A trip to Vietnam is incomplete without experiencing the finest food this country has to offer. And none is finer than Huế cuisine. One of the favourite staple of many Vietnamese the world over is bún bò Huế, or beef broth noodle from Huế. The amazing balance of heat, spice, savoury, umame yumlicious, textured with rice noodles, banana flower and pig trotter is the pinnacle of humble fair elevated to its fullest potential.
Here's how to make authentic bún bò Huế at home. If it looks like a lot ò bother and you just can’t be bothered, take a trip with us.
Ingredients:
- 1.5 lbs beef shank
- 1.5 lbs pork bones
- 1 lb pork hocks
- 1 lb pork belly
- 1 lb beef tendon
- 1 stalk lemongrass
- 1 onion
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 knob ginger
- 2 tbsp shrimp paste
- 2 tbsp chili flakes
- 2 tbsp paprika
- 2 tbsp annatto seeds
- 3 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 tbsp vinegar
- 1 lb rice vermicelli noodles
- Bean sprouts, mint leaves, lime wedges, and sliced chili peppers for serving
Instructions:
Start by preparing the broth. In a large pot, add the beef shank, pork bones, pork hocks, pork belly, and beef tendon. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and let simmer for 10 minutes. Drain the meat and bones and rinse with cold water.
In the same pot, add fresh water and the meat and bones back in. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat to a low simmer. Add the lemongrass, onion, garlic, and ginger.
In a separate pan, toast the annatto seeds until they start to release their color. Transfer to a mortar and grind into a fine powder. Add the shrimp paste, chili flakes, paprika, and annatto powder to the pot. Simmer the broth for at least 4 hours until the meat is tender.
Remove the meat and bones from the broth and slice the meat into thin pieces. Discard the bones.
Strain the broth through a fine mesh sieve to remove any solids. Season with fish sauce, sugar, salt, and vinegar to taste.
Cook the rice vermicelli noodles according to package instructions. Rinse with cold water and set aside.
To serve, divide the noodles between bowls. Top with the sliced meat and beef tendon. Ladle the hot broth over the top. Serve with bean sprouts, mint leaves, lime wedges, and sliced chili peppers on the side.
Enjoy your delicious and authentic bún bò Huế!
