Easy Pheasant Pho

This quick adaptation of the classic Vietnamese soup uses a couple shortcuts to turn the concept into an easy weeknight meal

There are likely a few of you reading this right now and shaking your fist in frustration. “Quick and easy pho doesn’t exist,” you think to yourself while grinding your teeth. And I get it. Pho (pronounced “fuh”) is a labor of love that pays off after several hours of laboring with said love. The broth is a key component and many would argue that it can’t just be store-bought. During several years of working in a professional kitchen, I made hundreds of batches of broth and yes, I can tell you—it takes time. Is it worth it? Yes. How much more is it worth, exactly? That opinion will vary from person to person.

So this recipe isn’t to discount any of the great pho recipes out there. There are two main shortcuts involved here: store-bought broth and using cheesecloth to make a seasoning bundle that can be quickly removed (versus having to strain). A great broth requires hours of effort and makes use of normally discarded parts like feet and tendons.

All the ingredients listed here should be able to be sourced from most major grocery stores. If I can find them in south-central Kansas, I’m suspecting most of you will be able to find them as well. Lastly, I chose to grill the pheasant instead of placing it raw into broth and allowing the hot broth to cook the meat. Why? Because I enjoy the flavor of meat after it has been seared and caramelized, as opposed to cooked slowly in liquids.

You will need some cheesecloth and some kitchen twine. A lot of recipes call for anise stars, which are less potent than the seeds themselves. Most grocery stores don’t carry those (at least not in Kansas), so I opted for a smaller amount of anise seeds.

Easy Pheasant Pho

Jack Hennessy

A quick adaptation of a classic Vietnamese soup using skinless pheasant breast

4.86 from 7 votes

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 50 minutes mins

Course Main Course, Soup

Cuisine American, Vietnamese

Servings 4

Calories 328 kcal

Equipment

• Cheesecloth
• Kitchen twine

Ingredients

  

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Broth and fillings

• 4 skinless pheasant breasts lightly salted and peppered
• sunflower oil
• 12 oz rice noodles
• 1 medium yellow onion sliced
• 64 oz chicken broth
• 3 cups water
• ¼ cup fish sauce
• 1 tbsp Sambal chili paste
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• kosher salt to taste

Seasonings to go in the cheesecloth

• 3 oz fresh ginger smashed
• 2 cloves garlic smashed
• ½ tsp anise seeds
• 1 tbsp coriander seeds whole
• ½ tbsp black peppercorns whole

Toppings for serving

• jalapeños sliced
• bean sprouts
• cilantro freshly minced
• chives freshly minced

Instructions

 

• Spread open a large piece of cheesecloth and add ginger, garlic, anise seeds, coriander seeds, and whole black peppercorns. Be sure to smash the ginger and garlic to release more flavor into the broth. Bundle and tie with kitchen twine.
• In a large pot, add chicken broth, water, fish sauce, Sambal chili paste, brown sugar, sesame oil, and a teaspoon of kosher salt to start.
• Slice one medium onion into rings and add to broth. Add the cheesecloth bundle. Bring to a very low simmer over medium-low heat and simmer gently for 1½ hours. Stir often, making sure to move around the cheesecloth bundle.
• In a large (preferably cast-iron) skillet, heat a very thin layer of sunflower (or similar cooking) oil on medium-high heat.
• Dust pheasant breasts with salt and pepper and sear both sides adequately, cooking fully to an internal temp of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Once broth has simmered for 1½ hours, remove the cheesecloth bundle. Salt to taste.
• Prepare rice noodles according to package instructions.
• Slice one pheasant breast per serving and add to smaller pot or large bowl alongside the rice noodles.
• Pour or scoop in steaming broth over sliced pheasant and noodles.
• To finish, each person can add bean sprouts, sliced jalapeños, freshly minced cilantro and chives to suit their own taste.

Nutrition

Calories: 328kcal

Keyword Pheasant, Pho, Soup

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Enjoy! Reach out to me on Instagram (@WildGameJack) with any questions or comments and be sure to check out my other wild game recipes and cooking instructions here.