Ingredients for Delicious Chicken Pho
– 1.5 kg of dressed chicken
– 1 onion
– 2 small ginger roots
– 4 shallots
– 1 kg of fresh rice noodles
– Herbs for garnish: coriander, scallions, lime leaves, bean sprouts
– Spices: fish sauce, salt, seasoning powder, pepper, dried fennel seeds
How to Make Tasty Chicken Pho: A Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients
For the accompanying spices, clean the onion and shallots, and roast the ginger. Pluck and clean the coriander, keeping the roots intact. Add the roots to the broth for extra flavor; if fennel seeds are unavailable, split the white part of the scallions lengthwise and cut the green part into small pieces. Chop the lime leaves finely.
Step 2: Prepare the Chicken
First, clean the chicken and rub it with salt and lemon. Remove the chicken fat from the abdomen and pan-fry it with a little turmeric powder; this will be used to brush the cooked chicken for a beautiful, golden appearance.
Step 3: Boil the Chicken
Place the chicken in a thick-bottomed pot and add water until it’s fully submerged, or at least two-thirds covered. Add 2-3 crushed shallots, a small piece of ginger root, and a teaspoon of salt. Bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes. Turn off the heat, cover the pot, and let the chicken sit in the hot broth for 25-30 minutes, depending on its size.
Step 4: Strain and Slice the Chicken
Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the broth and immerse it in cold water with ice cubes to ensure crispy skin. When the chicken is cool, pat it dry, and brush it with the turmeric-infused chicken fat for a golden hue. Strain the meat and slice it thinly lengthwise, keeping the skin on for a better presentation. Alternatively, you can shred the meat according to your preference.
Step 5: Prepare the Broth
After straining the meat, put the bones back into the broth and continue simmering to enhance the sweetness. Add roasted onion and ginger, along with roasted fennel seeds, to the broth. Cook over low heat, occasionally skimming off the foam and leaving the lid ajar to ensure a clear broth. Simmer for about 2 hours, then remove the bones, onion, ginger, and fennel seeds. Adjust the seasoning with fish sauce, salt, and seasoning powder to your taste. If fennel seeds are unavailable, use the roots of the coriander, adding them towards the end of the cooking process to infuse their aroma.
Step 6: Serve and Enjoy
Finally, blanch the rice noodles and place them in serving bowls. Add the chicken, blanched bean sprouts, scallions, chopped coriander, and pour over the boiling broth. Garnish with finely chopped lime leaves and serve immediately.