Vietnamese Spicy Beef Noodle Soup (Bun Bo Hue) Recipe

INGREDIENTS

• 1.5 lbs oxtail
• 1.5 lbs beef shank
• 1.5 lbs pork hock
• Pork rolls
• 3 cans beef broth
• 10 lemongrass stalks, bruised and tied up with kitchen strings
• 2 onions, peeled and halved
• 3 tbsp sugar
• 3 tbsp shrimp paste
• 5 tbsp fish sauce
• Bun bo hue red sauce (see below)
• Vermicelli
• Chili peppers, optional

Bun bo hue red sauce

• 3 tbsp oil
• 3 tbsp annatto seeds
• 1 medium shallot, chopped
• 5 garlic cloves, peeled and whole

Condiments (any combination that you like)

• Limes
• Bean sprouts
• Green onions and cilantro, chopped
• Basil
• Mint
• Banana flowers
• Cabbage
• Chili saté (shrimp paste & chili red peppers oil)

DIRECTIONS

🥩 Broth Instructions

1. Parboil the meat: In a large 8 qt stock pot, submerge oxtail, beef shank, and pork hock in water. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, discard the water and rinse the meat thoroughly to remove impurities.
2. Start the broth: Refill 1/3 of the pot with fresh water and add beef broth. Return the rinsed meat to the pot along with lemongrass stalks (bruised), onions (halved), and bring it back to a boil.
3. Season: Once boiling again, add rock sugar, shrimp paste, and fish sauce to taste.
4. Simmer:
   • Lower to medium heat and simmer for 1 hour.
   • After 1 hour, remove the pork hock, chop it into chunks, and set aside.
   • Add more water to refill the pot to the rim if needed.
   • Continue cooking the remaining broth and meats for another 2 hours.
5. Finish the meats: After 3 hours total, remove the beef shank, slice it thinly, and set aside. The broth should now be rich and ready.

🔥 Bún Bò Huế Red Sauce (Color + Flavor Boost)

While the broth simmers:

1. Heat cooking oil in a pan and add annatto seeds. Stir until the oil turns a vibrant red-orange.
2. Strain and discard the seeds, then return the colored oil to the pan.
3. Add chopped shallots and minced garlic. Sauté until golden and caramelized.
4. Pour this red sauce into the broth pot. Add chili peppers for extra spice, if desired.

🍜 Assemble the Bowl

Serve with fresh herbs, lime wedges, bean sprouts, sliced onions, banana blossoms, or whatever toppings you like.

Cook vermicelli noodles according to the package instructions.

In each bowl, add cooked vermicelli noodles, sliced beef shank, pork hock, and oxtail.

Ladle the spicy, aromatic broth over the top.