It’s weekend and my dad is enjoying his third dose of news. As a child I wondered if watching the news was being adult. I am an adult now (biologically yes :-)) but still a long way from watching the news as a routine medicine. I like my news read from crisp paper or news websites of course there is no breaking news, advertisements and babbling.
I have had my nth fight with my sister for the day. She the brilliant one is studying and has given me a royal ignore.My mother is lost in searching the meaning of life in Bhagwad gita. Each one has found their corner except me. Why ? because I hated monotony on weekends. I couldn’t get back to my studies,play the same game or eat the same food which is a part of our weekly household saga. I want to eat Chinese (a difficult concept to explain from the place I come from) the name is a misnomer to its kin. We shall deal with it later the central idea is I want the entire family to go out and dine. But its a bunch of hard-workers who love their sunday couch.
Iteration 1 :My mum who had just trance to Nirvana when she read Lord Krishna would be Arjun’s sarthi. Her ratha came to a screeching jolt when I leaned on her shoulder and said “Mum,please let’s go out and eat.” My voice quality having the delicateness of a 4-year-old. She would quickly close her eyes tighter and point with her finger to my dad as if showing me the way is through him. Sadly, she doesn’t know if that were the case I wouldn’t have resorted to iterative model.
Iteration 2 : I would take a big risk and charge with a 75 watt smile. I would gradually go and stand in front of my father. I would make a trajectory projectile and say “dad,please let’s go out and eat”.Have you seen an apple fall from a tree. Well just replace the apple with me and see me fall from rejection on the ground. He would scoff at me “Go do your maths”. He was intelligent enough to show me the mirror by mentioning my weakest subject. 🙁
Iteration 3 : Oh god cheers to childhood dramatics. I am like a road pretty but crooked! I immediately resort to tears. Lamenting about how every girl goes out to pizza hut on weekends. I’m the only one who doesn’t go out and have nothing to share about my weekend dine-ins. Sobbing incessantly I move out of the room. The first level of impact done. I resort to my final anti ballistic missile. The silent one.
Final iteration to convincing : My sister who was buried in her books, was my last and final chance to freedom. She is that doe-eyed beauty with mannerisms that would shame the queen. I stood with a face which was carried over from the previous iteration. She commanded the rules for this round. I had to promise her to take her to my next friend’s birthday party. Some people are so pricey and for that moment I didn’t want to think much. I wanted to go out and eat. It was ono moments before the grand announcement would be made and I would see my dad smile sheepishly.
I dedicate my post today to those hard-earned evening which ended in slurping from thick to clear soups. This years beginning I was reading the food trends for 2015 and They mentioned Vietnamese would be dictating the world food market and before I knew I was hooked. In london Pho chain of restaurants is very famous and so is Saigon. Have been fortunate to sample some of the most authentic Pho’s. While trying to mimic the style at home I have had to make some amendments to suit my cooking style. I hope you like this easy version of the Pho Ga – Vietnamese Chicken Rice Noodle Soup.(pronounced “Fuh Gah”).
- For the clear broth
- 1 yellow onions
- 2-inch section fresh ginger, unpeeled
- 1 small baby chicken
- salt to taste
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/2 inch cinnamon
- 1 star anise
- 4 whole cloves
- 1 packet fresh rice noodles
- a sprig of cilantro
- For the garnish
- a sprig of thai basil leaves
- 1 lime wedge
- a sprig of mint leaves
- 1 thai red chilli
- Bean sprouts
- 1 scallion
- Heat the oven to 250C (high) with top grill. Grill the onions and ginger on a baking tray for 5 minutes on each side. When charred take it out and let them cool.
- Now for the baby chicken, whack the bones a little for making a hairline crack so that while simmering the broth we have the marrow gradually relaxed.
- In a stock pot dry roast the cinnamon,cloves,star anise this will release their aroma.Then add the chicken and top it with water and bring it to a boil on high heat.Then reduce it to medium heat and let it simmer. After a few minutes the white scum will float on the surface which needs to cleared with a paddle. Repeat this process until there is no further scum.
- Now cut the onion and ginger into chunks and put it in the simmering broth. Season with salt and sugar and cilantro. Adding fish sauce is a critical part of Pho. But as I am not a fish eater I have skipped this in my recipe. But if you opt for it please add it at this stage into your broth. Keep simmering the broth on low heat.
- After 30 minutes , pick the chicken pieces with tongs and set it aside to cook.
- After 1 hour strain the broth with a wire mesh. This will remove all solid contents from the broth.Use a cheese cloth for straining there is any visible fat.
- Cut out chicken chunks from the bones. Cut it into cubes or separate with fingers.
- In order to assemble the pho bowls, place the fresh rice noodles in the bowl. Then top it with few mint leaves and basil leaves. Then add bean sprouts,scallions and thinly sliced red chilly. Pour a paddle of boiling broth over the assembled bowl. Finally add the chicken and serve with a squeeze of lime. The herbs will slowly release their flavor to the clear broth.The whole house will be fragrant and you will feel really refreshed after drinking this bowl of Pho Ga.
