Can anyone one tell me if pho is supposed to smell bad while cooking?

[tavernier]

My son-in-law is making it for the very first time. He is following the recipe to a t and went all over town looking for exactly the precise ingredients. He has followed his recipe’s very meticulous instructions. I have no idea how it will taste, but two hours into the cooking, it smells like a cross between dirty socks and a dead body. I have not mentioned that to him, by the way. Mother-in-law’s should never do that. But he assures me, no, guarantees me, that tomorrow it will be the most delicious thing I’ve ever tasted. I am just nervous that it will at that point still taste like it smells right now. Any comforting words for me?

[elleng]

1. I'm NOT an expert at all,

but wondering whether any of the 'fresh' ingredients were NOT actually fresh.

Best of luck, and please let us know.

P.S., Pho is my almost ten year old grandson's favorite, so whenever I visit them in NJ (less frequently since covid, but was there for a recent birthday,) it's his request for dinner, @ nearby 'restaurant,.' Happened recently. NO bad smells.

[tavernier]

3. No, everything was from a primo grocery.

I was there with him when he bought the beef and it was beautiful. But I guess there’s some cooking of the bones and then later dried shrimp, so that might be part of the smell issue?

[viva la]

4. Dried shrimp smells pretty rancid....

But it's like fish sauce-- it adds "umami" once it's cooked in.
I've made pho just once (too complicated for my minor-league skills), and in the end, it smelled great, very savory but with a kind of all-spice addition from the star anise.

It's probably just the point in the process where the dried shrimp haven't mingled yet.

[elleng]

6. AHA, sounds likely!

[tavernier]

7. Oh yes, fish sauce in there too.

He is an excellent cook and attacks every recipe like he is painting the Sistine Chapel, so I’m sure whatever is in there, it’s what should be in there. I was just shocked at the horror of the aroma when I first walked in the house.

[EYESORE 9001]

2. Were chicken giblets among the ingredients?

If so, that could account for the funky aromas. The dish should be fine otherwise.

[tavernier]

5. No, I discreetly asked him if chicken was part of the recipe

And he said no, just beef and beef bones and dried shrimp and once it’s done regular shrimp can be added. But it smelled before he even put in the dried shrimp. Maybe it’s smelling better now or I’m getting used to it.

[EYESORE 9001]

8. I read your post that mentioned dried shrimp

That’s a strong contender. In more ways than one.

My experience with pho has been with chicken. Giblets were most certainly added, including some not part of the normal line-up, like the pancreas and ovaries.

[tavernier]

9. He explained that beef pho was called

something like Bo Pho and chicken pho was called something like Ga Pho. I’m probably getting both spellings wrong but the point is that one is beef and one is chicken and he said this one was strictly beef. I assumed that the dried shrimp would add a certain odor, but it smelled pretty bad even before that. I think the roasted bones had something to do with that. I have no doubt it will be good tomorrow but I’m wondering how long it will take to get the stink out of the upholstery and curtains. Gack!!

[Warpy]

10. Depending on the marrow bones, you can smell the stockyards

and I'm not fond of the flavor of marrow or the smell of it cooking, but it makes wonderful broth.

Pho is all about the broth.

If the meat and marrow bones weren't spoiled, it should be wonderful.

[SWBTATTReg]

11. I have had Pho, in some of the many restaurants on Grand St. in STLMO, and they didn't

smell like that, but then again, I don't know what it is made w/.

His spirit in really in making it, and I would make a fuss and commend him on it, for all of the time spent in gathering the ingredients, spending the time, etc. How nice.

Enjoy.

[tavernier]

12. My daughter is a chef and they both shopped

for the ingredients… I went along for the ride and saw all the work involved in just that phase of it. But this one is his baby. He loves to cook as well. Yes, I am their chief cheerleader, and all their meals are memorable. I guess I just wasn’t expecting very unpleasant smells radiating from the kitchen today as usually their creations smell heavenly.

[sinkingfeeling]

13. Please update us with how it tasted.

[SWBTATTReg]

14. Yes, pls. tell us how it tasted, it sounds like it's going to be a masterpiece!

And like I said, for them to go to so much work, so much effort, that alone deserves an A+++ in my book!

[parkia00]

15. Did he include Beef Tripe?

Original Pho has beef tripe and boiling beef tripe can sell like old socks.

[tavernier]

16. I don't recall hearing about that.

I’m sure if it was in the recipe, he did. The kitchen still has a mild odor this morning but not like yesterday. They will serve it to their D and D group tonight and when I come over later I’ll taste it and let you all know.