Pancit Bihon
Let’s get one thing out of the way: I didn’t expect to have a midlife awakening over a bowl of noodles. But then again, aging is full of surprises, like finally learning how to say “no” without apologizing, or discovering that leggings are pants if you believe in yourself hard enough.If you’ve never had the pleasure, pancit is a traditional Filipino noodle dish made for celebrations, birthdays, family gatherings, and random Tuesdays when you just need something comforting. It’s savory, colorful, layered, and made to be shared, which, now that I think about it, sounds a lot like the best kind of woman over 50.I was first introduced to Pancit by my friend Ana, who is from Manila. I was invited to a gathering at her house and fell in love with this dish the moment it hit my lips. “What is this Ana?” I asked. She explained that it was pancit, their national dish and nowadays is a fixture at many significant milestones.I went home and found a recipe, tweaked it to my family’s taste and the rest is history. Ana asked me to teach her as it was the best she had tasted (I fell for it :)NOTE: Finding the right noodles is a task. I failed miserably with substitutes, until Ana told me where the Filipino grocer was located. She also suggested ordering on Amazon. They are called Excellent Pancit Canton Noodles, 16oz, 1 Pound (Pack of 1) and here’s the link. https://amzn.to/4nICQgK.ANOTHER NOTE: We are pescatarians, so make our version with seafood, but you can also use pork, chicken, beef or a combination.
Equipment
- 1 Wok or very large frying pan
Ingredients
- 8 oz rice noodles
- 1/4 cup oil
- 8 garlic cloves minced
- 1 small onion chopped
- 1 lb medium shrimp or 1/2 lb. medium shrimp and 1/2 lb fresh or imitation crab
- 2 cups shredded cabbage
- 1 cup julienne carrots
- 1/2 cup green beans
- 1/16 tsp Accent seasoning
- 1/4 cup soy sauce + 1 tablespoon
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce (optional)
- 1 cup vegetable broth or water
- black pepper to taste
- 1 green onion chopped finely
- lemon wedges
Instructions
- In a zip lock bag, marinate the shrimp with the teriyaki sauce and 4 minced garlic cloves for at least 30 minutes.
- Soak noodles in warm water for 15 minutes (do not break into smaller pieces). Drain
- Sauté garlic and onion in oil until fragrant in wok.
- Drain the marinade off the shrimp and discard the marinade.
- Add shrimp (or other protein) and stir fry.
- In a wok, heat 2 tablespoons of oil on medium high heat and sautée 6cloves of minced garlic and accent for 30 seconds.
- Add the carrots and stir fry for about 5 minutes.
- Stir in soy and oyster sauces.
- Add broth.
- Add cabbage, onions, and 1 tablespoon of soy sauce and stir fry until the vegetables are tender.
- Add noodles with 1/8 cup of oil and 1/4 cup of soy sauce and stir until liquid is absorbed.
- Garnish with scallions.
- Serve with lemon wedges.
- __________ CLOSING THOUGHTSPancit isn’t just food, it’s a metaphor for the rich, tangled, beautiful life we get to live boldly and unapologetically. So next time you wonder if you're too old for something, remember: you're just getting saucy.Now pass the noodles. We’ve got stories to tell!Calories 250Carbohydrates - 30g-40gProtein - 12-18gFiber 2-4g