How to Make Delicious Hue Beef Noodle Soup

Hue beef noodle soup, also known as “bun bo Hue,” is a popular Vietnamese dish known for its rich and flavorful broth, tender beef, and chewy noodles. If you’re looking to make this delicious dish at home, here’s a simple guide:

Ingredients:

• 500g beef shank or brisket, thinly sliced
• 1 onion, peeled and halved
• 3-4 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1-2 stalks of lemongrass, bruised
• 1-2 dried chili peppers, optional
• 1 tablespoon of oil
• 2-3 tablespoons of Hue-style shrimp paste (mam ruoc Hue), available at Asian grocery stores
• 1 tablespoon of fish sauce
• 1 teaspoon of sugar
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1.5 liters of water
• Rice vermicelli noodles (bun), soaked in hot water until soft
• Garnishes: thinly sliced onion, shredded cabbage, bean sprouts, chopped cilantro, sliced banana blossom, mint leaves, lime wedges

Instructions:

1. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the minced garlic, halved onion, bruised lemongrass, and dried chili peppers (if using) and sauté until fragrant.
2. Add the sliced beef and cook until it changes color. Then, add the shrimp paste, fish sauce, sugar, salt, and pepper. Stir-fry for a few minutes.
3. Add the water to the pot and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and let the broth simmer for at least 1 hour, or until the flavors have melded together and the beef is tender.
4. While the broth is simmering, prepare the garnishes by slicing the onion, shredding the cabbage, rinsing the bean sprouts, chopping the cilantro, and soaking the banana blossom in water with a squeeze of lime juice to prevent browning.
5. Once the broth is ready, strain it to remove the solids and return the clear broth to the pot. Taste and adjust the seasoning with more fish sauce, sugar, salt, or pepper if needed.
6. To serve, place a handful of softened rice vermicelli noodles in a bowl. Arrange a few slices of beef on top, and ladle the hot broth over the noodles and beef. Serve with the garnishes on the side, and enjoy!

Note: If you like, you can also add other ingredients to your Hue beef noodle soup, such as pork hock, pig’s blood cubes, and Hue-style sausage, for a more authentic and flavorful experience.

This is a simple way to make delicious Hue beef noodle soup at home. You can adjust the taste, quantity of ingredients, and cooking time to suit your preferences. We hope you succeed in your cooking endeavors and enjoy this flavorful dish!