Spicy Vietnamese Beef and Noodle Soup

Ingredients

• 8 garlic cloves
• 5 tablespoons peanut oil
• fish sauce (nam pla)
• 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
• 4 serrano chilies
• 1 12-ounce package fresh udon noodles (refrigerated Japanese wheat noodles) or fresh linguine
• 6 tablespoons fresh mint
• + 16 more ingredients
• • 7 whole star anise (star-shaped spice)
  • 12 cups water
  • 7 cups canned beef broth
  • 3 tablespoons fish sauce (nam pla)
  • 1 tablespoon oriental sesame oil
  • 3 cups bean sprouts
  • 6 radishes
  • 4 green onions
  • 6 tablespoons fresh basil
  • 6 tablespoons cilantro
  • Lime wedges
  • 3 ¼ pounds meaty oxtails, patted dry
  • 2 large onions
  • 1 large carrot
  • 3 lemongrass
  • ²/₃ cup fresh ginger

Heat peanut oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Sprinkle oxtails with salt and pepper. Add oxtails to pot and brown on all sides, about 20 minutes. Transfer oxtails to large bowl. Add onions and next 6 ingredients to same pot. Sauté until vegetables are tender, about 8 minutes. Return o...

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