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Pancit Bihon (Filipino Rice Noodles)

Pancit is a general term for many different types of noodle dishes in the Philippines. For this recipe, I will show you how to cook rice sticks noodle or Bihon because it's what one will find the most common and easy to make. All you are just a few basic ingredients - rice sticks, meat (pork, shrimp, chicken or all or a combination of these), vegetables and seasonings - calamansi (Philippine lime), garlic, onion, fish sauce, soy sauce and ground white pepper. When Filipinos celebrate birthdays or other occasions, most likely you will find pancit on the table.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Philippines
Servings 4

Equipment

  • saute pan

Ingredients
  

  • ½ lb pork belly, cut diagonally into 1/4 inch slices
  • 6 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 medium onion, sliced
  • ¼ cup water
  • 1 14.0z can of chicken broth
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp fish sauce
  • 1 tbsp white ground pepper
  • 1 7 oz of Rice Sticks. (Pre-soaked for 5 minutes. Drain the water).
  • 2 carrots, cut into strips, like match sticks
  • 2 celery sticks, cut diagonally into thin slices
  • 1/2 head of cabbage. Carefully trim out the root in the middle part of the cabbage. Next cut the cabbage in half then cut diagonally into shreds
  • 1 cup or 20 medium string beans, ends trimmed and strings removed then slice diagonally.
  • 1 green onion stalk, sliced thinly, for garnish
  • 4 "calamansi" halves for serving

Instructions
 

  • Heat pan over medium high heat. Add the pork and cook, stirring occasionally, until fat has rendered and the pork is browned around the edges, about 7 minutes. Transfer the pork to a plate. Reduce heat to medium low.
  • In the same pan, add the garlic; stir consistently about 30 seconds. Transfer to a plate.
    Note: I cook the garlic separately just like my mother and in order to divide it into two - 1/2 to season the dish and 1/2 to garnish.
  • In the same pan again, add the onions; stirring occasionally, until transparent, about 5 minutes. Return the pork and half of the garlic to the pan. At this point, pour the liquids - water, chicken broth, soy sauce, fish sauce. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to medium. Add the rice sticks; cook, stirring occasionally, until soft about 5 minutes. The broth will be reduced to just a mere ladle and that is perfect! It should be moist but not soupy. Add the carrots, celery and cabbage and white ground pepper; toss to combine all ingredients. Continue to cook until vegetables are "al dente", about 1 minute. Remove from heat. Transfer to a platter.
  • Garnish with green onions and remaining toasted garlic. Serve with calamansi halves.
Keyword filipino noodles, pancit, pansit