Adding tripe in pho offers numerous benefits. If you haven’t eaten tripe before, you may have no idea what it even is. Well, today, we are going to share what tripe is. We will also focus on what it tastes like and how eating it benefits you. Don’t worry, we will be sharing the best way to prepare tripe, so it will taste delicious every time.
What is Tripe?
Tripe is the lining of an animal’s stomach. Most of the tripe that is sold is beef tripe. It comes from cows. However, it is possible to find hog and sheep tripe.
Tripe is tough and needs to be cooked for a long time before it gets tender. It is best to purchase tripe that is pale and an off-white color.
What Does Tripe in Pho Taste Like?
Tripe in pho can be an acquired taste. It has a mild flavor, which takes on the flavor of the surrounding organs. However, once the tripe is cooked, it will taste like the Pho spices you used.
When you bite into tripe, the texture will be similar to squid. Yet the flavor will be more like liver.
The most mild flavored tripe is honeycomb. It was given that name, because one of the sides has a honeycomb pattern.
Benefits of Eating Organ Meat
There are numerous benefits to eating organ meat. Some people really believe the benefits of eating the whole animal outweighs the gross thoughts other people have of eating the organs.
If you can get past the fact you are eating organs, you will love the benefits. Those benefits include:
- High Levels of Vitamin A, Which Reduces Inflammation
- Mitochondrial Energy Production Support
- Plenty of B-Complex Vitamins
- High CoQ10 Levels
- Protects Against Anemia
- Aids in Pregnancy, As Well As Fertility
- Reduced Risk of Cancer and Heart Disease
How to Wash Tripe
Before you use tripe in pho or any recipe, you must wash it. Begin this process by cutting away all the bad stuff. This will include fat and any section that isn’t a pale, off-white color.
Once you have finished that, you will rub rock salt all over the tripe. Rinse the salt off with vinegar.
You will need to repeat this process a couple of times, or at least until there are no impurities left.
Best Way to Cook Tripe in Pho
It is important to cook tripe properly if you want it to taste good. To make this easy for you, we decided it would be a good idea to share the best way to cook tripe.
The very best way to cook tripe is to boil it in water or stock. You can cook tripe in many other ways. However, boiling it is the most popular option, because it always turns out delicious.
We love to make pho with tripe. Our pho meat guide shares all the options of what you can add to pho besides tripe.
You can make many other dishes with your boiled tripe.
How Long Do You Boil Tripe?
When you decide to boil tripe, you must be prepared to cook it for a while. It will take tripe between two and three hours to cook over high heat. If you cook it over low heat, it will take approximately eight hours.
We recommend cooking healthy pho over low heat. This allows the flavors to blend together and makes it taste even better.
Can You Overcook Tripe?
You cannot really over cook tripe. If you let it cook for too long, you simply take the chance it will be more tender than you planned.
Of course, this is always a personal preference. Some people may prefer their tripe on the chewier side, while others prefer theirs as tender as possible. So, cook your tripe to your desired tenderness and don’t worry about whether or not it is overcooked in other people’s minds.
How to Get Rid of the Smell
In addition to having a distinct taste, tripe can have a terrible odor. Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to get rid of the smell when cooking it. We recommend placing the tripe inside a large stockpot and covering it with water. Then add four tablespoons of distilled vinegar and the juice from two limes.
Place the pot in the refrigerator and let it sit for an hour and a half before draining the tripe.
Once you have done this, you can follow the recipe and won’t have the lingering tripe smell.
If you don’t want to take the chance that the tripe will smell up your refrigerator, there is another option. You can still place the tripe in a stockpot and cover with water. Then bring the water to a boil before turning the heat off and adding four tablespoons of distilled vinegar. Toss in two cloves of garlic and let everything sit for half an hour. Drain the tripe and follow your recipe.
How to Store Tripe
Tripe should only be left in the refrigerator for one or two days before you prepare it. Once it is cooked, you can safely store it in the refrigerator for up to four days.
Can You Freeze Tripe?
You can freeze raw tripe, as well as cooked tripe. It is best to use all frozen tripe within three to four months.
It is common to eat tripe in pho in other countries. You must prepare the tripe properly before adding it to the pho though. This will prevent the tripe from being too tough and chewy. Now that you know how to clean, cook, and store tripe, you will never need to be nervous about adding it to your pho in the future. However, if you are still a little leery, feel free to order tripe in pho at your favorite restaurant for now.
