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Low Carb Beef Pho in a Slow Cooker

Low Carb Beef Pho in a Slow Cooker
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Most authentic Pho dishes can take 3 days to make. This slow cooker (or crockpot) recipe makes a robustly flavored bone broth that will rival Pho dishes from Vietnamese restaurants. It can easily be modified to a low carb or keto recipe by using shirataki noodles instead of the typical rice noodles.

Low carb beef pho in a white dish with surrounding accompaniments.
Low carb beef pho

Jump to: RECIPE | Restaurant vs Homemade | Low Carb Noodles | 3 Keys to Flavor | Putting it All Together

Vietnamese Restaurant Pho vs. Homemade Crockpot Pho

On a recent trip to Denver my daughter and I were looking for a good Vietnamese restaurant, and ended up at Pho 96.  Many of the pho restaurants in Denver had a “number” attached to the word Pho, which we learned were the families’ “lucky numbers”.   In the case of Pho 96, it was in 1996 that their family moved to the US.  

While we didn’t have a chance to sample the other Vietnamese restaurants in Denver, Pho 96 delivered the best Beef Pho I have ever had.  After getting back home, I immediately tried to replicate our dining experience before the memory faded.

As I researched the recipes that were out there in the internets, I saw that the most authentic looking Pho dishes took around 3 days to make and I simply can’t handle that right now, no matter how good the food is.  

I found several slow cooker (or crock pot) recipes that I adapted, and it comes very close to the food memory of the Denver Pho dish.

This recipe for low carb beef pho in a slow cooker is a combination of my memory, as well as a comprehensive search of different variations of pho. The spice ratios and the cooking time of the various recipes were the primary differences.

While the Beef Pho at Denver’s Pho 96 was perhaps a bit richer, this slow cooker version was very close. Robust and complex.

Just know that it does take some hands-off cooking time to make. Not three days for sure, but you do need to plan ahead for a deep and rich bone broth to develop.

The good thing is you can make the bone broth ahead of time, refrigerate it and put the pho together quickly as a weeknight meal. Just heat up the long-simmered broth and have your favorite fresh accompaniments available and you’ve got a 30-minute dinner!

How to Modify Pho to Keto or Low Carb

Ingredients for making low carb beef pho.
Ingredients for making low carb beef pho

I have been living a low carb lifestyle for many years now and am constantly modifying recipes to eek out the most flavor while remaining compliant with low carb. Beef pho is extremely easy to modify without a loss of flavor.

During the weight loss phase of low carb dieting, progress usually takes precedence over flavor. After a while however, flavor and variety start to become more important.

Adding new and robust flavors to your low carb recipe files or meal plans is important, but it is also creative and fun. If you have never had Pho, it will definitely introduce you to a range of new flavors.

Here are the only two things that need modification for a great low carb or keto pho:

The Noodles:

The rice noodles are really the main thing that is not compliant with a low carb diet. I opted for shirataki noodles (aka miracle noodles) which do not have carbs or sugar, but you could also use zoodles (zucchini noodles) or another noodle alternative (there are many on the market now).

Like many noodle-type of ingredients, rice noodles have very little flavor themselves. Their main role is to absorb and then transfer the flavors of pho broth.

Without some sort of noodle the pho soup would be overly intense. The shiratake does a good job of absorbing all the wonderful spice flavors combined with the richness of the bone marrow.

I found the shiratake were the closest texture to rice noodles, and texture (along with slurping ease) is really what the noodles offer. You don’t need a ton of shirataki noodles like you would rice noodles because they tend to be very filling.

Shiratake noodles are made from mostly water plus a small amount of konjac (elephant yam). They’re both low calorie and low-carb.

Bowl of shirataki noodles with chopsticks.
Bowl of shirataki noodles

**Tip: If you use shirataki noodles they will cook with the beef when the broth is poured over. Just rinse them ahead of time. If you use rice noodles however, they will need to be cooked a bit before adding to the bowl.

The Sugar:

Some pho recipes will use quite a bit of sugar. I used 1 tablespoon of brown sugar in 9 cups of broth which isn’t enough to sabatoge your diet if you track carbs on a daily basis.

If you want to be stricter with the sugar you could use Truvia brown sugar which is a blend and is a good substitute.

