Instant Pot Beef Pho Recipe

This delicious Instant Pot Beef Pho recipe is easy to prepare and bursting with flavor. The combination of tender beef, chewy noodles, and aromatic herbs and spices creates a complex and satisfying dish.

» You might also like this Instant Pot Oxtail Ragu and Instant Pot Prime Rib Soup.

If you’re a fan of Vietnamese cuisine, you’ve probably heard of pho, a flavorful noodle soup that’s become a staple in many households. Traditionally, pho is made by simmering beef bones for hours to create a rich broth, but with an Instant Pot, you can achieve the same result in a fraction of the time.

With an Instant Pot, you can make pho in just a few hours, which means you can enjoy this delicious soup anytime you want. Whether you’re a seasoned cook or a beginner, our recipe is easy to follow and produces mouthwatering results every time. So grab your Instant Pot and get ready to make the best beef pho you’ve ever tasted!

What is Pho?

If you’ve never tried pho before, you’re in for a treat. Pho is a Vietnamese soup that typically consists of a flavorful broth, rice noodles, herbs, spices, and meat. It’s a dish that’s both comforting and nutritious, and it’s become increasingly popular in recent years.

Pho is pronounced “fuh,” and it’s believed to have originated in northern Vietnam in the early 20th century. The dish is typically made with beef, but there are also variations that use chicken or seafood.

The broth is the star of the show when it comes to pho. It’s made by simmering beef bones, onions, ginger, and spices for several hours, resulting in a rich, flavorful broth that’s full of nutrients.

Pho is often served with a variety of garnishes, such as bean sprouts, lime wedges, jalapeño peppers, and fresh herbs like basil and cilantro. These garnishes add freshness and texture to the dish, and they allow you to customize the flavor to your liking.

Ingredients For This Instant Pot Beef Pho Recipe

Making a delicious Instant Pot Beef Pho requires the right combination of ingredients, including beef bones, spices, noodles, and toppings. In this section, we’ll explore the key ingredients you need to make a flavorful and authentic pho. It might look like a long list, but it’s worth it, I promise!

For the broth:

• Beef bones (neck bone, oxtail, beef knuckle or leg bone)
• Ginger, peeled and sliced
• Onion, peeled and quartered
• Garlic, crushed
• Fish sauce
• Rock sugar or 1 tablespoon cane sugar
• Salt
• Water to 2/3 fill line
• Cloves, star anise, cinnamon stick, coriander seeds, cardamom, black peppercorns

For the soup:

• Sirloin, flank steak, or eye of round , thinly sliced
• Bahn pho noodles
• Bean sprouts
• Fresh basil leaves
• Mint leaves
• Jalapeno, thinly sliced
• Lime, cut into wedges
• Sriracha sauce and hoisin sauce, optional

What Beef Bones to Use for Pho

The base of any good pho is the broth, and the broth is made by simmering beef bones for several hours. The best bones to use for pho are beef soup bones, which are rich in collagen and marrow. You can also add beef feet or beef tendon for extra flavor and richness.

You will often get some shredded meat off of these bones after they are cooked, which you can add back to the soup. We also add very thinly sliced raw beef to the soup at the end, which is cooked by the hot broth as you pour it into the bowl. For this you can use sirloin, flank steak, or sometimes you can find at the store thinly sliced beef chuck that’s made specifically to add to pho.

It’s easiest to slice steak thinly enough when it’s slightly frozen.

What Pho Spices to Use

Pho is known for its complex and aromatic flavor, which comes from a blend of spices like star anise, cloves, cinnamon, and coriander seeds. These spices are typically toasted in a dry pan before being added to the broth. Other essential ingredients include ginger, garlic, rock sugar, and fish sauce.

For the seasoning, you can buy a packet of already toasted spices that come in a steeping bag, so you can just plop it right into the Instant Pot and not have to worry about toasting the seasonings yourself. I buy these ones from Amazon. If you go this route, you might need to add 2 packets depending on the amount of spices in the bag, otherwise your pho will come out tasting bland.

When using loose spices, you need to toast them in a hot pan before adding them to the broth. You can do that in the Instant Pot on sauté mode, or in a pan on the stovetop, which I find to be easier. You can put the spices into a steeping bag, or just put them freely into the pot. You’ll strain them out at the end.

