Name: Southeast Asian Beef and Rice-Noodle Soup
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 3 1/2 hr
Ingredients: 3 pounds meaty beef short ribs; 3 pounds beef shank in 2 or 3 pieces; 2 tablespoons peanut or vegetable oil, divided; 1 large onion, sliced; 2 (1-inch) pieces peeled ginger, smashed; 1 bunch scallions, white parts smashed and greens chopped; 3 garlic cloves, smashed; 1 (4-inch-long) fresh red or green chile, stemmed and halved lengthwise; 2 quart water; 1/4 cup soy sauce; 4 whole star anise; 1 (4-inch) cinnamon stick; 14 ounces dried flat Asian rice noodles; Accompaniments: mint sprigs; thinly sliced seedless cucumber; Sriracha and hoisin sauces; lime wedges

Image may contain Food Dish Meal Bowl Plant and Leaf

photo by Mikkel Vang

Inspired by Vietnamese pho (pronounced "fuh"), this soup creates its own broth as meaty short ribs and beef shank simmer with ginger, garlic, chile, and the sweet spice of star anise and cinnamon—supermarket ingredients that come together with slippery rice noodles to produce a wonderfully fragrant and authentic-tasting dish. Its a great choice for a party, because everyone gets to customize their bowl to their own taste with a spritz of lime, some fiery Sriracha sauce and sweet hoisin, and a scattering of mint and cucumber.

Cooks' note:

Soup, without noodles, can be made 3 days ahead. Chill meat in broth (covered once cool). Remove any solidified fat before reheating.

Recipe notes

See Related Recipes and Cooking Tips

Our 41 Best Noodle Soups
This is what comfort looks like.
24 Rice Noodle Recipes We Love
Hot in soup or cold in summery salads, rice noodles are light, perfectly chewy, and so satisfying.

Classic French Bouillabaisse With Rouille

This flexible recipe is all you need to bring this iconic Provençal seafood stew to your table.

Salmon With Sizzled Nut Salsa

A savory-hot salsa made with mixed nuts (like the kind dubbed cocktail nuts meant for snacking) gives roast salmon a kaleidoscope of textures and flavors.

Smothered Italian Sausage

This is what I call a fridge-eater recipe. The key here is getting a nice sear on the sausage and cooking the tomato down until it coats the sausage and vegetables well.

Dulce de Leche

Make this versatile caramel at home with our slow-simmered method using milk and sugar—or take one of two sweetened condensed milk shortcuts.

Our Favorite French Onion Soup

Caramelized onions, melty Gruyère, and a deeply savory broth deliver the kind of comfort that doesn’t need improving.

Butternut Squash–Kale Salad With Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette

Round out these autumn greens with tart pomegranate seeds, crunchy pepitas, and a shower of Parmesan.

Béchamel Sauce

This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.

One-Pot Chicken Thighs With Cilantro Rice and Beans

This one-pot dinner cooks chicken thighs directly on top of a bed of flavorful cilantro rice studded with black beans for a complete dinner.

Recipe notes

Our 41 Best Noodle Soups

24 Rice Noodle Recipes We Love