Truvia brown sugar still has some carbs however, so if you want to be 100% compliant with keto you would have to use a sugar substitute with no carbs.

This post on chocolate truffles offers a summary of the pros and cons of various sugar substitutes.

Low carb or keto chocolate truffles with pistachio coating
Low carb or keto chocolate truffles with pistachio coating

3 Keys for High Flavor Beef Pho

The Spice Profile

The classic spices included in a pho broth include coriander seed, fennel seed, star anise, cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves. These are considered “warming” spices and most have a hard coat or shell to them.

Ginger is also key but it is treated differently than the spices.

Spice blends to go into crockpot for Vietnamese Beef Pho
Spice blends for Vietnamese Beef Pho

Placing the spices in a “dry” skillet (no oil at all) to toast them prior to adding to the slow cooker broth, is an enhancement that is well worth your time.

It only takes a few minutes and it really brings out the flavor and aroma of the broth. You don’t want to ignore it!

The ginger is peeled and sliced and then placed under the broiler with the sliced onions to char. This is another flavor enhancer done before placing everything in the slow cooker.

The Bone Broth

You want to simmer the beef bones for a bit before putting in the crockpot. You can use any kind of beef bones, but you do need bones rather than just beef flesh to get the collagen.

Oxtail bones are good and they used to be inexpensive. They must have become popular in recent years, as I see they have really increased in price at the grocery store.

You will want to boil the bones for about 10 minutes prior to placing in the slow cooker. If you want a really clear broth, you will need to skim the scum off after boiling and rinse the bones.

Use beef bones and skim the scum if you want a clear broth, but it is not necessary. Use fish sauce, and go easy on the salt.

Using the Slow Cooker (Crockpot)

Traditional pho involves simmering bones all day. Using a crockpot allows you to simmer all day, but without worrying about stirring or burning or checking the pot.

The hands-off use of the slow cooker is it’s beauty and is especially good for this kind of recipe.

The prep time for this dish really only takes about 15 minutes. If you want a deeply flavored broth however, low and slow is the way to go with the stock. You could use an instant pot, but I think the longer these ingredients have to meld together the better.

All it takes is a little pre-planning. Make the broth ahead, keep it in the refrigerator and then pull out the thinly sliced beef and the accompaniments for a quick weeknight dinner.

Choosing the accompaniments

Traditional pho has plenty of accompaniments or “garnishes”. Since I was trying to replicate the pho I had in Denver, I used the following:

  • Mint
  • lime
  • culantro,
  • bean sprouts,
  • spicy chile peppers,
  • Sriracha.
Pho accompaniments for the table
Pho accompaniments for the table

Other accompaniments that are often used include:

  • Thai basil
  • Cilantro
  • Sliced jalapeno peppers
  • Scallions (green onions)
  • hoisen sauce
3 hot sauces that go well with pho: sambal, sriracha, and cholula.
3 hot sauces that go well with pho: sambal, sriracha, and cholula

Putting it all together: Pho Assembly

The broth is the “cooked” part of pho, but the dish is not pho without its creative assembly.

In a bowl, thin slices of beef are placed. You can use a lot of different cuts of beef (sirloin, flank or london broil are some favorites), but the key is to slice it very thin so that the hot broth will cook it quickly.

If you are concerned about eating rare beef, you can cook it in the soup for a few minutes before serving

** Tip: freeze meat for 15 minutes prior to slicing to make it easier to slice thinly

Where have you had the best or most authentic Pho?  The sawtooth herb they used as an accompaniment in Denver must be available in the Asian markets, if you have one nearby. Sometimes it is referred to as Vietnamese Cilantro, but that may be a questionable term. Have you ever heard of this herb and what have you heard it called?

Frequently Asked Questions:

How do you eat pho?

Traditionally, pho is eaten with chopsticks and sometimes a spoon. The chopsticks are used to eat the beef, the noodles and the garnishes, while the spoon is used for slurping the broth.

Can you make this recipe ahead?

You can (and probably should) make the broth ahead of time, as it takes 8 hours to fully reach its flavor. Let it cool and refrigerate and then reheat and pour over the steak and noodles to serve. Accompaniments should be used fresh.

How do you store or freeze pho?

The broth will keep in the refrigerator for 5-7 days. It can be frozen for 2-3 months. Just make sure the broth is stored or frozen separately from the noodles, beef and toppings.