What Noodles to Use

Pho noodles are typically made from rice flour and come in various shapes and sizes. The most common types of noodles used in pho are banh pho noodles, which you can also get on Amazon in a 3-pack. You can also find these noodles made fresh at some Asian stores, if you’re lucky.

Pho Toppings & Garnish

One of the best things about pho is the variety of toppings you can add to customize your bowl. Traditional toppings include fresh herbs like basil and mint, as well as sliced jalapenos and lime wedges. You can also add bean sprouts, hoisin sauce, or sriracha for extra flavor.

How to Clean Beef Bones

If you’re making Instant Pot Beef Pho and want to have a clear broth, you can clean the beef bones before starting to make the broth. Doing this will help remove impurities before cooking the broth. It will result in a slightly cleaner broth.

I don’t think this is a necessary step, because you can remove those impurities after the broth has cooked by straining the liquid. But everyone has their own preference, so if you want to clean the bones first, you can follow these steps.

Steps

1. Rinse the beef bones under cold running water to remove any blood and impurities.
2. Fill a large pot with enough water to cover the bones and add 1/4 cup of white vinegar per gallon of water.
3. Bring the water to a boil and let it simmer for 30 minutes.
4. Turn off the heat and drain the bones. Rinse them under cold running water.
5. They are ready to be roasted.

How to Roast Beef Bones

Whether you clean the bones or not, you should definitely roast the beef bones. This will add a ton of additional flavor to the broth that you can’t get any other way.

Steps

1. Place the beef bones on a baking sheet and roast in the oven for 30 minutes at 400° F.
2. OR place the bones in your air fryer basket or try and roast for 20 minutes at 400° F.

How to Make Instant Pot Pho

Preparing the Broth

Clean (optional) and roast the beef bones.

Add the broth ingredients to the Instant Pot. Fill with water to the 2/3 fill line. Lock on the lid and set the vent to sealing. Pressure cook on high for 45 minutes.

When the broth is done, let it naturally release pressure for 20 minutes, then let out any remaining pressure and open the lid.

Prepare the Noodles & Garnish

While broth is cooking, cook the noodles according to package instructions, and arrange the garnishes on a plate.

Strain the Broth

Using a fine-mesh spoon, remove impurities from the top of the broth. Discard ginger and onions. 

Transfer the bones to a plate to cool. Once cooled enough to touch, remove the meat from the bones, shred, and set aside. 

Strain the stock through a fine-mesh strainer to remove any bits, then return the broth to the pot.

Assemble the Pho

To assemble, add the cooked noodles to a large serving bowl. Top with shredded beef and thinly sliced beef. Pour the broth over the top.

Serving the Pho

Now that your Instant Pot Beef Pho is ready, it’s time to serve it up! Here are some tips on how to make your pho taste even better:

Toppings

Pho is traditionally served with a variety of toppings that add flavor and texture to the dish. Some popular toppings include:

• Basil: Fresh basil leaves add a sweet, slightly minty flavor to the pho.
• Cilantro: Cilantro adds a bright, fresh flavor to the pho.
• Lime wedges: Squeezing fresh lime juice into the pho adds a tangy, citrusy flavor.
• Scallions: Thinly sliced scallions add a mild onion flavor to the pho.
• Bean sprouts: Bean sprouts add a refreshing crunch to the pho.
• Jalapeño: Sliced jalapeño peppers add a spicy kick to the pho.
• Sriracha: A drizzle of sriracha sauce adds a spicy, garlicky flavor to the pho.
• Hoisin sauce: A dollop of hoisin sauce adds a sweet, savory flavor to the pho.
• Thai basil: Thai basil leaves add a licorice-like flavor to the pho.

Feel free to mix and match your toppings to create your perfect bowl of pho.

Expert Tips for Making the Best Pho

1. Use high-quality ingredients: The key to making good pho is to use high-quality ingredients. Use fresh herbs, quality meat, good noodles, and good-quality bones for the broth.
2. Roast the bones: Roasting the beef bones before making the broth enhances the flavor and depth of the broth.
3. Skim the broth: Skimming the broth will remove any impurities and fat that may rise to the surface and negatively affect the flavor of the broth.
4. Don’t skip the spices: An aromatic and flavorful pho broth requires certain spices. Don’t leave any out or it will affect the flavor.
5. Don’t overcook the noodles: Cook the noodles just until they are tender, and avoid overcooking them.

Frequently Asked Questions

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