Vietnamese food so well enjoyed by the French is considered to be the healthiest cuisine in the world. It is known for its balance of five elements. Most Vietnamese food conform to the perfect composition which adheres to the principle of the yin and yang.
Try the Pho, it is wholesome, healthy and happy, happiness enhanced by its communal nature. Families in Vietnam are known to eat together with the only non communal bowl being the small to medium sized bowl with rice or noodles in it. Children are known to serve themselves after the elders have done so.
The list of ingredients would be one large onion, a 2 inch piece of ginger, a 3 inch stick of cinnamon, one start anise, two cloves, a tsp coriander seeds, 4 cups unsalted chicken stock, two tsp soy sauce and four carrots. Also you will need a bunch of flat rice noodles as shown in the image. For toppings, some mushroom(button ones can do), boiled chicken and posy of pak choy. Finally for the garnish, some scallions, coriander leaves, one Thai chilly, two wedges of lime, a few leaves of Thai basil and Hoisin sauce.
For the broth char-grill in an open flame the onion and the peeled ginger root, this step will take five minutes. Next in a dry heated wok, dry roast the dry spices. Pour in the chicken stock, bring to a boil and allow it to simmer for 30 mins. Simultaneously boil water and plunge the noodles in the hot water with the heat switched off. When the noodles is soft and chewy drain it out.
Back to the simmering broth, chop the mushroom, pak choy and boiled chicken in semi chunky pieces and add. Simmer for further five mins.
To serve, take a soup bowl or a large deep bowl, at first spoon in the noodles. Pour in the broth along with the toppings so that the noodles get well drowned. As garnish, sprinkle in the finely chopped scallions, thinly slit Thai chillies, chopped coriander leaves, chopped Thai basil, Hoisin sauce and a squeeze some lime.
Run for your chopsticks!