How do you pronounce Pho?

Pho (pronounces ‘fuh’) is Vietnamese for soup or broth. The word pho comes from the Chinese term fành which means to boil something down until concentrated.

Can you make pho with chicken?

Yes, but the chicken will need to be cooked first rather than just pouring simmering broth over the raw meat.

Beef Pho in the Slow Cooker

Low Carb Beef Pho in the Slow Cooker

Low carb Vietnamese Beef Pho made in slow cooker
This robust beef pho takes 15 minutes of hand-on preparation and 8 hours of hands-off simmering in the slow cooker. The result is a rich, robust soup that will rival restaurant quality.
5 from 3 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 409

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs. Oxtails or beef bones can use short ribs as an option
  • ½ onion sliced
  • 3-4 inches ginger root Peeled and sliced into 1/4" slices
  • Spice medley to include: 2 tsp whole coriander, 1 tsp fennel seeds, 5 whole star anise, 6 whole cloves, 2-3 cardamom pods), a 3-4” cinnamon stick
  • 7 cups water
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 2 Tbsp fish sauce
  • 1 Tbsp brown sugar use truvia brown sugar for low carb or keto compliance
  • 2 tsp kosher salt divided
  • 1 lb Shirataki (Miracle noodles) can use zoodles for keto or low carb compliance, rice noodles for traditional pho
  • ½ lb. eye of round steak sliced as thinly as possible (can substitute sirloin, flank or london broil); ** tip: freeze meat for 15 minutes prior to slicing to make it easier to slice thinly)
  • variety of accompaniments *see notes below for ideas; most include limes, bean sprouts, peppers, and a range of sauces

Instructions
 

  • Turn oven to broil and bring a large stockpot of water to a boil.
    Add the oxtails or beef bones to the pot and boil hard for 10 minutes. Brown scum will rise to the surface. Remove the bones with slotted spoon and rinse with cold water.
    If you want the resulting beef broth to be clear (classic pho has a clear broth), then skim the scum from the top of the pot and rinse the bones before placing in the crockpot. Alternatively, use a prepared beef broth and the rinsed bone.
    Add the bones to the crock pot and set the broth aside.
    *note: it is OK to use the bone broth without getting all of the scum off. You may have to skim the scum from the crockpot at the end if you want a clear broth.
    2 lbs. Oxtails or beef bones
  • While the bones are boiling, place the onion slices and the ginger slices on a baking sheet lined with foil and transfer to the oven. Broil for 2-4 minutes until charred and then turn onion and ginger over to char the other side. Remove from oven and add ginger and onion to the crock pot.
    1/2 onion, 3-4 inches ginger root
  • Dry toast the Pho spices by placing them in a sauté pan over medium-low heat. Toast until fragrant (2-3 minutes), shaking often so as not to burn. Add the toasted spices to the crock pot.
    You can strain them out later if you want a clear broth. *Alternatively, place the spices in a cheesecloth bag and place in slow cooker.
    Spice medley to include:
  • Add the water, beef broth, fish sauce, sugar and 1 teaspoon salt to the slow-cooker and set on lowest setting for 8-10 hours.
    7 cups water, 2 cups beef broth, 2 Tbsp fish sauce, 1 Tbsp brown sugar, 2 tsp kosher salt
  • About 15 minutes before serving prepare your accompaniments. For the accompaniments: slice limes and arrange herbs, sprouts, peppers and sauces on a platter.
    variety of accompaniments
  • When broth is finished cooking in crockpot, skim any scum that has risen to the surface.
    Remove the bones and spices from the slow cooker by straining broth into a large bowl. Taste broth and add more salt, if necessary. Keep the broth at a simmer until the bowls of steak and noodles are ready.
  • If you are using shiratake just rinse the noodles. Drain immediately and place in the bottom of four large, individual soup bowls.
    If you are using rice noodles, they should be cooked in boiling water for a few minutes.
    Distribute the thin (raw) steak slices evenly on top of the noodles in the four bowls. Ladle the hot broth into each bowl. The broth should be simmering and it will instantly cook the thin steak slices and the shiratake noodles
    Serve bowls of pho with the platter of accompaniments at the table.
    1 lb Shirataki (Miracle noodles), 1/2 lb. eye of round steak

