Bún bò Huế facts for kids
A bowl of bún bò (at Bún Bò Huế An Nam restaurant)
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| Type | Soup |
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| Place of origin | Vietnam |
| Region or state | Central Vietnam (Huế) |
| Main ingredients | Rice vermicelli, lemongrass, beef, fermented shrimp sauce, pork knuckles, pig blood curds |
Bún bò Huế (say "boon baw hway") is a yummy Vietnamese soup. It has thick rice noodles called bún and slices of beef, which is bò in Vietnamese. Sometimes, it also includes tasty pork slices or pork knuckles.
This special soup comes from a city in central Vietnam called Huế. Huế is famous for its amazing food, which was once cooked for the old royal family!
Bún bò Huế has a mix of exciting flavors. It's a little spicy, salty, and has a rich, savory taste called umami. The main flavor you'll notice is fresh lemongrass. The noodles in Bún bò Huế are thicker and rounder than those in other Vietnamese soups like phở.
Contents
What Makes Bún bò Huế Special?
Outside of the Huế area, people call this dish bún bò Huế to show where it comes from. But in Huế itself, everyone just calls it bún bò.
How the Broth is Made
The soup's broth is the most important part! It's made by slowly cooking beef bones and beef shank (a cut of beef) with lots of lemongrass. This gives the soup its unique smell and taste. Then, cooks add fermented shrimp sauce and sugar to make it even more flavorful. A bit of spicy chili oil is added while it cooks, giving it a kick!
What's Inside the Bowl?
A bowl of bún bò usually has thin pieces of beef shank that have been marinated and boiled. You might also find chunks of oxtail and pig's knuckles. These ingredients make the soup hearty and filling.
Fresh Toppings
When you get a bowl of bún bò, it often comes with a side of fresh herbs and veggies. You can add these to your soup to make it even better! Some common toppings include:
- Lime wedges (for a fresh, zesty squeeze)
- Cilantro sprigs
- Diced green onions and raw sliced onions
- Chili sauce (if you like it extra spicy!)
- Thinly sliced banana blossom or red cabbage
- Fresh mint, basil, and perilla leaves
- Special Vietnamese herbs like rau răm (Vietnamese coriander) and ngò gai (saw tooth herb)
- Sometimes, mung bean sprouts
You can also add more Fish sauce or shrimp paste to your soup if you want to change the taste. The exact toppings might be different depending on where you are, as cooks use what's fresh and available nearby.
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This version of bún bò Huế includes rice vermicelli, beef brisket, pork leg, pig blood curd, and other ingredients.
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Close-up of the same dish
See also
In Spanish: Bún bò huế para niños
