Kids were talking about how to make money…

9-year-old: I can rob the bank!

12-year-old: Oh, you are finally wanted!!

(Confirmed: kids are mean!)

Southern-style Vietnamese beef noodle soup using Instant Pot

(Adapted from Vanh Khuyen)

For the beef broth:
1 lbs oxtails
2 lbs beef bones
1 piece of cinnamon stick
1 black cardamom
2 star anises
1 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp fennel
1 tsp coriander seeds
1 tsp peppercorns
1 yellow onion (peeled, halved)
1 shallot (peeled, halved)
1 piece of ginger (unpeeled, halve lengthwise)
20 g rock sugar
Salt to taste
1 tbs Knorr beef or chicken powder

To serve:
1 lb beef flank (thinly sliced)
Cooked flat noodles
Beef meatballs (optional)
1 onion (thinly sliced)
Coriander (chopped)
Scallions (white and green separated, chopping the green parts only)
Sawtooth herbs (chopped)
Thai basil
Lime wedges

To make the broth in a 8-quart Instant Pot:

1. Rinse oxtails and beef bones under warm water.
2. Soak oxtails and beef bones in a bowl of hot water + 2 tbs kosher salt.
3. Use a piece of aluminum foil to wrap cinnamon stick + black cardamom + star anises + cloves + fennels + coriander seeds + peppercorns.
4. Use an Air Fryer to grill the spice package for 7 minutes at 360F (about 180C)
5. In an Instant Pot, select Saute mode.
6. Layer onion halves, shallot halves, and ginger halves on the Instant Pot to “grill”.
7. Drain oxtails and beef bones.
8. Add oxtails and beef bones to the Instant Pot with onion, shallot, and ginger.
9. Add hot water, about 180F (80C) to the Instant Pot to Max.
10. Add 1 tbs salt + 20 g rock sugar to the Instant Pot.
11. Cover the Instant Pot and change to Soup/Broth mode.
12. Uncover after 5 minutes and change back to Saute mode.
13. Discard all the bubbles floating on top.
14. Cover the Instant Pot and change to Soup/Broth mode for 15 minutes.
15. After 15 minutes, carefully release all pressure before open the Instant Pot.
16. Remove the oxtails and soak them in a bowl of cold water.
17. Discard the cooked onion + shallot + ginger.
18. Add water to the Instant Pot to Max.
19. Change to Saute mode for 20 minutes.
20. Add the grilled spices on step 3 (cinnamon stick + black cardamom + star anises + cloves + fennels + coriander seeds + peppercorns)
21. Add 1 tbs Knorr beef or chicken powder.
22. Add 1 tbs salt and readjust if needed.
23. Add beef meatballs if using.
24. After 20 minutes, use a strainer to discard the spices floating on top.

To serve:

1. In a bowl, put cooked flat noodles in the bottom.
2. Arrange raw beef slices on top.
3. Add a piece of oxtail and a couple of beef meatballs.
4. Ladle the broth on top.
5. Sprinkle chopped coriander + chopped scallions + chopped sawtooth.
6. Serve hot with Thai basils, onion slices, and lime wedges on the side.