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10-11-2022
QUICK CHICKEN PHO MY WAY
QUICK CHICKEN PHO MY WAY
This steaming bowl of nourishing flavour guarantees to tick all the boxes, with tender crispy chicken, slippery noodles swimming in a Pho-flavoured beef broth bath, topped with fresh herbs. Then just add my secret ingredient to meld it all together with umami and balanced acidity, my Luck Dragon Asian sauce.
Vietnamese food is my absolute favourite cuisine and if you have never had ‘pho’ pronounced ‘fur’ which is undisputedly their most famous dish, then this recipe is going to directly teleport you to the heavenly realm. Every mouthful will be savoured, and the table will fall silent of chatter only to be replaced by the sounds of slurping mouths and moans of pleasure.

This iconic dish can be whipped up in under 20 minutes, and not only is it packed with nutrition and serious flavour, it will leave you contentedly fed whilst still feeling light and refreshed. Cook it for a leisurely lunch or as a weeknight wonder. This meal will impress even the most fussy of eaters. To make it vegetarian simply swap out the chicken for tofu, or for a more traditional version, add very thinly sliced beef eye fillet right at the end.

Did you know? Vietnamese food is some of the healthiest in the world. The wide array of dishes is always filling, yet light, because most Vietnamese cooking is low in fat, is immune system-boosting, packed with protein, vitamins and minerals, and is mostly gluten-free. For much of its history, Vietnam had been occupied by two countries that just happen to boast arguably the greatest cuisines in the world: France and China. Add to that a mild influence from India, and you have a melting pot of influences that combine to guarantee the evolution of exceptional food.

Boasting highly skilled cooks, they also have access to some of the best food resources on the planet thanks to the fact that the Mekong Delta is incredibly fertile, allowing for the farming of abundant varieties of fruit, vegetables, and healing herbs which can be grown all throughout the year. This also gives rise to the rearing of healthy protein in the form of cows, pigs and chickens. And because of Vietnam’s proximity to both fresh water and the ocean, they also have access to a huge variety of seafood. In fact it's difficult to think of any country more uniquely positioned to produce a more remarkable fusion of ingredients and cultural cuisine.

Chef Dylan’s Tips. 1. Head to the supermarket and grab a litre of ‘Campbell’s Real Stock’ Vietnamese Beef Pho base. It’s the best $4.50 you will spend. 2. When cooking the Chicken pieces make sure the pan is nice and hot and 3. don’t overcrowd the pan. 4. Leave them alone to let them crisp up nicely before you turn them. 5. Buy your chicken from a good butcher. Some supermarket chicken can be ‘water infused’ – you will know if it is, because water will be released from the meat when cooking, which will cause the meat to stew instead of frying. 6. Ask the butcher to slice and dice the thigh into 1cm cubes.

Memory Lane: Richmond, Melbourne 2015  
"Thanks for agreeing to have that meeting with Duy’s family,” says Andrew, my longtime friend from the Gold Coast, as we exit the café. “Ever since they decided to open the four restaurants, they have been super stressed, and your advice went down a treat. The whole family finally agrees for once!” he says in relief. “Not a problem at all, glad I could help. They seem like really nice people.” I add. “Well, I’ve known them for a few more years than you, but yes they are nice in their own unique way” he gibes, rubbing his chin with his hand whilst gazing upwards as he stoops down to get into the car. “Besides, I’m starving! Let me thank you by taking you to my favourite pho restaurant – my shout”. “Sounds epic!” I chime in, as we enter a thick line of traffic.

As we grind our way through the city streets, I start to notice that the signs of the shopfronts begin to transform into Vietnamese characters. “We’re here!” says Andy triumphantly, as he pulls into a carpark. When we exit the vehicle, a light rain begins to fall. “Don’t worry it’s just a few metres down the street." says Andy, pulling up his trench coat collar, setting off. I have to hurry to keep up with his long legs striding ahead. Soon, we turn to head down a laneway and arrive at a small restaurant bustling with activity. “All good” says Andy with a wink noticing my concern – “I’ve already booked a table for us.”

We are led to our table by a long-haired Vietnamese looking youth of barely sixteen with black eyeliner around his slender eyes. As we sit, he expertly flings us a couple of menus, with his long fingers adorned with black varnish, and then he promptly turns to leave without saying a word. I inhale a long deep breath savouring the distinctly delightful aroma of beef stock. Andre, with the menu hiding his mouth, whispers cheekily “No one speaks English here – just point to the number next to the Pho you want when the goth returns”. “What’s Pho Ga?” I ask, pointing to number 8. “Ah, that means chicken, and it’s sensational” he answers with such conviction that I instantly start to salivate on cue like one of Pavlov’s dogs.

Serves 4 Prep time 5 mins Cook time 15 mins

Ingredients
- 200g rice noodles (fresh or vermicelli)
- 1 Ltr ‘Campbells real stock’ Vietnamese Beef Pho base
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 600g chicken thigh, 1cm cubes
- 100 ml Luck Dragon*
- 2 tbs cooking oil

*Chef Dylan’s Gourmet Food Co. Luck Dragon Asian sauce

Garnish
- 1/2 lemon, cut into 4 wedges
- 1/4 red onion, sliced thin
- Thai Basil or Italian
- Mint or Vietnamese mint
- Coriander
- Bean shoots
- Mild long red chilli, sliced

Method
1. Arrange garnish ingredients in separate piles on a large plate. In a large pot add stock and bring to a simmer.
2. While stock is coming to temp heat a large fry pan on medium high heat.
3. Add oil and then place in the chicken pieces and cook for 5-7 mins until nice and crisp on one side (cook in batches if you have to).
4. Add in garlic and stir for 1 min until fragrant.
5. Add Luck dragon Asian sauce and simmer then turn off the heat.
6. Gently spoon the mix into the stock, be sure to get all that flavour in there! Then bring back to a simmer.
7. Add noodles and bring back to simmer until cooked.
8. Ladle into 4 warm bowls.
9. At the table allow guests to add garnish on top of broth.
10. Tell guests to add a squeeze of lemon to finish.

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