Vietnamese Noodle Soup

Total Time: 1 hour
Yield: 4 Servings
Source: Food Network Magazine, January/February 2010
Category: Soup

Ingredients
8 ounces Rice Noodles
1 tablespoon Vegetable Oil
12 ounces Beef Sirloin (fat trimmed)
1 whole Onion (halved)
1 whole Ginger (4-inch piece, unpeeled, halved)
3 cups Beef Broth
5 whole Star Anise Pods
1 whole Cinnamon Stick
4 whole Scallions
2 whole Jalapeno Peppers (1 red and 1 green)
1⁄2 cup Cilantro
3 tablespoons Fish Sauce
1 cup Bean Sprouts
  dash Salt
  dash Ground Black Pepper

Directions
  1. Prepare the rice noodles as the label directs.
  2. Meanwhile, place a large pot over high heat and add vegetable oil. Poke the meat all over with a fork to tenderize it and season with salt and pepper. Sear the meat until charred but still rare, 2 to 3 minutes per side, then transfer to a plate. Add the onion and ginger to the pot; cook about 4 minutes. Add the broth, 3 cups water, the star anise and cinnamon, reduce the heat and simmer about 20 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, thinly slice the scallions and jalapenos and tear the cilantro. Thinly slice the meat against the grain. Rinse noodles with cool water then drain.
  4. Add the fish sauce to the broth and boil 5 minutes. Discard the ginger, star anise and cinnamon stick. Remove and slice the onion. Divide the noodles among 4 bowls; top with the broth, beef, scallions, cilantro, bean sprouts, jalapenos and onion.