Soup Pho the Kidneys

As you grooooan at my joke, keep in mind ‘groaning’ is the sound of the water element in Five Element Chinese Medicine–the same element that governs the kidneys!

“WOW.”   That’s a good place to start describing this epic voyage into nourishing KD yin with the most delightful, thoughtful, so-healing-you-can-feel-it-vibrating phở  (a Vietnamese noodle soup).   SB blew our minds (but then quickly healed them via this soup) with his tongue-in-cheek ‘Temple Brand’ Phở.   Now, I’m not usually a big pho eater because it is difficult for me to find a vegetarian version; not only was SB’s broth vegetarian, it was steeped in all sorts of wonderful herbs, including shu di huang and he shou wu.  I am embarrassed to admit that I had never really partaken in a meal made with proper Chinese herbs and I was very grateful for this opportunity.  SB gave us tons of options for our soup–rice noodles, thai basil, cilantro, bean sprouts, fresh limes, sriracha, hoisin sauce, jalapenos… everyone’s dish was a little different. Oh, and I almost forgot my favorite part (if I had to pick a favorite from all the deliciousness)–the faux meat floating in the soup.  SO. GOOD!

Most astounding?  This wasn’t a regular go-to dish for SB–this project was his first time making it.

TCM DOS- Kidney Yin Deficiency

TCM S/S- Dizziness, tinnitus, vertigo, sore back, constipation, may also have empty heat signs, mallor flush, night sweats, heat in the 5 palms, insomnia, dry throat

Tongue- Red with little to no coat, may have horizontal cracks, red tip with empty fire

Pulse- Floating, empty, rapid, thin

Foods that help- Water, salty flavored food (miso, sea salt, tamari, sauerkraut), kidney shaped foods (black bean, kidney bean, most beans), blue and black foods (blueberries, mulberries, blackberries), seafood (fish, shrimp, seaweed), seeds (flax, pumpkins, sunflower, black sesame), and nuts (cashews, walnuts, chestnuts), bone marrow broth, grains (barley, millet), vegetables (asparagus, deep green leafy vegetables), fruits and melons

Foods to avoid- chilies, cinnamon, garlic, ginger, onions, shallots, leeks, basil, cloves, wasabi coffee, vinegar, pickles, tea lamb, shrimp, prawns, veal, game birds citrus fruits, cigarettes, alcohol and recreational stimulants

Other tips- Meditation, qi gong, tai qi, yoga

 ‘Temple Brand Phở’

Broth-
2″ nub of ginger, cut into 8 or 9 pieces
4 quarts of water
1 package of Pho Spices [3 cinnamon stick, 1 tablespoon of coriander seeds, 1 tablespoon of fennel seeds, 5 whole star anise, 1 cardamom pod, 6 whole cloves – in mesh bag]

Herbs- 1 piece of Korean ginseng, 1 piece of shu di huang, 15 grams of he shou wu, 15 grams of goji, 1 cup of longan (in mesh bag)

2 medium size carrots rough cut

1 medium size parsnips

2 cups of rough cut daikon radish

1 cup of blueberries

2 red pears cut into 8 pieces

1 teaspoon of fresh ground pepper

2 tablespoons of vegetarian fish sauce

1 tablespoon of soy sauce (3 if no fish sauce)

2 tablespoons of cane sugar (to taste)

Sea salt (to taste)

Noodles-

1/2 pound dried flat rice noodles (known as bánh phở; use 1/16″, 1/8″, or 1/4″ width depending on availability and preference)

Toppings (optional)-
Protein such as fried or baked tofu, bean curd skin, soy, or seitan
Mushrooms
Vegetables such as bok choy, napa cabbage, carrots, parsnips, daikon radish or broccoli

Garnishes-
1 chile pepper (Thai bird, serrano, or jalapeño), sliced
1 lime, cut into wedges
1/2 cup bean sprouts
Large handful of herbs: cilantro, Thai basil, cilantro/saw-leaf herb
Hoisin sauce, sriracha (optional)

For the broth
Char pears and ginger over an open flame (holding with tongs) or directly under a broiler until slightly blackened, about 5 minutes on each side. Rinse with water.

In a crock pot (ginseng and he shou wu can not be cooked in a metal pot), add all broth stock except for the 1 package of pho spices and herbs. Set crock pot for 4 hours. At 2 hours add pho spices package and herb bag. Season to taste strain and keep hot until ready to serve.

For the noodles
While broth is simmering, place noodles in a large bowl and cover with hot water. Let stand for 20-30 minutes or until tender but still chewy. Drain. (If soaking does not soften the noodles enough, blanch them in a pot of boiling water for a few seconds.)

For the toppings (optional)

For more heat signs use plenty of bean sprouts and add sliced lotus root (steamed or blanched)
While broth is simmering, prepare toppings as desired – slice and cook tofu, lightly steam or blanch vegetables, etc. Toppings should be unseasoned or only lightly seasoned so as not to interfere with the flavor of the broth.

To serve
Divide noodles between two bowls. Arrange toppings over noodles. Ladle about 2 cups of broth into each bowl. Serve with garnishes on the side, which diners should add to taste.