Ingredients
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3 lbs oxtails
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2 gallons water
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4 inches ginger
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1/2 cup nuoc nam (fish sauce)
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10 whole star anise
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1 cinnamon stick ("1-4 inch")
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1/2 teaspoon fennel seed
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2 tablespoons salt
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4 bay leaves
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1 lb rice noodles (preferably "1/4 inch")
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1 bunch cilantro
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1 bunch basil leaves
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1 bunch mint leaf
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1 thinly sliced onion
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4 cups bean sprouts
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1 lb filet mignon or 1 lb top sirloin steak, sliced very thinly
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hoisin sauce
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sriracha sauce (hot chile sauce)
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2 onions
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1 bunch scallion, sliced
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2 limes, cut into wedges
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5 whole cloves
Instructions
- Place the oxtails in a large stockpot and add the water.
- Bring the water to a full boil, then reduce heat and bring water to a simmer.
- Scrape any scum off the top of the water and discard.
- Cut the onion in half and peel off the outer portion.
- Place on a baking sheet along with the ginger and broil in the over about 20 minutes, making sure not to blacken it.
- Turn over halfway through.
- Allow to cool.
- Place the star anise, cloves, cinnamon, and fennel seeds in a piece of cheesecloth and tie it shut with twine.
- Add the spice pack, onion halves, ginger, bay leaves, salt, and fish sauce to the broth.
- Allow the broth to simmer at least 5-6 hours (to your taste) uncovered.
- Remove the spice pack, onions, ginger, and bay leaves and discard.
- Remove the oxtails and set them aside.
- When cool enough to handle, remove the meat and trim of any remaining fat.
- Set the meat aside and return the bones to the broth.
- Allow the broth to simmer another hour or two until you achieve the desired taste then remove the bones.
- You may adjust the salt, but you don't want it too salty.
- Soak the rice noodles in COLD water 15-20 minutes, while starting a large pot of water boiling.
- While the noodles are soaking, place the cilantro, basil leaves, mint leaves, sliced onions, sliced scallions, and bean sprouts on a serving platter.
- After the noodles have soaked, place them in the boiling water and allow to cook until tender, but don't let them get mushy.
- It should only take a couple minutes.
- Rinse the noodles in cold water if not serving immediately.
- When ready to eat (you can do this earlier, like when you're boiling the water for the noodles) return the broth to a rolling boil.
- Place the noodles in a serving bowl and arrange the sliced meat (leftover oxtail meat if desired) over them.
- Ladle the boiling broth over the noodles and beef, making sure to cover the meat.
- Serve and allow each person to place the desired amount of garnish from the platter, hoisin sauce, and sriracha in their own bowl to taste.