With the help of Grandma and my aunts these past couple of years, I’ve learned how to prepare almost every noodle soup that I giddily slurped as a child and hungrily craved as an adult. Grandma taught me how to tame pho bo and bo kho from her home kitchen, while my aunts showed me the ins and outs of bun rieu and hu tieu through detailed emails and patient telephone calls.

I’ve amassed quite a repertoire of recipes on this site over the years, preserving a small piece of family history in the process and guaranteeing that all future cravings are swiftly satisfied.

Most recently, Grandma and I tackled bun bo Hue, a complex and heady beef noodle soup scented with lemongrass, packed with pork trotters, and littered with congealed pigs’ blood.

While the city of Hue is known for its spicy fare, Grandma’s version of the former imperial capital’s famous noodle soup is quite tame because she’s needed to refine and adjust it over time to placate the palates of her American-born, spice-averse grandchildren. What can I say? My cousins and I were weak when it came to heat when we were younger.

The most magical part of making bun bo Hue happens around hour three when the beef, pork, and lemongrass broth is transformed into the familiar fiery orange soup. Grandma uses a sizzling mixture of vegetable oil, scallions, fish sauce, and paprika to impart the broth with its characteristically bright hue and rich, umami flavor. Never in a million years would I have guessed that a jar of paprika resided in Grandma’s cupboard for this very recipe.

A heavy dose of fermented shrimp paste, along with a touch of sugar and salt, add the finishing touches to the broth. The soup is ready to be served when the slices of beef and the pigs’ feet are both perfectly tender, after approximately 4 hours total.

For broth

• 2.5 pounds pigs’ feet, cut into chunks
• 2.5 pounds beef shank
• 2 1/2 tablespoons salt, separated
• 9 stalks lemongrass
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 bunch scallions, white parts only, halved lengthwise
• 2 tablespoons paprika
• 1/2 cup fish sauce
• 3 tablespoons fermented shrimp paste
• 1 tablespoon monosodium glutamate, optional
• 1/2 tablespoon sugar

For garnish and noodles

• 1/2 pound congealed pork blood
• White onions, thinly sliced into half-moons
• Cilantro, chopped
• Bun Bo Hue noodles

To prepare the broth, begin by cleaning the pigs’ feet under running water to remove any bits of bone debris that the butcher left behind. Don’t forget to run your fingers beneath the skin where unsightly debris may have gotten trapped.

Place the cleaned pigs’ feet and beef shank in a large stockpot filled with enough water to submerge them and bring to a boil. The shank and feet are full of impurities, so once the water comes to a boil, dump it out and collect the feet and shank in a colander.

Rinse the pigs’ feet once more to remove any remaining scum from the first boil.

After giving the stockpot a thorough cleaning, fill it with 8 quarts of water, as well as the feet, shank, and 2 tablespoons salt, and bring to a boil. Skim the surface as needed using a fine mesh skimmer to remove any scum. Let the broth continue to simmer over medium-high heat, skimming the surface as necessary.

While the broth is simmering, trim and bruise the lemongrass. Cut the stalks in half and bundle tightly using rubber bands or kitchen twine.

Add the lemon grass bundles to the simmering stock.

As the broth continues to cook, prepare the huyet or pork blood. Place the blood in a medium-size saucepan and fill with enough water to cover the surface. With the heat on medium to medium-low, simmer the blood until it is fully cooked through, approximately 30 minutes. To check for doneness, cut the block in half to examine the center.

Once the blood is fully cooked through, allow it to cool and then cut into 1-inch cubes and set aside.

Remove the beef shank from the broth when it has fully cooked through, approximately 1.5 hours. Allow it to cool slightly and then slice thinly. Add the beef slices back into the soup to continue to tenderize.

In a small saucepan, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat along with the scallions. When the scallions are wilted and golden, add in the paprika and fish sauce and combine thoroughly. Pour the mixture into the broth to give it its signature orange hue.

In a medium-size bowl, dissolve the fermented shrimp paste in 1/4 cup water and add to the broth. Additionally, season the broth with 1/2 tablespoon salt, MSG (if using), and sugar. Adjust the seasonings to taste. Lastly, add in the pork blood cubes.

The soup is ready to be served when the slices of beef and the pigs’ feet are both perfectly tender, after approximately 3 to 4 hours of cooking.

Serve immediately with rounded rice noodles, thinly sliced onions, and chopped cilantro.

Makes 10 to 12 servings.

More family recipes on Gastronomy:

• Bánh Bột Lọc – Clear Shrimp and Pork Dumplings
• Bánh Cuốn – Vietnamese Rice Crepes with Ground Pork and Mushrooms
• Bánh Giò – Minced Pork and Rice Dumplings
• Bánh Mì Tôm Chiên – Shrimp Toasts
• Bắp Xào Tôm Bơ – Vietnamese Sauteed Corn with Dried Shrimp, Scallions, and Butter
• Bò Bía – Vietnamese Jicama, Carrot, Chinese Sausage, Egg, and Dried Shrimp Rolls
• Bò Kho – Vietnamese Beef Stew
• Bún Riêu Cua – Vietnamese Crab and Tomato Soup
• Cà Dê Nướng – Roasted Eggplant with Soy Sauce and Chilies
• Cà Ri Gà – Vietnamese Chicken Curry
• Canh Chua Chay – Vegetarian Sour Soup
• Chả Giò – Vietnamese Egg Rolls
• Cháo Chả – Porridge with Braised Pork Sausage
• Cơm Chiên – Vietnamese Fried Rice
• Gỏi Cuốn – Vietnamese Pork and Shrimp Rolls with Hoisin Dipping Sauce
• Hủ Tiếu Mì – Vietnamese Pork Noodle Soup
• Mì Cà Ri Gà – Chicken Curry with Fresh Egg Noodles
• Mom’s Lollipop Fried Chicken
• Nui Lòng – Grandpa’s Spaghetti with Offal
• Nước Chấm – Vietnamese Fish Sauce Vinaigrette
• Nước Chấm Chay – Vegetarian Vietnamese Dipping Sauce
• Phở Bò – Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup
• Phở Chay – Vegetarian Phở
• Sườn Nướng – Vietnamese Grilled Pork Ribs
• Thịt Bò Xào Hành Tây – Vietnamese Stir-Fried Beef with Onions
• Thịt Kho – Caramelized Braised Pork and Eggs
• Thịt Nướng – Vietnamese Grilled Pork
• Đậu Hũ Kho – Braised Tofu with Mushrooms and Tomatoes
• Đậu Hủ Xả Ớt – Fried Tofu with Chilies and Lemongrass