Our Favorite Faux Pho!

Looking for a festive and delicious bowl of soup for dinner?! Something light yet filling? A dinner that won't break the bank? Why not try a big beautiful bowl of Pho? Come and take a look at this easy version we like to call Our Favorite Faux Pho! You are going to love the creativity you can bring to the dinner table...

Pho is eaten the year round in Vietnam, 

and in all of the Vietnamese cafes and restaurants I have had the pleasure to visit! Warming in the winter and in it's own way, cooling in the hotter seasons with herbs and condiments that will induce a refreshing sweat. Living here in East Texas, often it is the mild sweat from working hard when it's warm, that also helps to cool you down! And the same is true with this soup...But it is also a frugal meal when made with stew beef and your pressure cooker. Which I have come to love for cooking tougher cuts of beef. With the pressure cooker you get, tender to the bite, cooked beef. No matter how you use cooked beef is used to make dinner. 

With beef, broth and noodles available in the kitchen, 

it was quick and easy to grab a few other things I keep routinely stocked in the pantry or had preserved from our garden before winter set in. Since my edible pea pods are not really producing in our cold weather, creativity definitely became a fun ingredient for this dinner! However you are encouraged to use the vegetables you prefer and love to eat in your own homemade Pho. Our bowls of Favorite Faux Pho had noodles, tender beef chunks, and a rich broth along with the following ingredients:

• lightly fried corn

• roasted radish leaves

• roasted radishes

• grated carrot

• diagonally sliced green onions

Do keep in mind this soup would have been just as delicious 

if I hand taken the easy way out and simply added some organic mixed vegetables along with the noodles, to the IP pot cooking it all in the broth using the sauté feature. Which I have done, many times! To my own way of thinking, there are no ingredients that would not be delicious in a bowl of Pho. No matter what you use, you will still have a delicious bowl of Faux Pho. I had decided the last time I made Pho, that, it was time to share this easy dinner option. Meaning I upped my game a little for this post. I wanted a bowl of Pho that would visually encourage you to give it a try! Because no matter how you make it, you will have a delicious bowl of Pho to nourish you. Do be sure to add lots of your favorite veggies! This recipe as written serves two, double or triple to make enough for your family. And remember the cooking time remains the same when using your pressure cooker. 

Additional thoughts on this recipe:

While I have used Better than Bouillon in the past, upon further investigation for low histamine recipes, stay with water. 

For those who do not need to cook low histamine, do use the suggested beef stock in place of the water listed. 

Ingredients needed for this recipe:

• beef, stew beef works great
• dried onion pieces
• garlic salt
• fresh ginger
• ramen noodles, use Brown Rice Ramen for low histamine
• vegetables of choice
• toasted sesame oil, if desired
• hot sauce or chili oil, if desired
• soy sauce, if desired
• fresh lime wedges, if desired
• fresh cilantro, if desired
• Better than Bouillon

You will also need the following:

• pressure cooker, electric or stovetop
• kitchen knife
• grater
• soup ladle
• serving bowls

Now we are ready to begin!

Our Favorite Faux Pho

by the seat of my pants!

1/2 pound stew beef

2 T dried onion pieces

1 t garlic salt

2 slices of fresh ginger

3 c beef broth, double strength using Better than Bouillon concentrate

Ramen noodles - 2 squares Ramen noodles, use your favorite brand

assorted vegetables as desired

assorted condiments for serving, as desired

Cut the beef into small bite size pieces. 

Add to the bottom of the IP cooking vessel along with the dried onion pieces, garlic salt and ginger. Add the double strength broth. Close the pressure cooker, making sure the valve is also closed. Set cooking time for 35 minutes or use the Stew button. 

While the beef is cooking, gather and prepare the vegetables you will use in your Pho. Use what you want, what you like, what you have on hand.

 

When the beef is cooked, let the IP sit NPR for 10 minutes. At this time place a medium sized pan of water on to boil. When boiling, add the blocks of noodles and cook for about 4-5 minutes or until cooked. Drain in a colander when cooked. 

Open the pressure cooker, divide the noodles between the bowls, then ladle on the beef and broth, discarding the ginger. Top dress the bowls of noodles with the vegetables that have been prepared, and serve. Offering assorted condiments so each person can customize their bowl of Pho!

Storage options for Our Favorite Faux Pho. This recipe serves two, and we had no leftovers. But leftover Pho can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat before serving, and do expect some changes in texture. 

UPDATE:  For your convenience, a "copy and paste" version of Our Favorite Faux Pho has been included below. 

You may also enjoy: 

Chinese Spaghetti. 

#wholefoodingredients

#scratchmadefoodforyourfamily

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Printable "copy and paste" version:

Our Favorite Faux Pho

by the seat of my pants!

1/2 pound stew beef

2 T dried onion pieces

1 t garlic salt

2 slices of fresh ginger

3 c beef broth, double strength using Better than Bouillon concentrate

Ramen noodles - 2 squares Ramen noodles, use your favorite brand

assorted vegetables as desired

assorted condiments for serving, as desired

Cut the beef into small bite size pieces. Add to the bottom of the IP cooking vessel along with the dried onion pieces, garlic salt and ginger. Add the double strength broth. Close the pressure cooker, making sure the valve is also closed. Set cooking time for 35 minutes or use the Stew button. 

While the beef is cooking, gather and prepare the vegetables you will use in your Pho. Use what you want, what you like, what you have on hand. 

When the beef is cooked, let the IP sit NPR for 10 minutes. At this time place a medium sized pan of water on to boil. When boiling, add the blocks of noodles and cook for about 4-5 minutes or until cooked. Drain in a colander when cooked. 

Open the pressure cooker, divide the noodles between the bowls, then ladle on the beef and broth, discarding the ginger. Top dress the bowls of noodles with the vegetables that have been prepared, and serve. Offering assorted condiments so each person can customize their bowl of Pho!

Storage options for Our Favorite Faux Pho. This recipe serves two, and we had no leftovers. But leftover Pho can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat before serving, and do expect some changes in texture.

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