Pressure Cooker Chicken Pho Recipe (2024)

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Ingredients

BROTH
BOWLS

Directions

Instructions Checklist
  • Make broth: Rinse chicken and set aside to drain. Put coriander seeds and cloves in a dry 6- to 8-qt. pressure cooker. Over medium heat, toast until fragrant, shaking, several minutes. Add onion and ginger and cook, stirring, until browned on edges, 2 to 3 minutes. "Traditionally, the ginger and onion would be charred directly on a burner. I've found that this is the best shortcut to get that flavor," says Nguyen.

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  • Add 4 cups water, then the chicken, breast side up. Add apple, cilantro, salt, and another 4 cups water. "Having only half the water in the pot when the chicken goes in means you won't splash yourself." Lock the lid in place.

  • Following your cooker's instructions, bring to low pressure (8 psi) over high heat. Lower heat to maintain pressure. Cook 15 minutes, or a few minutes longer if your cooker's low setting is less than 8 psi. If your cooker has only a high-pressure (15 psi) setting, cook 12 minutes.

  • While broth cooks, soak noodles in hot tap water until pliable and opaque, about 10 minutes. Drain, rinse, and drain well. Divide among four large soup bowls.

  • When broth is done, lift cooker to a cool burner and let pressure decrease until pressure indicator drops, about 20 minutes. Remove lid.

  • Let cool 5 minutes, then use tongs to transfer chicken to a bowl. "Don't worry if some parts fall off. Just add them to the bowl too." Add cold water to cover, then soak 10 minutes to cool. Pour off water, partially cover chicken, and set aside to finish cooling.

  • With a shallow ladle, skim most of fat from broth. Strain broth through a muslin- or cheesecloth-lined strainer into a medium pot, pressing to expel as much broth as possible. Discard solids. Season broth with fish sauce, plus salt and sugar to taste. "Add fish sauce now, at the end. Otherwise you lose some of its umami oomph."

  • To serve, bring broth to a simmer over medium heat. Fill a medium pot with water and bring to a rolling boil for noodles.

  • Meanwhile, prepare your pho assembly line: Slice breasts and legs from chicken; set aside half for another use. Cut or tear breast and leg meat into 1/4-in. slices or shreds (discard skin) and put in a bowl. Put red onion, green onion, cilantro, and pepper in separate small bowls. Set out the bowls of soaked noodles.

  • When water is boiling, tip the first bowl's noodles into a noodle strainer or other small mesh strainer. Dunk strainer into boiling water, stirring noodles with chopsticks or a fork to loosen them, until they're soft, 20 to 40 seconds. "Lift one out and pinch it to see whether it's tender. Some noodles are thicker and need more time." Pull strainer of noodles from water, shaking to drain into pot, and empty into the soup bowl. Top with chicken. "Arrange the chicken so it's flat in the bowl. That way, it gets nicely heated by broth." Add red onion, green onion, cilantro, and a sprinkle of pepper, to give it a little pop.

  • Taste broth once more and season with fish sauce, salt, and/or sugar if needed. Divide among bowls. Serve immediately, with Garnish Plate and Ginger Dipping Sauce.

Chef's Notes

Stockpot Pho

"Using a pressure cooker gives you velvety, round flavors--like cashmere. A stockpot makes soup that's more like shantung silk; you get more hills and valleys in the flavors," Nguyen says.

1. Follow steps 1 and 2 of recipe above, but use a 6- to 8-qt. stockpot and add 10 cups water (rather than 8) to pot. Partially cover, then bring to a boil over high heat.

2. Uncover, skim off scum, then lower heat to a gentle simmer. Cook, uncovered, 45 minutes; turn chicken over and cook 45 minutes more, then transfer with tongs to a large bowl (leave any parts that may have fallen off in stockpot to flavor broth). Let broth simmer another 1/2 hour, covered.

3. Meanwhile, soak noodles as directed in step 4 at left, and soak and cool chicken as directed in step 6.

4. When broth is done, proceed with recipe as directed.

Make ahead: Broth, through step 6, 3 days, covered and chilled, or 3 months, frozen (season before serving). Cooked chicken, up to 3 days, chilled, or 3 months, frozen. Rehydrated noodles, up to 1 week, chilled.

*Organic sugar has more of the molasses left in it and thus more flavor; you could also use turbinado sugar. Find the noodles in the international aisle of most grocery stores (often they'll be labeled "pad Thai").

