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salmon pho in a bowl

Salmon Pho

LindySez
This is my take of a Salmon Pho I first ate in a San Francisco Noodle shop. Perhaps it’s not 100% authentic, it is still an easy to prepare, delicious, healthy soup.
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course Main Course, Soups, Stews & Chili
Cuisine Vietnamese
Servings 2 servings
Calories 304 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • For the Broth
  • 1 quart low-sodium beef stock or homemade
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 stalk lemongrass tough outside leaves removed, tender inside thinly sliced on the bias (this will extract the most flavor, so hold the lemongrass and slice it at an angle - thinly)
  • 1 2-inch piece fresh ginger root, thinly sliced (you do not need to peel it, but can if you want)
  • 3 green onions scallion cut into 1-inch lengths (you will need more green onion for garnish)
  • 3 slices lime or 3 kaffir lime leaves sliced
  • 1 jalapeño thinly sliced (if you like a little heat in your broth like I do, leave the seeds in)
  • ½ of a cinnamon stick
  • 2 - 3 star anise
  • 8 - 10 cilantro stems
  • For the Bowl
  • 2 about 4 ounce salmon filets, preferably 1 inch thick, wild-caught, with or without skin
  • 1 teaspoon Thai Spice Blend or ½ teaspoon Chinese Five Spice mixed with ½ teaspoon toasted sesame seeds and a dash of red pepper flakes
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 small bag baby spinach leaves
  • About 2 ounces for each bowl cooked noodles rice noodles are traditional, but you could also use udon, buckwheat or linguini
  • And for the Rest
  • Fresh bean sprouts
  • Thinly sliced jalapeño
  • Thinly sliced green onion tops
  • Cilantro leaves
  • Fresh basil preferably Thai
  • Fresh lime wedges

Instructions
 

  • Prepare the BrothPlace all the broth ingredients into a saucepan, bring to a simmer, reduce heat and simmer slowly for ½ hour. Turn off the heat and allow to steep for ½ hour to 1 hour. Remove the aromatics.
  • Prepare the "Bowl"Heat the broiler to high heat. Season the tops of salmon fillets with the spice mix and a bit of salt. Place, skin side down, on a baking sheet lined with foil, and place under the broiler. Broil, without turning, until the top of the fish is just beginning to brown, but the flesh is still not cooked through.
  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the noodles of your choice until just al dente (about 1 - 2 minutes under the cooking time they tell you to cook it. Drain and place the noodles into deep bowls that have been warmed.
  • Take a few handfuls of spinach and put that on top of the noodles. Top with your pieces of fish (if you cooked it with the skin on, that should have stuck to your foil and be off now, if not, remove the skin before you put it in the bowl). Heat the broth up to a simmer, then ladle into the bowls. Serve with accompaniments.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gSodium: 561mgCholesterol: 59mgCalories: 304kcalPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gFat: 4gProtein: 24gCarbohydrates: 38g
Keyword fish pho soup, pho soup, pho soup with salmon
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