Faux Pho
I like to make this roasted chicken a lot, and when I do, I save the chicken carcasses in the freezer for stock. Knowing you, industrious cooks that you are, you could go and find a great traditional recipe, and do this by the book. I'm not knocking that at all, but I've worked out a way of making this that fits in with my everyday style of cooking and using up leftover chicken carcasses, so that's what I'm posting here. It's not totally traditional, but it's totally good.
Ingredients for stock:
olive oil
2"-ish piece of ginger
5 or so cloves of garlic (no peeling necessary)
2 onions
2-3 beef marrow bones
2-3 chicken carcasses
star anise pods
cinnamon stick
cloves
peppercorns
bay leaf
salt
sugar
fish sauce
Garnishes:
limes
bean sprouts
chili peppers or hot chili sauce
basil (Thai, if you can get it)
cilantro
green onions
onion
rice noodles
cheap cut of beef, thinly sliced
Start by putting a splat of olive oil in the bottom of a big stock pot on medium heat. Put the ginger, garlic, and an onion or two, cut in half with skin still on, into the pot, and let them brown, even char a little. I keep a bag of marrow bones in my freezer because I do this so often, and I think they add a lot to the broth. If you're using marrow, put them in the pot to brown with the onions etc.
Turn the heat off and add your chicken carcasses. The ratios I'm giving are for 2-3 medium carcasses, but adjust yours accordingly. At this point, I also add any veggie scraps and leftover liquid that I've saved from cooking vegetables. Add a bay leaf or two, a bunch of (maybe 5-7) cardamom pods, 5 or so star anise pods, a cinnamon stick, two cloves, and a small handful of peppercorns. Fill the pot with cool water and set to simmer for 4-6 hours.
Strain the stock, and put back on the stove. Season with salt, a tiny bit of sugar, and fish sauce if you have some lying around. I suspect you do.
Now, assemble your lime wedges, bean sprouts, chili peppers, basil, and cilantro, green/white onions, rice noodles, and beef. You know what to do here.
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