royal pho broth with cabbage ribbons and vietnamese spiced pork meatballs {paleo}

This bowl = my heaven. Royal pho broth with cabbage ribbons and vietnamese spiced pork meatballs, you have my heart.

Pho is one of the life-giving magic culinary delights of this world.

And stuck at home in another snow storm, it was all I was craving, but I didn’t feel like making the slipper drive out to get some.

And then I remembered an amazing recipe I have for a super easy recipe for (some might call it a cheater’s) pho broth from the incredibly talented Lynne Rosetto Kasper, the former host of NPR’s Splendid Table.

Someday I know I’ll make some authentic, long simmered pho broth, but when you need a big bowl of tasty soup in a hurry, this recipe is the place to turn.

The basic idea of making this broth is to char a bunch of aromatics on a sheet pan until they’re burnt on the edges and very fragrant, and then quickly simmer them with your broth of choice to infuse it with all their rich flavors.

While the broth is simmering you’ll brown the spiced pork meatballs (which could easily be made with chicken or turkey if that’s your preference), and finally, once the broth is strained, add some long ribbons of cabbage to the broth, and cook until soft, to mimic noodles.

Pile it all into a bowl with your favorite fresh herbs, a big squeeze of lime juice and you’ll be in your bowl-of-pho-happy-place in no time at all!

Did you make this recipe? I would love to know how it turned out for you! when you rate my recipes and leave feedback it helps me continue to improve. you can leave me a comment below, or snap a picture and post it to instagram with the tag @nyssaskitchen or hashtag #nyssaskitchen! xo

royal pho broth with cabbage ribbons and vietnamese spiced pork meatballs {paleo}

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• Author: Nyssa Tanner
• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 4 servings 1x

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Description

Royal pho broth with cabbage ribbons and vietnamese spiced pork meatballs – Incredibly easy and comforting pho soup that also happens to be paleo friendly! Brimming with fragrant aromatics, tender ribbons of cabbage in place of noodles, and delightfully delicious pork meatballs.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

FOR SOUP

• 1 medium onion cut in half and thinly sliced
• 4 large cloves of garlic thinly sliced
• 1 2 inch piece of ginger peeled and thinly sliced
• 1 whole star anise, crushed with the side of a knife
• 6 whole cloves
• 1 whole cinnamon stick
• 96 oz broth
• 1 very small head of green cabbage, thinly sliced
• salt
• 1/2 tsp fish sauce
• 1 1/2 tsp coconut sugar

FOR MEATBALLS

• 1 lb ground pork
• 3 green onions very thinly sliced
• 2 tbsp cilantro chopped
• 1 inch of ginger, grated
• 3/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp fish sauce
• 1 tbsp coconut sugar
• pinch of cinnamon
• 1 egg
• 1 tbsp coconut flour

FOR GARNISH

• cilantro
• basil
• green onion
• sprouts
• lime

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Instructions

 

FOR BROTH

1. Broil onion, garlic, ginger, star anise, cloves and cinnamon stick on a sheet pan on high for 5-7 minutes, until everything is starting to char on the edges.
2. Add broiled aromatics to broth and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cooking for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. While broth simmers make the meatballs.
4. After 30 minutes strain off aromatics and return broth to the pot. Bring back to a boil and add the thinly sliced cabbage. Reduce to a simmer and cook until cabbage is tender, about 10 minutes.

FOR MEATBALLS

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Mix all meatball ingredients together in a large bowl and test a little spoonful in a hot skillet for salt. Using two spoons, a small cookie scoop or your hands make 1 inch meatballs (should make about 16 meatballs) and fry in a hot oven proof skillet, in batches if your skillet isn’t big enough to hold them all, until browned on all sides.
3. Return all meatballs to the skillet and bake in pre-heated oven for 10 minutes, until cooked through.
4. Ladle broth and cabbage into bowls, add several meatballs, a big squeeze of lime, fresh herbs and aromatics and serve!

• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 40 mins
• Category: Soup, Dinner
• Cuisine: Paleo, Asian