What Is Pho and Is Pho healthy? The Vietnamese Superfood Macklemore Puts In His Mouth
This Vietnamese superfood is growing in popularity across America as a fast and healthy lunch option. Find out what Pho soup is all about.
What is Pho?
You've probably heard of pho, the latest street food craze has probably made its way to a restaurant near you. But what is pho and is pho healthy?
This soup originates in Vietnam. The term pho should only be used to describe the noodles, though it's common for people to instead use it to describe the entire dish. At the bare minimum, the dish includes broth, rice noodles, and herbs.
Those three ingredients form the building blocks for a delicious pho dish. From there, there's countless varieties available with something to suit even the fussiest of eaters. The most common ingredients are beef, chicken, vegetables, and tofu, and usually features all manner of garnishes. It's fair to think of this soup as a kind of Asian gumbo. There will always be the ever-present basics, but with a ton of variation.
Even though it's generally packed to the brim with nutritious ingredients and boasts a high protein content, it can also be rather high in salt. As such, portion control is a must. It's fair to say that if you have a well-balanced diet, pho can be a delicious and nutritious addition.
Pho as a Superfood
Most Vietnamese dishes are dressed with fresh herbs, and pho is no exception. Every bowl of authentic pho comes with a huge side plate of herbs for you to garnish your meal as you see fit. The most popular herbs you'll find as part of a traditional pho dish is coriander and fresh mint. These two herbs are known to promote a health liver, as well as having a providing relief from headaches, nausea, and indigestion.
Depending on the ingredients in your broth, pho could also act as a great way to lose weight. As long as it's low in salt, that is. A bowl of pho contains a lot of protein and fibre, and will help you fuller for longer. Combine that with the fact that the average bowl of pho is full of vegetables and herbs, it can be a well-rounded, healthy meal.
Have Fun
The word pho is commonly mispronounced among English speakers. It's easy to assume due to the spelling that it's pronounced like phone, when in reality it's pronounced like fun, without the 'n' sound on the end.
The true pronunciation has led to all manner of hilarious puns popping up in restaurants all over the United States. Some of the best we've seen include Pho-King Delicious, Un Pho Gettable, and What The Pho.
How to Order
In all honesty, ordering a bowl of pho is just as simple as ordering any other kind of food. Like with any restaurant, just order what you feel like eating. Most restaurants have huge menus with a ton of combinations. You can also order this through any of these food delivery apps.
When you've decided whether you want chicken or beef, next you need to decide your bowl size. Most restaurants have a small or a large - so there's not much choice there! Most good pho restaurants will have an impressive range of beef cuts for you to choose from - and a range accoutrements, too.
Don't let the number of options put you off, it's no different from a pizza place really. It may take a little while, but you'll discover your favorite combination of ingredients and have your 'regular' pho dish in no time at all!
How to Eat Pho
While you're free to eat the soup how ever you choose, many people prefer to eat it in the traditional manner. When your dish arrives at the table, sample the broth and if it doesn't suit your personal tastes, season it with the available condiments. After you've seasoned it to your liking, add some of the herbs and then use your chopsticks or spoon to submerge them in the broth.
Next comes the actual eating! Mix up all the ingredients so you get a good mixture in every mouthful. When it's time to finish, don't worry about lifting the bowl to your mouth to so you can don't waste a drop of that lovely broth - this isn't considered impolite, in fact it's encouraged.
What are the Differences Between Pho and Ramen?
Pho is of Vietnamese heritage and ramen has a Japanese origin. Both are traditional dishes in their home countries.
While pho has a defined set of ingredients that are then customized with a variety of add-ons. Ramen has no set starting point and can consist of totally different things. This is because each region in Japan has developed their own unique take on the dish that has changed over time.
Now you've learnt all there is to know about this Vietnamese noodle soup, you should be well on your way to becoming a pho connoisseur. Your family and friends will be impressed with your newly acquired knowledge.
