Mẹ’s Pan Fried Rice Noodles with Sautéed Beef and Vegetables (Phở Áp Chảo)
This one’s dedicated to my mom (Mẹ) who left us way too young in 2020. Phở Áp Chảo was the last thing my mom taught me how to cook.
The funny thing about cooking is that it can be therapeutic in so many ways. I haven’t had a home-cooked meal by my mom since my late 20s because she had a degenerative disease that severely impacted her mobility over the majority of the last decade of her life. When I recreate her dishes, memories from my childhood constantly fill my mind.
When I pass these recipes to my daughter, I hope she continues to carry these pieces of my mom with her and feels her presence through cooking like I do.
Cooking Method
Stovetop
Time
🕒🕒🕒
Recipe
Ingredients (2 Servings)
1 PACKAGE OF LARGE PHO NOODLES
1/2 HEAD OF CABBAGE, CHOPPED IN BITE SIZES
2 CARROTS, SLICED
6 BABY BOK CHOY BULBS, CHOPPED IN BITE SIZES
2 LARGE TOMATOES, DICED
1 HEAD BROCCOLI, CUT IN BITE SIZES
1 LB THINLY SLICED BEEF
4 STALKS GREEN ONION, SLICED IN 2 IN PIECES
1/2 YELLOW ONION, SLICED
1 TBSP GARLIC, MINCED
3 TBSP OYSTER SAUCE
2 TBSP TOMATO PASTE
VEGETABLE OIL
HANDFUL OF CILANTRO, CHOPPED
LIME WEDGES
4 CUPS PHO BROTH (PRE-MADE OR STORE BOUGHT)
Instructions
Pho Ap Chao can be made with various ingredients, but my mom loved vegetables so this was her take.
Soak pho noodles in warm water until they soften.
Marinate the beef and green onion with oyster sauce and garlic while prepping the vegetables.
When noodles are ready, fill a large pan halfway with vegetable oil and heat until hot. Drain the pho noodles and add them in and even layer to fry. Cook for 5-10 minutes on each side until crispy. Be sure you don’t over cook. The middle should still be chewy. Remove from oil and place on paper towels to drain.
In a large wok, add a few tablespoons of oil and drop in all the vegetables, yellow onion and tomato paste to stir fry. Stir until softened. Remove and place in a large bowl.
Add the marinated meat in the same pan and cook until completely browned. Add to the same bowl as the vegetables. Mix the cooked meat and vegetables together well.
Cut the fried pho noodles in large 2 inch squares. Add 4-5 pieces to a bowl. Top with the meat and vegetable mixture. Pour in pho broth. Sprinkle cilantro on top and serve with lime.
Process
The day she taught me how to make this dish.
