingpho.com.

Pho soup is a Vietnamese stock-based broth soup that contains vegetables, rice noodles, spices, and meat.

Herbs and bean sprouts complete the dish. Taken at any time of day, it is served hot. 

Pho is sometimes confused with ramen, but the former uses rice noodles while the latter uses wheat.

Even though Pho refers to noodles rather than soup, most people take it as a unit. 

In the Southern and Northern parts of Vietnam, Pho Nam and Pho bac are very popular. 

What Does Pho Taste Like? Does Pho Taste Good?

It has a complex taste since it contains several exotic ingredients in a single bowl.

This soup tastes like chicken or beef stock with meat slices, noodles, Thai basil leaves, and ginger roots.

A crunchy effect is added to the dish by the bean sprouts. 

Southeast Asia has many dishes that are similar to Pho.

Even though it contains noodle and beef, which are common ingredients, it is not identical.

Ramen and Pho may seem similar to some people, but they are completely different types of noodles. 

The Vietnamese cuisine bun is also a popular comparison with Pho.

Both are made of similar ingredients. There is only one difference: Bun noodles use vermicelli noodles in their soup and are dark white.

The rice sticks used in Pho are transparent, opaque, and flat.

Many types of Pho users experiment with other ingredients at home as well. 

The food name Pho is also one of the most commonly mispronounced, according to HuffPost.

Most people pronounce the word “Fuh” as “Fuh”. 

Several nutrient-dense ingredients are used in Pho. These ingredients offer several health benefits, including:

• The anti-inflammatory compound gingerol found in ginger reduces the effects of inflammation and joint pain.
• A study conducted by the National Library of Medicine shows that the combination of chondroitin and glucosamine found in broth can help with painful knee osteoarthritis.
• According to Healthline, the spices and herbs contain nutrient-rich herbs, which reduce the risk of chronic conditions including cancer and heart disease. 

How to Prepare and Cook Pho

The ingredients for making Pho at home are simple and can be found at your local supermarket.

No complicated recipe is needed for this dish, which is excellent for any meal of the day.

Pho is prepared with ingredients such as ginger, onions, coriander seeds, whole clove, chicken or beef stock, water, rice noodles, pepper, basil, and mint leaves. 

Cooking instructions for Pho:

• Set aside ginger, onion, and leaves after peeling them, cutting them up, and chopping them into slices. 
• Toast the clove and coriander seeds for a few minutes first. Once the ginger and onion are fragrant, add the cloves and coriander seeds. After a few minutes, remove from the heat. 
• Bring the pot back to a boil and add two cups of water and cilantro sprigs as well as the chicken or beef. Boil until the water starts to thicken. Your dish’s soup will be this liquid. 
• Prepare the rice noodles by soaking them in hot water in a separate pan. The noodle should be pliable once drained and rinsed.
• As soon as the chicken is firm, transfer it to a cool place and cut or shred it into bite-sized pieces. 
• Remove the solids from the broth by straining them through a mesh strainer. Season the broth with fish sauce and sugar to make it savory-sweet. 
• Lastly, add the noodles and meat to the boiling broth. Pour into beautiful bowls and enjoy. 

When cooking the noodles, be careful not to overcook them.

Similarly, when it comes to cooking Pho, you should only use either beef or chicken.

Conclusion

Although the origins of the dish and its popularity are not entirely clear, the dish has made its way into Vietnamese hearts. The dish is revered as the national dish of Vietnam.

In all parts of the world, the warm and comforting taste of the soup is winning people’s stomachs.

Traditionally, it is made during special occasions and gatherings. 

If you want to read more about cooking, read here: Cooking Tips and Tricks.