← Nouns Cooking · Vietnamese

Ingredients

• 1 whole chicken (about 1.8 kg)
• 3 l Water
• 2 Onion, halved, skin on
• 60 g Ginger, halved lengthways
• 3 Star anise
• 1 Cinnamon stick
• 4 whole cloves
• 1 tbsp Coriander seeds
• 1 tsp Fennel seeds (optional)
• 1 black cardamom pod, cracked (optional)
• 2 tsp Salt
• 3 tbsp Fish sauce
• 1 tbsp rock sugar or white sugar
• 500 g dried flat rice noodles (or 1 kg fresh)
• 4 Spring onion, thinly sliced
• ½ Onion, very thinly sliced
• 1 bunch Coriander (cilantro)
• 1 bunch Thai basil (optional)
• 200 g Bean sprouts
• 2 Lime, cut into wedges
• 2 Bird's eye chilli, sliced
• hoisin and sriracha, to serve (optional)

Method

1. Put the chicken in a large pot, cover with cold water and bring to the boil. Boil for 5 min, then drain and rinse the chicken and the pot. This keeps the broth clear.
2. Char the onion halves and ginger under a hot grill or over a gas flame for 10 min, turning, until blackened in patches. Toast the spices in a dry pan for 2–3 minutes until fragrant and tie them in a muslin bag or tea infuser.
3. Return the chicken to the pot with 3 litres of water, the onion, ginger and salt. Bring to a bare simmer, skim off any foam and cook gently for 35 min.
4. Lift out the chicken and check the thickest part of the thigh has reached 75°C (165°F). Plunge it into iced water for 10 min to firm up the skin, then pull the meat off in strips. Return the bones to the pot with the spice bag and simmer for 40 min more.
5. Strain the broth and season with the fish sauce and sugar, plus more salt if needed. Keep it at a rolling boil.
6. Cook the noodles according to the packet and divide between bowls. Top with chicken, sliced onion and spring onion, then ladle over the boiling broth. Add coriander, herbs, sprouts, lime and chilli at the table.

Tips

• An older boiling hen gives a deeper flavour; simmer it 20 min longer.
• Hoisin sauce usually contains wheat; skip it for a gluten-free bowl.

Sources

Written in our own words after cross-checking these recipes:

RecipeTin Eats Hungry Huy Delightful Plate