Source

The Pho Cookbook (Ten Speed Press; $20).

Nutrition Facts

Per Serving:

492 calories; calories from fat 17%; protein 29g; fat 9.3g; saturated fat 2.6g; carbohydrates 69g; fiber 1.3g; sodium 1443mg; cholesterol 76mg.

Pressure Cooker Chicken Pho Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret ingredient in pho broth? ›

Sa sung—dried peanut worms—have been described as the secret ingredient of great pho.

Is chicken pho broth good for you? ›

Rich in calcium, iron, and phosphorus, the ingredients in a bowl of pho are essential for maintaining healthy dentin and tooth enamel, and some advocates claim it can even aid in the remineralization of teeth.

What makes pho broth taste so good? ›

Broth - the soul of Pho. Beef bones play a crucial role in influencing the quality of the broth. Combined with spices such as ginger, charred onions, star anise, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, and coriander seeds, the broth gains a distinct aroma.

How many calories are in pho ga? ›

Chicken Pho (Pho Ga) Calories

The standard chicken pho calorie count is 390 calories for a one cup serving. This serving includes the chicken, broth, noodles, and any toppings.

What gives pho its distinct flavor? ›

Spices: There are 5 important spices in pho broth — star anise, whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, and coriander seeds. I really recommend using the whole (not ground) spices if possible, which we will briefly toast to bring out extra flavor.

What are the sand worms in pho? ›

Known as sa sung in Vietnamese, the peanut worm is high in nutrition. The worm was once used in making pho (rice noodle soup) to add to the flavor of the broth.

Is it okay to eat pho every day? ›

Experts also suggest that if pho is used for breakfast, then you should avoid salt for the rest of the day. To avoid imbalanced nutrition, you should not eat pho too often, and you should switch up diet with other food products. Any food, no matter how good it is, won't be good for your body if consumed too much.

Is pho anti-inflammatory? ›

Pro – Pho Has A Lot of Health Benefits

From its ingredients, it's been shown to reduce inflammation and improve joint health. If you suffer from something like chronic pain or arthritis, you may want to entertain the idea of enjoying more pho. The broth particularly can be very anti-inflammation.

Why is pho healthier than ramen? ›

Pho generally offers a lighter option, with lower calorie and fat content compared to ramen. Its balanced macronutrient profile, abundance of fresh herbs and vegetables, and lower sodium content make it an appealing choice for individuals seeking a nutritious meal.

Why does my pho broth taste like nothing? ›

Give plenty of time to cook the bones and meat

You cannot rush broth making, and you cannot rush the time required to extract flavors from bones and meat. So be sure to give yourself plenty of time, in the range of 3-5 hours, to get as much flavor out as possible.

Are you supposed to finish the broth in pho? ›

It is important to finish your soup when eating pho. Leaving broth in your bowl is considered wasteful in Vietnamese culture. If you are full and cannot finish your soup, you can ask for a takeaway container to bring the leftovers home.

What is traditional pho broth made of? ›

Vietnamese pho is all about the broth! In this authentic recipe, beef bones, fish sauce, star anise, and ginger simmer for at least 6 hours, creating a complex, aromatic broth that may not be quick, but it's certainly delicious.

Is chicken pho fatty? ›

Fats: This dish is relatively low in fat, with around 5 to 10 grams per serving, most of which are healthier unsaturated fats. Vitamins and Minerals: The broth and vegetable garnishes in chicken pho supply a variety of vitamins and minerals.

Why is pho so low calorie? ›

Pho has a lot of lean ingredients, i.e. broth, spices and herbs, and veggies. Depending on the variety, it also can contain a fair bit of carbs and fat. So long as carbs and fats aren't eaten in large quantities, these are manageable in a healthy diet.

How many calories are in 2 cups of pho? ›

There are 325 calories in 2 cups of Chicken Pho. * The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet.

What's the difference between beef broth and pho broth? ›

If you're wondering what sets pho broth apart from regular beef bone broth, it's all the added spices and aromatics. I know that there's a lot of them, but they're each incredibly important.

What is the difference between ramen broth and pho broth? ›

Pho noodles are clear, tender, and made with white rice flour. Ramen noodles are yellow, bouncy, and made with wheat flour. Pho has a clearer and lighter soup than ramen. Ramen is hearty and has a creamier and more complex broth.

References

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