Instructions: Rinse chicken, including heart, neck and giblets. (reserve liver for another use). Place in a large pot. Add 2 quarts water, or enough to just cover chicken, and bring to a boil over high heat.

As water is heating, scorch 1 piece of ginger and the onion pieces (see note 1 below). Add scorched ginger and onions to soup.

Once water comes to a boil, skim off foam and reduce heat to low. Add 1 tablespoon fish sauce and peppercorns; simmer, partially covered, until the chicken is cooked, 30 to 40 minutes.

Remove chicken from broth and set aside to cool; slightly. When cool enough to handle, remove meat from the bones, shred coarsely and set aside; discard bones, giblets, skin and fatty pieces.

Line a colander with a double layer of cheesecloth and strain into a bowl.

Let cool slightly, then refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours. SKim fat from the surface. (the soup can be prepared ahead to this point. Store the broth and chicken in separate covered containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. The broth can be frozen for up to 1 month.)

Shortly before serving, bring a large pot of water to a vigorous boil.

Place bean spouts in a sieve or colander and immerse in boiling water for 20 to 30 seconds. Rinse with cold water; set aside to drain. Bring water back to a boil and drop in rice noodles. Cook just until softened but not mushy, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Drain and rinse with cold water; set aside.

Scorch remaining piece of ginger, then coarsely chop. Place scorched ginger and salt in a mortar and pestle or food processor and work into a paste. Set aside.

Place homemade and canned broth in a pot and heat to simmering. Season with additional fish sauce e, if desired.

Divide noodles among 4 large soup bowls. Distribute bean sprouts over noodles; top with chicken and shallots. Ladle hot broth over; add a dollop of the reserved ginger paste. Sprinkle with cilantro and rau ram (or mint). Serve at once, with small plates of remaining shallots and herbs, a small bowl of remaining ginger paste and lime wedges, so guests can adjust flavorings as they wish.

NOTE 1 - To scorch ginger and onion - If you have a gas burner, use tongs to hold ginger and onion pieces in the flame until charred. If you have an electric burner, heat a dry heavy cast-iron skillet over high heat.

Add ginger and onion pieces and turn until blackened on all sides.

NOTES :

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