Video

Notes

Ideas for accompaniments:  
  • 1-2 limes, cut in wedges
  • fresh herbs (I used basil, mint and cilantro.  Pho 96 also used Ngo gai, which is a Vietnamese sawtooth herb they called Vietnamese cilantro)
  • 2-3 Thai or Serrano chilies, sliced thinly
  • 2 cups bean sprouts
  • Hoisin sauce
  • Sriracha hot chili sauce
 

Nutrition

Calories: 409kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 51gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 160mgSodium: 1885mgPotassium: 310mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 1IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 61mgIron: 6mg
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  1. Anonymous says:

    Dorothy, I just happened to come across your recipe. My mother usually prepares the pho the long…ver long way. I on the other hand cannot cook to save my life, but have been trying to learn slowly. I sure am not going to take days to make my mom’s pho. So thank you for this recipe…I will try it out. But to answer your question about that “spikey herb” the English name is Culantro. I own an herb shop in Nederland,Tx and love to to learn about any type of herbs, so I decided to learn all the names for the vietnamese herbs…in English that is bc I grew up knowing the vietnamese names!

    • Thank you so much for the name of the herb. It doesn’t look anything like Cilantro, so when the restaurant owner pronounced it like Cilantro, I thought he was trying to please me with something I would know the name of. I’ll have to look for it next time I am in Minneapolis…they have some good ethnic groceries there. Hope you like the slow cooker version!

      • Anonymous says:

        And one more thing. I also follow the Paleo way of eating…so no rice noodles… but I use kelp noodles. Its made from clear seaweed. Has not taste to it and it compliments pho very well. You can order it online or at a wholefoods or basic foods store! Just wanted to tell you about it bc I saw that you are on a low carb diet.

      • Anonymous says:

        No prob! And remember its Culantro with a “U” and not cilantro. Same family. Lol

  2. Anonymous says:

    Dorothy thank you for the recipe… The herb you’re asking about is called Culantro in English.

  3. Stacy says:

    I am trying a version of this recipe tomorrow with kelp noodles as well! I follow Maria Emmerich’s blog (low carb but not paleo) and she has been experimenting with kelp noodles in a slow cooker. She says the noodles soften/expand as they cook in the slow cooker, so I am going to throw the kelp noodles in the broth for the 8-10 hrs. I’ll let you know how it goes!

  4. Stacy says:

    I am trying a version of this recipe tomorrow and am using kelp noodles to keep it low carb. I love pho and the best Pho I’ve had is here in my home town, but the egg noodles (I like the egg noodles over rice noodles–more like ramen) make it a carb bomb and the MSG makes me feel extremely weird for a while after I consume it. Anywhoo, I follow Maria Emmerich’s blog (low carb but not paleo) and she has been experimenting with kelp noodles in the crock pot, and she reports that if you put the kelp noodles in the crock for several hours, they will soften up and be more noodle like. I am going to try this tomorrow and just dump them in the broth for the 8-10hrs. I’ll let you know how to goes!

    • Thanks for the info Stacy. I would indeed like to know how it goes. Won’t they disintegrate after 8-10 hours?

      • Stacy says:

        So, a few days late, but I am working on the broth as we speak. It has been on low in the slow cooker all day. Almost 8hrs. Decided I’ll keep it on warm tonight with the bones in it, and then tomorrow take the bones out and add some Trader Joes beef broth to make up for the volume lost as a result of taking out the bones. I am then going to put the kelp noodles in and check them every hour until they get soft. I imagine it will take 4-6hrs, but I’ll let you know! Here’s to hoping for a big delish bowl of low carb soup for dinner tomorrow!

      • Anonymous says:

        I cook my kelp noodles seperately just like when you cook the rice noodles. It takes a little bit longer to cook but is all worth the time.

  5. I would like to see more crock pot recipes please!

  6. Ash says:

    Try using Thai basil and Vietnamese mint – you won’t regret it!

  7. […] I just got back from a visit to my daughter in Denver where we had the most wonderful Pho dishes (Vietnamese noodle soups with a complex broth, fresh herbs and meat or tofu).   A traditional Pho broth takes 2-3 days of long simmering, and I am anxious to try it out this winter, but for now, I’m still in the quick and easy mode.  ** note, I did try out the Pho later and you can see that recipe here. […]

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