Filipino Pancit Recipe: 2 Popular Variations You Should Try

Pancit Bihon is one of the most popular noodle dishes in the Philippines. It is made with thin rice noodles, vegetables, and meat. This pancit recipe is often served at birthdays because noodles symbolize long life in Filipino culture.

Ingredients:

- 200g rice noodles (bihon)

- 200g chicken breast, sliced thin

- 100g shrimp, peeled and deveined

- 1 medium carrot, cut into strips

- 1 small cabbage, sliced thin

- 1 onion, chopped

- 3 cloves garlic, minced

- 3 tbsp soy sauce

- 2 tbsp oyster sauce

- 2 cups chicken broth

- 2 tbsp cooking oil

- Salt and pepper to taste

- Calamansi or lemon for serving

Instructions:

1. Soak rice noodles in warm water for about 10 minutes until soft, then drain and set aside. 

2. Heat oil in a large pan or wok over medium heat. Sauté garlic and onion until fragrant and golden.

3. Add chicken slices and cook until they are no longer pink. Then add shrimp and cook until they turn pink and firm.

4. Pour in chicken broth, soy sauce, and oyster sauce. Stir gently and let it simmer for 2–3 minutes to allow the flavors to blend.

5. Add carrots and cabbage. Mix well and cook until vegetables are slightly soft but still crisp.

6. Place the soaked noodles into the pan. Toss everything together slowly so the noodles absorb the broth and sauce evenly. Continue stirring until the noodles are tender.

7. Taste and season with salt and pepper if needed. Serve hot with calamansi or lemon slices on the side for extra flavor.

Pancit Canton is another favorite Filipino noodle dish. It uses wheat-based egg noodles that are thicker than bihon. This pancit recipe is often richer in flavor and has a more filling texture. It is commonly cooked with meat, seafood, and vegetables.

Ingredients:

- 200g egg noodles (canton)

- 150g pork, sliced thin

- 100g chicken, sliced thin

- 100g shrimp, peeled and deveined

- 1 medium bell pepper, sliced

- 1 medium carrot, cut into strips

- 1 small cabbage, sliced

- 1 onion, chopped

- 3 cloves garlic, minced

- 3 tbsp soy sauce

- 2 tbsp oyster sauce

- 2 cups chicken broth

- 2 tbsp cooking oil

- Salt and pepper to taste

- Calamansi or lemon for serving

Instructions:

1. Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook egg noodles for 2–3 minutes or until slightly soft. Make sure that you do not overcook the noodle. Drain and set aside.

2. Heat oil in a large pan or wok over medium-high heat. Sauté garlic and onion until soft and golden brown.

3. Add pork slices first and cook until they begin to brown. Then add chicken and cook until no longer pink. Add shrimp and stir until they turn pink.

4. Pour in chicken broth, soy sauce, and oyster sauce. Mix well and let it simmer for 3–4 minutes so the meat absorbs the flavors.

5. Add carrots, bell pepper, and cabbage. Stir gently and cook until the vegetables are tender but still slightly crisp.

6. Add the boiled egg noodles to the pan. Toss carefully so that the noodles are coated evenly with the sauce and mixed well with the vegetables and meat.

7. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve hot with calamansi or lemon slices on the side for extra freshness.

Cooking pancit may look simple, but small tricks can make your pancit recipe taste even better. Here are some useful tips you can follow:

1. Balance the sauce and noodles – Add noodles little by little to the pan so they can fully absorb the sauce. This prevents the dish from becoming too dry or too soggy.

2. Use a wok or large pan – Pancit needs space for tossing noodles, meat, and vegetables together. A wide pan helps the noodles cook evenly and prevents clumping.

3. Cut ingredients evenly – Slice vegetables and meat into similar sizes. This makes cooking faster and ensures everything is cooked at the same time.

4. Add vegetables last – To keep them crunchy and fresh, add vegetables after the meat and sauce are cooked. Overcooking vegetables will make them too soft.

5. Adjust flavors to your taste – Pancit is flexible. You can add more soy sauce for saltiness, oyster sauce for sweetness, or a dash of fish sauce for extra depth.

6. Do the prep work first – Prepare and slice all vegetables, meat, and other ingredients before you start cooking. Pancit cooks quickly, so having everything ready makes the process smoother and less stressful.