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Special equipment: a wok and a hot pot bowl with burner
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For the hot pot broth: Rinse the chickens really well before making the broth.
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Make sure you rinse out the cavities as well as the outsides to remove as much blood as possible.
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In a large pot, combine the chickens and 16 cups ice water.
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Bring to a boil and then immediately reduce the heat to a low simmer.
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Simmer the broth for 3 hours.
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Trim the lemongrass stalk, then bruise it by hitting it with the back of a chef's knife, down the length of the stalk.
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Add to the broth along with the onions, tamarind paste, chile paste, palm sugar, garlic and ginger and simmer for an additional hour.
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Season the broth with salt and pepper.
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Add the lime juice and additional chile paste if you want a spicier broth.
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Strain out the solids and reserve the chicken meat for another use.
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For the braised oxtail: Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Sprinkle the oxtail with the salt and pepper and dredge in the flour.
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Heat a wok over high heat and add the oil.
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Working in batches, sear the oxtail pieces until browned.
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Transfer to an oven-safe casserole dish and fill the casserole dish with enough of the beef broth to cover the oxtail pieces three-quarters of the way.
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Cover with aluminum foil and place in the oven.
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Cook until the oxtail is tender, 3 to 4 hours.
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Allow the oxtail to cool in the braising liquid.
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Keep the oven temperature at 350 degrees F.
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For the Vietnamese meatballs: In a large bowl, mix together the beef, pork, onions, scallions, garlic, ginger, lemongrass, soy sauce, salt and pepper.
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Form 2- to 3-ounce meatballs from the mixture and arrange them on a rimmed baking sheet.
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Bake the meatballs until fully cooked through, 30 to 45 minutes.
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For the noodles: Bring 16 cups water to a boil and add the egg noodles.
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Cook until tender, then drain and rinse in cold water.
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For plating, arrange the tofu, cabbage, carrots, daikon, watercress, Thai basil and egg noodles around the rim of a large hot pot bowl.
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Quarter 5 Vietnamese meatballs and add to the rim; add 4 to 6 pieces of oxtail to the rim.
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Fill the center of the bowl with the hot pot broth and serve family-style over a portable burner.