Heart-Healthy Authentic Vietnamese Beef Pho

Savor the rich, aromatic flavors of our Heart-Healthy Authentic Vietnamese Beef Pho, a lighter take on the classic favorite without compromising on taste. This pho recipe features lean beef sirloin, low-sodium beef broth, and a medley of toasted whole spices—cinnamon, star anise, and cloves—for a deeply flavorful yet guilt-free broth. Charred onion and ginger lend smoky complexity, while fresh herbs like cilantro and basil, tangy lime, and crunchy bean sprouts provide a vibrant finish. Perfectly balanced with just a touch of fish sauce and brown sugar, this dish is not only satisfying but also mindful of your heart health. Ready in just over two hours, this wholesome Vietnamese noodle soup is ideal for dinner or meal prepping, offering a nourishing and authentic, restaurant-quality experience right at home.

Nutriscore Rating: 71/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:120 mins

Total Time:140 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 0.5 pounds lean beef sirloin
• 1 large onion
• 2 inches fresh ginger
• 1 whole cinnamon sticks
• 2 whole star anise
• 4 whole cloves
• 8 cups low-sodium beef broth
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 8 ounces rice noodles
• 2 stalks scallions
• 0.5 cup fresh cilantro
• 0.5 cup fresh basil
• 1 cup bean sprouts
• 1 whole lime
• 1 whole jalapeño pepper

Directions

Step 1

Start by preparing the aromatics. Peel and halve the onion, peel and slice the ginger. Char the onion and ginger by placing them cut side down in a hot pan until they develop a nice dark color. This step can take about 5-10 minutes.

Step 2

In a large pot, toast the cinnamon, star anise, and cloves over medium heat for approximately 2 minutes until fragrant.

Step 3

Add the charred onions and ginger to the pot along with the low-sodium beef broth. Bring to a simmer.

Step 4

Stir in the fish sauce, brown sugar, and salt. Let the broth simmer gently for about 1 hour to meld the flavors.

Step 5

While the broth is simmering, place the beef sirloin in the freezer for 15 minutes to firm up, then slice it thinly against the grain.

Step 6

Soak the rice noodles in warm water for 30 minutes then drain. Cook them in boiling water for about 30 seconds before draining again. Set aside.

Step 7

Strain the broth using a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a clean pot to remove the solids. Discard the solid aromatics.

Step 8

To serve, divide the cooked noodles among 4 bowls. Arrange the raw beef slices over the hot noodles.

Step 9

Prep the garnishes: slice scallions thinly, chop cilantro and basil, slice the jalapeño thinly, cut the lime into wedges, and rinse the bean sprouts.

Step 10

Ladle the simmering broth directly over the beef and noodles in each bowl. The hot broth will cook the thinly sliced beef.

Step 11

Garnish with scallions, cilantro, basil, bean sprouts, and jalapeño slices. Squeeze lime juice over the top to taste before enjoying.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2872.0g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1102.1

Total Fat 30.9g	0%
Saturated Fat 9.6g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g
Cholesterol 170.1mg	0%
Sodium 6734.6mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 122.8g	0%
Dietary Fiber 14.7g	0%
Total Sugars 26.1g
Protein 92.4g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 371.2mg	0%
Iron 15.5mg	0%
Potassium 2650.7mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 24.4%

Protein: 32.5%

Carbs: 43.1%