Master Chef Helene An's Pho: Not Your Grandmother's Chicken Soup

Mama An’s Pho is the new five-star staple of her immunity boosting menu. According to the New York Times, as of Friday February 24th it’s official, "Flu Season is starting…" What better way to ward off the ills of winter than with the hand-crafted, rich in anti-oxidants Chef Helene An’s Pho (this is not your Grandma's Chicken Soup!). While like the traditional chicken soup Chef Helene’s pho is synonymous with good health, its immunity boosting properties have also been scientifically documented and formally vetted by a dietitian for its immunity enhancing ingredients. The heady chicken broth, chewy rice noodles, sweet spices and scintillating herbs make pho not only one of her most popular dishes -- it is also a staple during the flu season due to its immunity boosting properties.

Chef Helene’s Pho ingredients include:

Onions: Recognized by WHO, the onion has the ability to help relieve symptoms of the flu such as coughs, congestion, and respiratory infections

Ginger: In traditional Asian medicine, ginger has been used as one of the principal herbs to treat a “cold” as it improves blood flow and decreases symptoms of respiratory infections such as the common cold

Garlic: Serves as an antiviral and antibacterial on contact, as shown in many studies, and is ALSO an immune system booster in its own right

In combination, the herbs and spices elemental to Chef Helene’s pho create an intense bodily heat, which results in a natural outbreak of sweat, which in turn rids the body of toxins and other flu symptoms. Yes, Helene’s Pho is the antidote to much of what ails us all during the cold winter months! An added bonus is that pho regularly offer diners myriad options to personalize their bowls of pho: onions, scallions, cilantro, fresh lemon leaves, basil, and Serrano chili peppers- and the herb and spice list goes on. So sit back, relax and let Chef Helene’s Pho work its healthy magic—(just like Grandma’s chicken soup, only better!)


Here's the recipe:
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Phở Gà
For the soup
Enough stock and chicken for 5-6 bowls
3-4 pound organic free-range chicken with offal, and 2-3 pound of chicken bones
1 large onion peeled and cut in half
8 large cloves of garlic
65 grams of fresh ginger sliced in half lengthwise (about 3″ length)
roots and stems of 1 bunch of cilantro
3 whole star anise
2″x1″ piece of cassia bark (a.k.a. Saigon Cinnamon)
1/2 teaspoon cracked white pepper
80g yellow rock sugar (light brown sugar also works)
2 and 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce
1 tablespoon salt (or to taste)

For serving
for 5-6bowls of phở
20 ounces dried phở noodles or fresh rice noodle
1/2 small onion, very thinly sliced
2 scallions, chopped
chopped cilantro (about 1/2 cup), fresh lemon leaves, basil, bean sprouts
4 serrano chili peppers sliced thin (bird chilies or jalapenos work too)

1) Wash the chicken inside and out, including any offal it comes with and set aside. Using a broiler, torch, or a gas stove, burn the cut side of the onion, both sides of the ginger and both sides of the garlic. If you have some wire mesh you can set it on the gas stove for the garlic, otherwise a torch works great for these. You want the surface to be about 50% black as it adds a wonderful smoky flavor to the soup without making it bitter.

2) Put the neck, gizzards, heart and liver inside the chicken. Place the chicken breast side up and the chicken bones into a stock pot just a little larger than the chicken, then put all the other ingredients for the soup around the chicken. Add water until the top of the breast is almost covered. Cover with a lid and bring the water to a boil over high heat. When the water comes to a boil, skim off the excess fat and impurities on the top then turn the stove to low heat (do not remove the lid), and poach the chicken for 30 minutes.

3) Remove the chicken and set it aside to cool. When it’s cool enough to handle, remove the offal from the cavity and set aside. Carve all the meat off the bones and return the bones to the stock. Simmer the stock for another 1 1/2 hours. Slice up the chicken meat and offal and put it in the fridge.

4) Soak the dried pho noodles in warm water for about 30 minutes to rehydrate them. Chop up your condiments and have them ready.

5) When your broth is done, strain it through a fine mesh sieve and skim off any excess oil. Taste the soup for salt and add more as necessary.

6) Bring the stock to a boil and in a separate pot bring water to a boil to rehydrated noodles, will cook in a matter of seconds, so a couple swishes is all it takes. Split the noodles into bowls and top with chicken, offal, onions, scallion and cilantro to taste, then ladle on the hot broth.