Here is my Pho-inspired Beef Soup - now titled Faux Beef Pho thanks to my sister-in-law's suggestion. ;)  I'm always looking for ways to pull inspiration from local ingredients that are easier for me to locate (While Asian markets are awesome, I can't always get to them).  I've always loved Pho soups, and I recently discovered that my kids LOVE them.  I've spent some time putting together a faux chicken pho and beef quick pho soup that I can whip together with easy-to-find ingredients.  Enjoy! 

A delicious bowl of fresh Faux Beef Pho. Yum!

Faux Beef Pho (Pho-Inspired Beef Soup)

Sauté until beef has browned over medium heat: 

2 Tbsp butter

2 Tbsp oil

1/2 onion, sliced or diced

1 lb stew beef, chopped into smaller pieces (or similar)

Add: 

8 cups water + 8 tsp GF beef bouillon paste (or 8 cups GF beef broth/stock)

8 thin slices fresh ginger

1/4 tsp cinnamon

2 Tbsp oyster sauce or fish sauce

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

1 apple, peeled & thinly sliced (I've used pink lady and fuji, something that holds it shape is best)

Bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes to soften the beef.  

While your faux pho is simmering, cook and drain/rinse:

GF ramen noodles OR GF rice vermicelli noodles

Serve your soup overtop of a bowl of cooked noodles. 

Top with the following, as desired: 

fresh bean sprouts

green onions, sliced

You don't have to serve the soup with the apple slices, but I we like them. 

Faux Beef Pho (Pho-Inspired Beef Soup) Recipe by Successfully Gluten Free!

Pho-inspired Chicken Noodle Soup (Faux Chicken Pho)

 My family love getting GF Pho and other yummy dishes at Vietnamese restaurants.  Quite often, they have several GF options for us, which is great.  I think you'll love the flavors and the ease of whipping together something like this Pho-inspired chicken soup.  Once the garlic starts to simmer, it smells delicious! Enjoy!

A bowl of Pho-inspired Chicken Noodle Soup, garnished with fresh green onions

Pho-Inspired Chicken Noodle Soup

Over medium to medium-high heat, sauté 5-7 minutes: 

2 Tbsp butter

1 Tbsp oil

2 large carrots, thinly sliced

1/2 large onion, sliced into thin strips

dash salt & pepper

Add: 

8 cups chicken broth (If I don't have fresh chicken broth/stock, I'll use water plus GF chicken boullion paste or water plus Asian mushroom seasoning) 

5 slices fresh ginger

1/2 - 1 tsp dried red chili flakes

2 Tbsp oyster sauce (or fish sauce)

Bring to a boil over high heat, then lower heat and simmer ~15 minutes.  

Soup simmering, almost ready to add the cooked chicken.

Add and cook another 5 minutes: 

1 cup cooked chicken, shredded

While your soup is simmering, cook and drain in cold water, then toss with 1-2 Tbsp oil to keep from sticking: 

GF ramen noodles or GF rice vermicelli noodles or pho noodles

GF ramen noodles - I can regularly find them at Costco, but any GF ramen or thin rice noodle of your choice will work. 

To serve: 

Place your GF noodles in a bowl.  Spoon broth over your noodles (you can remove the ginger slices - or just don't serve them).  Garnish with: 

green onions, sliced

fresh mint leaves, optional

fresh thai basil, optional

fresh bean sprouts, optional

Pho Inspired Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe by Successfully Gluten Free!