Homemade Chicken Pho in the Crockpot!!

This bowl of pho is a work of art you can eat!

In the deep freeze we have had lately that makes us look at 32 degrees as a heat wave, something warm is always desirable on the menu, but you can get tired of the same soups and stews. When my daughter suggested that we go out for pho before payday,I wondered if we could make our own pho and avoid the cost and going out in the frigid weather.  It turns out you can make a respectable pho at home!!!

I think of pho kind of like ramen -  the broth is key and it takes an expert touch and tons of time, but it turns out that there wee several recipes for pho that you can make at home.  When I saw one on the Eating Well site that used a crockpot, I figured it was worth a try. I didn't follow the recipe exactly- I used half chicken broth and half miso broth from paste, I had star anise, which I increased, a chunk of fresh ginger and a cinnamon stick and cloves as called for. I also added a dried Tsien Tsien pepper I had from a trip to Penzey's Spices, thinking that would add a little heat.  I used boneless skinless thighs from Costco since that was what I had. I set on high for four hours and when I got home, my house smelled amazing!! I pulled the chicken pieces out and shredded them and then got all the add-ins ready.  We got baby bok choy, cilantro, sliced baby bella mushrooms, firm tofu that we browned lightly on all sides, and fresh bean sprouts.  Everyone put what they wanted in their bowls and then added the fragrant broth and ....success!!!  I felt
like Brittany Murphy in The Ramen Girl- the broth was complex with spicyness, and a touch of sweetness and heat.  The perfect thing to break the winter doldrums.

I can't wait to try a beef version, I think it would be amazing as well.  If you are looking for something different, a bit exotic and still healthy, give pho a try at home- it was pho-king amazing!!!!