For me, as a non-pho specialist but pho lover, this was a great book
I like the variety of recipes and the ones I tried worked well.
The photography and layout are beautiful yet quite the current standard.
So while I personally enjoyed it I am not sure how much of a must-have this book really is.
Basically if you adore pho and don't know much about making it.. this could be your book

Thank you to by Helen Le, Quarto Publishing Group – Race Point Publishing, and NetGalley for allowing me the extreme pleasure of access to an advanced reader copy of “Simply Pho: A Complete Course in Preparing Authentic Vietnamese Meals at Home” for an honest review.

Whereas Clam Chowder was the soup of my childhood, Pho has become my go-to for all things in the last four-five years of my life. Grey and rainy overcast day? Time for pho! Great, surprise accomplishment in my life, which calls for a celebration? Time for Pho!

Thus, I could not pass up a chance to get my hands on a book for how to make it myself.

While I was super, super, super hoping (and expecting) that this would be a book all about Pho, I suppose I should have paid more attention to the subtitle and how it was about meats plural. There are several dishes covered in this book including sandwiches, snacks, and desserts.

While I prefer a bowl with steak in it myself, I am pleased to report that there are vegetarian and vegan recipes in this book, as well. The structure is night, as is the layout. The pictures could have used a little work, but the group and scenic photos added a touch of class to its work as a whole.

Definitely a book worth having in any kitchen.

Recipes are varied and look amazing, though this book may be a bit above my skill level (which, frankly, are most recipes). Still, this would be an great addition to a library's cooking collection.

Some delicious sounding recipes, which I hope to try in the future. I have never made a Vietnamese recipe at home, and only been to a Vietnamese restaurant a handful of times, but I have now been inspired to explore further.

I have a favorite pho restaurant in Honolulu, and always assumed that I couldn’t duplicate the food served there. I was wrong. With Simply Pho: A Complete Course in Preparing Authentic Vietnamese Meals at Home by Helen Le, I can actually prepare my favorite dishes from that restaurant at home. This excellent cookbook has recipes for dozens of well-known Vietnamese specialties, as well as several new ones to try.

A favorite Vietnamese dish that isn’t available in many restaurants is bánh xèo, which is a crisp lacy crepe made with coconut milk and filled with shrimp, scallions, and bean sprouts. The recipe in this cookbook is right on, and includes the dipping sauce along with greens and herbs that are served with it. There is a trick to making these crepes, and a bit of practice is necessary, but the end result is worth it; when I finally got them to be pretty as well as tasty, I felt it was a worthwhile accomplishment. My homemade ones are delicious and I don’t have to go to Honolulu to eat them.

Other favorites from this cookbook include Pho, of course, with all the accompaniments, the famous Bánh mi (which is a Vietnamese baguette, but is the term given to a sandwich – usually pork - served on that baguette), and phở xíu, which is an incredible salad made with beef and pho noodles. The book includes condiments, appetizers, salads, soups, and even desserts.

One of the best things about this book, besides the recipes, is that it explains how to eat and serve the dishes, which is very different from what most of us are used to. The first time in my favorite restaurant I had to ask about the protocol for eating each item that I ordered. Had I owned this book at the time, I wouldn’t have had to feel stupid because I didn’t know the proper way to eat these Vietnamese specialties.

Simply Pho: A Complete Course in Preparing Authentic Vietnamese Meals at Home is a must have cookbook for anyone who wants to prepare Vietnamese dishes at home. The only negative to the book is that there aren’t pictures of every dish. However, the pictures that are included are excellent and certainly make it difficult to choose which dish to make. Highly recommended.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

The delicious recipes in this cookbook are clearly explained and well worth trying! I had no previous experience with preparing Vietnamese foods, but was able to follow the instructions. My family liked everything that we tried.

Pho is my all time favorite dish in the world... i am always looking for the next best bowl!!!

Thorough and inviting invitation to bring Pho into your home and healthy meals. You will be amazed with the depth of the flavors and many recipes beyond what you may have tried while eating out. It all begins with the broth!

If you're looking to try to make pho at home, this is the book for you. A diverse collection of recipes centered around the wholesome dish, pho. A great addition to any library wanting to build their international collection or a school library that has a culinary program.

There are some magical dishes on this planet and pho is definitely one of them.A very tasteful and savoury broth served with fragrant "toppings"such as rice noodles,bean sprouts, fresh herbs,lime juice,sliced chillies, spring onions....and so much more. You just know it is going to taste fabulous.
So this a cookbook about pho,but not just pho.There are also recipes for several different spring rolls,crispy roasted porc,noodle dishes,vegetarian(and vegan)alternatives,condiments and not to forget, the famous Vietnamese sandwich,bánh mì.
The recipes are not unduly complicated and therefore well within everybody's reach.Of course,you'll need many different ingredients but then,Asian cuisine in general tends to use more than just pepper and salt.
As for the photographs,they are really mouth watering and just cry out:try me!
Very well,pho is on the menu next week!

