Serves: 4
Broth
Vegemite, developed in Australia in 1922, is a dark brown food paste made from leftover brewer’s yeast.
2 qt (64 fl oz/1.9 l) beef stock
1 Tbs Vegemite paste
1 star anise
2 Tbs (1 fl oz/30 ml) sherry vinegar
½ cup brown sugar
2 lemons, halved
1 tsp allspice berries
1 jalapeño, cut in half
Salt
In a large saucepan, combine all ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Season to taste with salt and hold hot until you are ready to serve.
Pretzel Noodles
Kansui is a solution of potassium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate that reacts with flour to make it yellow. More importantly, it toughens the protein so that your noodles are springier than regular wheat noodles. Kansui in liquid form is available in Chinese markets under the Koon Chun brand.
3 cup 00 flour (very fine, soft flour)
1 tsp salt
1½ tsp kansui
1 cup (8 fl oz/237 ml) water
Grape-seed oil for frying
In a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook (or if you are really ambitious by hand), mix the flour and salt. Add the kansui and water and mix together until you have a stiff, well-combined dough. Form the dough into balls, and roll each ball into flat sheets with a pasta maker. Cut the flat sheets into spaghetti-size noodles.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Over high heat, heat enough oil to cover the noodles and, when the oil starts to smoke, drop in the noodles. Flash fry them for 5 seconds and remove. Blanch the fried noodles in the boiling salted water for about 20 seconds and hold until you are ready to serve.
Sliced Beef
1 lb (454 g) eye of round, sliced across the grain as thin as you can get it (if you toss it in the freezer for 15–20 minutes, it will slice more easily)
Additional Garnish
Mung bean sprouts
Thai basil
Jalapeño slices
Onions slices
Lemon wedges
Chili sauce
Cilantro
Poached egg
Combine the noodles and beef slices in broad bowls and strain the hot broth into the bowl. Guests can garnish as they wish.
Beer suggestions: If you’re celebrity chef David Chang (of Momofuku fame), pair with a low-quality light lager of Mexican origin, such as Tecate. If you would rather enjoy the beer you’re drinking, try a table beer such as Jester King Le Petit Prince (Austin, Texas).