Oxtail Noodle Soup with Caramelized Onion and Star Anise

I have wonderful memories of eating pho on the streets of Saigon, sitting in a makeshift restaurant set up at the side of the road. Even although it was hot and humid, the soup with the addition of fresh herbs and bean spouts was refreshing. I can eat pho in any season. This recipe is not the soup I had in Vietnam; instead of a garnish of thinly sliced beef, I’ve added the shredded meat from the cooked oxtail to the soup. I like to use udon noodles (dried Japanese wheat noodles), but the ch