Authentic Chicken Pho

Ingredients

Whole chicken

1 (about 3-4 lbs)

Chicken broth

8 cups

Onion

1 large, halved

Fresh ginger

3 inches, sliced

Star anise

4 pods

Cinnamon stick

1

Cloves

4 whole

Fish sauce

3 tablespoons

Sugar

1 tablespoon

Rice noodles

8 ounces, flat

Bean sprouts

2 cups

Fresh herbs (basil, cilantro, mint)

1 cup, chopped

Lime

1, cut into wedges

Hoisin sauce

1/4 cup

Sriracha sauce

to taste

Instructions

1. In a large pot, combine the whole chicken, chicken broth, halved onion, sliced ginger, star anise, cinnamon stick, and cloves.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to low. Allow it to simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
3. Once cooked, carefully remove the chicken from the pot and let it cool slightly. Shred the chicken meat into bite-sized pieces, discarding the skin and bones.
4. Strain the broth through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean pot to remove the solids, then return the clear broth to the heat.
5. Stir in the fish sauce and sugar, tasting and adjusting the seasoning as desired. Keep the broth warm over low heat.
6. Cook the rice noodles according to the package instructions, then drain and rinse them under cold water to halt the cooking process.
7. Divide the cooked noodles among serving bowls. Generously top each bowl with shredded chicken, bean sprouts, and a handful of chopped fresh herbs.
8. Ladle the hot broth over the noodles and garnish with lime wedges.
9. Serve hoisin and Sriracha sauce on the side, allowing each guest to customize their bowl to their liking.