Quick Pho with Ginger Pork Meatballs
A rich broth, tasty ginger pork meatballs? Yes please, and quick and easy makes it even better.
Ingredients
- For the Meatballs
- ½ recipe Ginger Pork Meatballs
- For the Broth
- 1- quart low-sodium beef stock or homemade
- 2 cups water
- 1 stalk lemongrass trimmed of tough outside then slice thinly on the diagonal
- 1 2- inch piece fresh ginger thinly sliced (no need to peel)
- 3 green onions sliced into about 1-inch lengths (both the green and white parts)
- 1 yellow onion peeled, halved, and sliced into lateral slices (separated - we are going to use half in the broth, half in the final presentation))
- 1 jalapeno thinly sliced seeds included for heat, or omitted for not
- ½ of a cinnamon stick
- 3-4 star anise
- 8 - 10 cilantro stems
- For the Bowl
- 4 baby Bok Choy sliced, white bottom and leafy top separated
- Remaining half sliced onion
- 4 ounces Soba Udon, or rice noodles, cooked al dente (about 2 minutes less than package directions)
- For the rest
- Fresh bean sprouts
- Thinly sliced jalapeno
- Cilantro leaves
- Thinly sliced fresh mushrooms
- 1 lime cut into wedges
Instructions
- For the Ginger Pork Meatballs: Form the meat into bite-sized meatballs, Set aside. (Refrigerate if you are going to be more than the hour needed to make the broth, remove from refrigerator ½ hour before cooking.)
- Prepare the Broth: Place all the broth ingredients into a saucepan, bring to a simmer, reduce heat and simmer slowly for ½ hour. Allow to "seep" for ½ hour. Remove the aromatics.
- Return the broth to a simmer, gently add the meatballs and onion slices, simmer until the meatballs are cooked, about 5 minutes. Add the bok choy bottoms and simmer for about 5 minutes more or until tender, then add the tops. Turn off heat and allow the tops to just wilt.
- Place the cooked noodles in a deep bowl, add the simmering broth along with the meatballs, onion and bok choy. Serve immediately with the toppings.
Notes
You can make a whole batch of the ginger pork meatballs and save half for another use, or just make a half recipe for this soup.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!