30-Minute Pressure Cooker Pho Ga

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
• 2 medium yellow onions, split in half
• 1 small hand of ginger, roughly sliced
• 1 small bunch cilantro
• 3 star anise pods
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 4 cloves
• 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
• 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
• 6 to 8 chicken drumsticks
• 1/4 cup fish sauce, plus more to taste
• 2 tablespoons rock sugar or raw sugar, plus more to taste
• To Serve:
• 4 servings pho noodles, prepared according to package directions
• 1 small white or yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup thinly sliced scallions
• 2 cups mixed herbs
• 2 cups trimmed bean sprouts
• Thinly sliced Thai chilis
• 2 limes, each cut into 4 wedges
• Hoisin sauce and Sriracha

Directions

1. Warm the oil in a pressure cooker set over high heat until it just begins to smoke. Set the onion halves and ginger in the pot with their cut surfaces facing down. Leave them in place as they cook, lowering the heat if the smoke gets too intense, until both are deeply charred, about 5 minutes.
2. Add the cilantro, star anise, cinnamon, cloves, fennel seed, coriander, and chicken to the cooker. Pour in 2 quarts of water, then add the fish sauce and sugar. Lock the lid, set the cooker over high heat, and bring it up to high pressure. Cook at high pressure for 20 minutes, then cool it quickly under cold running water in the sink, or use the pressure-release valve if you are working with an electric model.
3. Unlock the pressure cooker. Move the chicken legs to a plate. Strain the broth through a fine mesh strainer into a clean pot, then throw away the strained solids. Use a ladle to remove any scum from the top of the broth, taking care to leave the little beads of fat behind. Taste the broth and adjust it with extra fish sauce and sugar, if you like.
4. For serving, divide the re-hydrated pho noodles among individual noodle bowls. Add the chicken legs, sliced onions, and scallions on top. Ladle the hot broth over the noodles and chicken. Serve right away, with the herbs, bean sprouts, chilis, lime, and sauces alongside so everyone can add what they like.