Hanoi Noodle Soup

I'm in the mood for soup.  Simply because the recipe's near me.  And baby when it's near me,  I'm in the mood for soup...The bitchy gourmet is getting hokey.  I'm a big lover of soups.  Or as I would call them, composed foods.  This Hanoi Noodle soup recipe reminds me of the Vietnamese Pho.  It is really good on a nice cold day.  Really will clear the sinuses:

Recipe:

Hanoi Noodle Soup
By Mark Bittman
From the How to Cook Everything for iPhone^® app

Introduction:

Akin to the Vietnamese soups known as pho and usually made with beef, this anise‐ and cinnamon‐scented soup is equally good with chicken or with no meat at all. Rice noodles are sold in Asian markets and many supermarkets, and can be softened by soaking in hot water.

Ingredients:

• 8 cups beef, chicken, or vegetable stock (to make your own, see Quickest Chicken Stock, Beef, Veal, Lamb, or Pork Stock, or Vegetable Stock)
• 4 star anise
• 1 3‐inch cinnamon stick
• 1 inch fresh ginger
• 1 onion, quartered (don't bother to peel)
• 4 cloves
• 1 pound rice vermicelli
• ½ pound boneless, skinless chicken or beef (preferably sirloin, tenderloin, or round), cut into thin slices
• 2 tablespoons nam pla (Thai fish sauce) or soy sauce
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Salt
• Chopped fresh cilantro leaves for garnish
• Lime wedges
• 1 fresh jalapeño chile, seeded and minced

Steps:

1. Combine the stock, star anise, cinnamon, ginger, onion, and cloves in a large, deep saucepan or casserole over high heat. When it boils, reduce the heat to an occasional bubble and cover. Cook, undisturbed, for as little as 20 minutes and as long as 60 minutes, depending on your available time. Strain and return to the saucepan.
2. Soak the rice noodles in hot water to cover until soft, 15 to 30 minutes. Rinse under cold water for a minute or so; drain.
3. Bring the soup to a steady bubble; put the chicken or the beef in the pot and cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Divide the noodles among 4 large bowls. Add the nam pla and plenty of pepper to the soup. Taste and add salt or more seasoning.
4. Top the noodles with broth and meat, then garnish with cilantro. Serve, passing the lime wedges and minced chile at the table.

Variations:

Quick Asian Noodle Soup With Pork

Season the broth and soak the noodles as directed; cook the broth for only 20 minutes. Instead of the uncooked chicken or beef, add to the broth ½ recipe Braised Pork with Spicy Soy Sauce, along with some of its liquid. Omit the nam pla. Season and proceed with the recipe.