by Charles Ray

Created on: April 12, 2009

If there is a national dish of Vietnam, it is Pho (pronounced "fur" without the final R sound), a combination soup and stew made with fish, pork, beef or seafood, combined with a variety of vegetables and spices. Pho can be eaten at any meal. It is, in fact, a meal in itself, and a visit to Vietnam without eating at least one bowl per day is an incomplete experience.

Many Vietnamese restaurants in the United States and other countries offer different varieties of Pho along with the other delicacies of Vietnam, but nothing compares to the dish eaten in its native land. Pho, like other Vietnamese dishes, reflects the variety of cultural influences that have been a part of Vietnam's development. The spices in Pho are similar to those found in other southeast Asian cultures, like Thailand, but retain a certain uniqueness that is Vietnamese.

The traditional way to prepare Pho is to have the meat raw and thinly sliced and add it to boiling stock, allowing it to cook right in the bowl. Rice noodles and spices (such as corriander and pepper) are added and it is served piping hot. When the meat is browned, it is almost ready to eat. A variety of vegetables are served along with the bowl of Pho. Diners shred the vegetables they wish to add to their soup, and stir them in with chopsticks. Next, red pepper paste is stirred in to add spice to the dish. Finally; and this is the part that is not usually available outside Vietnam; a small amount of fish sauce called Nuoc Mam is added. The amount of fish sauce is dependent upon the strength of the sauce and the personal taste of the diner. Really dark and strong Nuoc Mam is a pungent additive that is not to every westerner's taste, but Pho is incomplete without it.

The meats in Pho vary, with beef being the most common. A simple bowl of Beef Pho (Pho Bo, pronounced Fur Baw), will have thinly sliced beef pieces. More complex offerings include beef tendon, tripe, and beef balls, among other parts of the cow. The special Pho (Pho Dac Biet) is a really filling dish and for many a comfort food.

Pho is eaten with chopsticks and a spoon; the chopsticks to get meat, veggies and noodles out of the bowl and on to the spoon. The spoon is also useful for fishing out the small pieces of meat and vegetables near the end.

The perfect complement to a bowl of Pho is either lime juice (soda chanh) or iced coffee (cafe sua da). A bowl of Pho is the perfect way to either end or start a day.

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