A hearty stew-like soup inspired by Vietnamese pho. The hot and sour elements are great paired with Asian beer. Start preparing this soup one day before serving. Ingredients
5 tablespoons peanut oil 3 1/4 pounds meaty oxtails, patted dry 2 large onions, chopped 1 large carrot, peeled, chopped 3 stalks lemongrass,* chopped 2/3 cup chopped peeled fresh ginger 8 garlic cloves, chopped 7 whole star anise (star-shaped spice)* 1 tablespoon black peppercorns 12 cups water 7 cups canned beef broth (about four 14 1/2-ounce cans) 3 tablespoons fish sauce (nam pla)*
1 12-ounce package fresh udon noodles
(refrigerated Japanese wheat noodles)* or fresh linguine
1 tablespoon oriental sesame oil
3 cups bean sprouts
6 radishes, thinly sliced
4 green onions, thinly sliced
4 serrano chilies, thinly sliced
6 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
6 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
6 tablespoons chopped cilantro
Lime wedges
Additional fish sauce (nam pla)
Preparation
Heat peanut oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Sprinkle oxtails with salt and pepper. Add oxtails to pot and brown on all sides, about 20 minutes. Transfer oxtails to large bowl. Add onions and next 6 ingredients to same pot. Saut © until vegetables are tender, about 8 minutes. Return oxtails to pot. Add 12 cups water, beef broth and 3 tablespoons fish sauce. Cover and simmer gently until oxtails are very tender, about 3 hours.
Using tongs, transfer oxtails to large bowl. Strain broth into another large pot; discard solids. Remove meat from oxtails; discard bones. Add meat to broth.
Refrigerate overnight. Spoon solid fat off top of soup. Cook noodles in large pot of boiling salted water until tender. Drain; rinse under cold water. Return to same pot. Toss noodles with sesame oil.
Bring soup to boil. Divide noodles, sprouts and next 6 ingredients among 6 bowls. Ladle soup into bowls. Serve with lime wedges and additional fish sauce.
*Available at Asian markets and some supermarkets nationwide.
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