This Instant Pot Beef Pho Is Warm Hug On A Cold Day

This Instant Pot Beef Pho is a perfect weight watchers dish.

It is really hearty thanks to the noodles, beef and veggies. And it is super easy to make thanks to the instant pot.

Why you should try Vietnamese Pho:

This Pho is bursting with flavor , blending spices like star anise, cinnamon, guajillo pepper, ginger, cloves, and fish sauce.

And the great news is that pho aligns perfectly with Weight Watchers. The clear broth allows for the addition of a variety of vegetables, providing substance without adding points. Whether prepared with the traditional bone broth or a leaner version, adapting Pho to Weight Watchers guidelines is a breeze without sacrificing its taste.

Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 45 minutes

Servings: 4 generous bowls

Serving size: 300 g.

6 WW points per serving

Ingredients:

• 1 lb (450 g) whole beef tenderloin
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 onions, halved
• 2 ginger root (about 3 inches), sliced
• 5 cloves
• 1 teaspoon allspice
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon Stevia
• 2 tablespons fish sauce

For serving:

• 100 g. rice noodles
• 2 cups bean sprouts,
• Chili peppers (to taste)
• 1 red onion, thinly sliced

Instructions:

Toast the Spices and Aromatics:

In your Instant Pot, toast the cinnamon sticks, cloves, and allspice over medium heat until fragrant. This should take about 2-3 minutes.

Add halved onions and ginger slices to the pot. Continue toasting until the spices release their aroma and the onions and ginger become slightly charred.

Create the Broth:

Place the whole beef tenderloin in the Instant Pot. Pour 8 cups (1.9 liters) of water into the Instant Pot. Season with stevia, fish sauce, and salt. Stir the ingredients well.

Close the Instant Pot lid and set it to manual high pressure for 35 minutes. Allow the ingredients to simmer and infuse flavors. The beef will become tender, and the broth will absorb the aromatic essence of the spices and aromatics.

Strain the Broth and Slice the Beef:

Once the broth is ready, carefully remove the whole beef tenderloin from the pot. Strain the broth to remove the spices, onions, and ginger. Allow the beef to cool slightly, then thinly slice it.

Prepare the Garnishes:

While the broth is simmering, prepare the rice noodles according to package instructions. Slice the chili peppers, red onions, and gather bean sprouts for serving.

Serve the Vietnamese Pho:

In individual serving bowls, place a portion of cooked rice noodles. Arrange the thinly sliced beef on top of the noodles. Pour the hot broth over the beef and noodles, ensuring they are fully submerged. Serve the Pho hot, garnished with bean sprouts, sliced chili peppers, and julienne-cut red onions.

Variations and Substitutions:

While our rendition of Pho is a light and swift take that skips the traditional bone broth, the possibilities for variation are extensive:

1.  Experiment with proteins: chicken breast, turkey, or tofu.

2.  Explore a diverse vegetable mix: red bell peppers, carrots, finely shredded cabbage, mushrooms.

3.  Customize herbs: cilantro, parsley, mint.

4.  Substitute fish sauce with oyster sauce or dark soy sauce.

Tips and Tricks for Making Vietnamese Pho:

1.  Embrace Vietnamese Flavors: Trust the Vietnamese palate by boldly incorporating unexpected spices like cinnamon and star anise. The result is an exquisite flavor that defies initial skepticism.

2.  Perfectly Sliced Meat: Cook the meat until it reaches a tender consistency, then employ an electric knife for fine slices, enhancing both presentation and texture.

3.  Layered Serving: Build your Pho bowl in sections. Start with a foundation of rice noodles at the bottom, gradually adding elements based on personal taste.

4.  For a bolder flavor, you can let the broth simmer for a longer duration.5.  Adjusting Broth Intensity: If the broth seems overpowering after cooking the meat, a slight dilution with water can balance the flavor.

WW Points

Uncooked lean trimmed tenderloin beef 11 points
Fresh ginger 0 points
Whole cloves 0 points
Ground allspice 0 points
Red onion 0 points
Onion 0 points
Fish sauce 0 points
Stevia leaf herbal extract 0 points
Table salt 0 points
Uncooked bean sprouts 0 points
Cinnamon stick 0 points
Uncooked thin rice vermi-celli noodles 12 points