Beautiful photography and recipes. Very authentic collection that will satisfy any palette. It does concern me that the author instructs adding MSG but I suppose that any one can simply decide not to add it to suit their own dietary needs.

great recipes which are clearly explained. I can't wait to try all these recipies

Look at that cover. My mouth waters every time I look at it. After reading this book, I ate nothing but Ramen and Pho. I dragged my family and friends with me. They are so fed up with soup, but I don't think I could ever tire of pho. There are gorgeous pictures throughout the book of the different dishes and I am beyond excited to be able to start cooking these at home.

The recipes range from easy to "I could never make that even if I had help" level. I have only started to try these recipes, so I can't vouch that they are all as amazing as they look. The ones I have sat down with have been amazing. I can't wait to try more. Just have to stock up on bones and a few other ingredients I don't normally keep around the house.

This is one of two cook books I have ever sat down and read cover to cover. I loved that there were notes about the dish like the different variations and where they were popular in Vietnam. I felt like I was learning more than just how to make good food, I was learning about a culture. That is something I love. I found out that food was a whole branch of sociology and I wish I would have known that when I was in school. That would been another major!

I highly recommend this book. I can't wait to see more.

Inspiring recipes, with attractive photography. Well written step by step instructions for all levels of cooks.

I have always loved pho soup & wanted to learn how to make it. This book is excellent & has a lot of great pictures to help teach you how to make the perfect pho dish, along with several other Vietnamese meals. I highly recommend this book, if you are looking for the perfect how to recipe for Pho Soup!

Race Point Publishing and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Simply Pho: A Complete Course in Preparing Authentic Vietnamese Meals at Home. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Simply Pho starts with a great introduction, complete with information on how to make the perfect pho, including bone broth, noodles, and the essential ingredients needed. In the appetizer section, Fresh Spring Rolls (p. 30) beckon readers with their fresh ingredients and tasty dipping sauce. The recipe that I anticipate making time and time again is Simplified Pho Noodle Soup with Beef (p. 44). The flavor is similar to a slow cooked, traditional pho, but it is made more manageable for the home cook. One of the most intriguing recipes for me is the Pho Pizza (p. 68), with a bed of crispy noodles serving as the crust and flavorful Vietnamese components as the toppings. Glass Noodle Soup (p. 134) has many ingredients, but is deceptively simple to make. The building block upon which the sandwich section is built is the recipe for Vietnamese Baguette (p. 149). Sandwiches or bahn mi are popular with food cart vendors all over Vietnam, with the most classic recipe being the Traditional Vietnamese Sandwich (p. 153). With recipes for condiments, pickles, and snacks, as well as coffee drinks and sweets, Simply Pho is a well rounded food travel throughout Vietnam.

Author Helen Le has done a great job of personalizing the recipes with little bits of knowledge about their origins, including the region, traditions, and/or culture. There are many beautiful photographs, not just of the cuisine, but of the vistas around Vietnam. With many tips and hints scattered throughout the pages, home cooks should be very inspired to try this flavorful and authentic cuisine.

This cookbook is AMAZING!  The pictures are great and the instructions are precise. Most of the ingredients are easily accessible. Vietnamese recipes are very simple and fresh.

To my greatest delight, there is even a recipe for bahn mi, a Vietnamese baguette that is used for my favorite Vietnamese sandwiches.

This is a beautiful cookbook, which lots of information about making pho broth. The broth is really what makes the pho, and anything else you add is optional. I would buy the book as pho is an inexpensive dish to make at home if you make the broth ahead of time.

After visiting Vietnam and having the pleasure of eating traditional Pho and other delicious Vietnamese cuisine, I was thrilled to find this wonderful book by Helen Le, it is a "Complete course in preparing authentic Vietnamese meals at home" as stated on the cover.

From the list and description of Kitchen Tools, step by step instructions, descriptions and beautiful vivid pictures of ingredients and finished dishes and the entertaining stories about where the recipes came from, notes and tips as well, I am sure this is going to be a favourite cooking companion for many years to come.

There is just so much in this book and I thoroughly recommend to anyone who wants to cook wholesome Vietnamese dishes with ease.

Thanks Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group - Race Point Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book, I am sure my family will also thank you when I serve some of these delicious meals.