Ingredients:

• 8 oz rice noodles (thin or pad Thai style)
• 1 teaspoon coriander seeds (or ½ teaspoon ground coriander)
• 2 whole cloves (or ¼ teaspoon ground cloves)
• ½ teaspoon black peppercorns (or ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper)
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 2 tablespoons fresh ginger, minced
• ½ tablespoon chili garlic paste
• 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 2 strips of lemon peel (use a vegetable peeler)
• 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 8 cups bok choy (thinly sliced stems, roughly chopped leaves)
• 1 lb raw shrimp (peeled and deveined)

• Thinly sliced onion
• Jalapeno slices
• Fresh cilantro
• Lime wedges
• Hoisin sauce
• Sriracha
• Bean sprouts
• Thai basil

Instructions:

1. Cook the Rice Noodles:  
   • Follow package instructions to prepare rice noodles. Once cooked, set aside.
2. Toast the Spices:  
   • In a dry pan over medium heat, toast the coriander seeds, cloves, and black peppercorns for 3-5 minutes until aromatic.
   • Remove from heat and crush the spices using a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder. Set them aside.
3. Cook the Base:  
   • In a large soup pot, heat sesame oil over medium heat for 30-60 seconds until it shimmers.
   • Add the minced ginger and chili garlic paste. Stir for 30 seconds to release the flavors.
4. Add Broth and Seasonings:  
   • Stir in the chicken broth, lemon peel, soy sauce, fish sauce, lime juice, hoisin sauce, cinnamon, and the toasted spices.
   • Bring the soup to a boil.
5. Add Shrimp and Bok Choy:  
   • Once boiling, add the shrimp and bok choy to the pot.
   • Let the soup simmer until the shrimp turns bright pink and the bok choy wilts (about 3-4 minutes).
   • Taste the broth and adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, or extra soy sauce as needed.
6. Assemble the Pho:  
   • Divide the cooked rice noodles between four large bowls.
   • Ladle the soup into each bowl, ensuring everyone gets shrimp, bok choy, and broth.
7. Garnish and Serve:  
   • Add your choice of garnishes such as sliced onion, jalapeno, cilantro, lime wedges, hoisin sauce, sriracha, bean sprouts, and Thai basil.

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