White Fish Pho

What Is Fish Pho?

Fish pho is a seafood variation of traditional Vietnamese pho made with a flavorful broth, fresh herbs, rice noodles, and tender pieces of fish instead of beef or chicken. The broth is typically simmered with ingredients like ginger, garlic, onion, fish bones, and aromatic spices such as star anise, cinnamon, and cloves to create a light yet deeply savory flavor. Mild white fish like grouper, snapper, hogfish, or other fresh local species work especially well because they absorb the broth while remaining flaky and delicate.

Known for being comforting, fresh, and highly customizable, fish pho is commonly topped with herbs, lime, bean sprouts, jalapeños, cilantro, and green onions before serving. The combination of warm broth, fresh seafood, and bright garnishes creates a balanced dish that is both rich and refreshing at the same time. Fish pho is also a great way to use fish frames, collars, and leftover cuts to build a flavorful homemade seafood stock while maximizing the entire catch.

About This White Fish Pho Recipe

This is a recipe that I’ve been waiting a long time to make again! I made this Fish Pho once before; late last year when Hogfish season was just coming to an end, but I didn’t document any of it. Fast forward to now, I was finally able to re-create the recipe and actually document it.

I’ve always been a big fan of Pho, and while it’s almost always made with beef bones, I figured why not make it with fish bones? The best part about making the broth for this recipe is that it takes significantly less time than that of beef or pork. While this might not be the most traditional pho, I promise it’s tasty!

Frequently Asked Questions

Common Mistakes When Making Fish Pho

One of the most common mistakes when making fish pho is overcooking the fish, which can cause it to become dry, rubbery, and fall apart in the broth. Because most seafood cooks very quickly, the fish should usually be added near the end of the cooking process so it stays tender and flaky while still absorbing the flavor of the broth.

Another mistake is make a weak or bland broth, since the broth is the foundation of a good pho. Fish pho benefits from a rich homemade seafood stock made with fish frames, collars, or bones along with aromatics like ginger, onion, garlic, and traditional pho spices. Using overly strong fish flavors or oily fish can also overpower the dish, so mild white fish species typically work best for a clean, balanced bowl of pho.

Advantages Of Fish Pho vs. Beef Pho

One advantage of making fish pho instead of beef pho is that the broth is typically lighter, cleaner, and more delicate while still being full of savory flavor. Fish pho also cooks faster than traditional beef pho and highlights the freshness of the seafood, making it a great option for fresh catch cooking and lighter meals.

Another benefit is that fish pho can make excellent use of fish frames, collars, and leftover cuts to create a rich homemade seafood stock with minimal waste. The fresh herbs, citrus, and aromatics pair especially well with mild white fish, creating a bowl that feels both comforting and refreshing at the same time.

How I Got The Fish For This Fish Pho Recipe

Spearfishing For Hogfish In Florida

I got this particular Hogfish out spearfishing off of Dania Beach on my kayak. I had originally gone out for the opening of Black Grouper season, but wasn’t able to find any. I kept seeing some decent sized Hogfish come through, and eventually settled on taking one. I shot him just behind the pectoral fin, so all of the fillet remained in tact.

I usually just try to take the larger ones I see, there are a lot that are right around the 17″ mark, this one ended up being 19″ to the fork. This was just one of the dishes I made with this fish, If you’d like to see what else I did check out our Hogfish species page. I also did a full fillet tutorial on this fish that is up on our Youtube.

Other Hogfish Recipes You Might Like

We have a full database of recipes that would be suitable for preparing this fish, we also have a few species specific recipes on the recipes tab of this page. Every part of the fish is delicious, be sure to check out our recipes for all of the different parts!