Easy Pancit Bihon
A fun noodle dish that’s fancy enough for a special occasion yet easy enough to make for a weeknight dinner.
Equipment
- 1 Large bowl
- 1 large cutting board
- 1 chef's knife
- 1 large saute pan or dutch oven, fryer pan (4-quarts or larger) or wok
- measuring cups and spoons
- 1 plate (optional)
- Paper towels (optional)
Ingredients
- 1 8-ounce package cornstarch noodles (pancit bihon)
- water for soaking
- 1 tbsp canola oil
- 4 bacon strips cut into bite-size pieces (optional)
- ½ pound chicken thighs cut into ¼" strips
- ½ large onion sliced
- 7 garlic cloves minced (about 3 or 4 tablespoons)
- 2 medium carrots peeled and cut into matchsticks
- ¼ large cabbage chopped (about 3 cups)
- ¼ cup water (if using stainless steel pan)
- 2 cups chicken broth
- ⅛ cup soy sauce
Instructions
- Place the cornstarch noodles in a large bowl and add water until the noodles are covered. Soak for at least 10 minutes (cut your vegetables while soaking noodles). Drain and set aside.
- Heat saute pan on medium high heat. Add canola oil.
- Optional: Add bacon and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the fat is mostly rendered out of the bacon. Remove bacon to a plate lined with a paper towel to drain.
- Add chicken to the pan and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove when the chicken is almost cooked through to a large bowl.
- Add onions, garlic, carrots, and cabbage to the pan. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened. Remove the vegetables from the pan to the large bowl. (If the chicken left fond on the pan (the stuck on brown stuff from cooking, add ¼ cup water while cooking the vegetables and scrape the fond off the bottom of the pan; it adds great flavor to your dish.)
- Put the soaked and drained cornstarch noodles, chicken broth, and soy sauce in the pan. When the broth starts to bubble, lower heat to medium and cook the noodles for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Taste for seasoning; if its not salty enough, add soy sauce 1 teaspoon at a time until it's just right. When the broth is almost soaked up into the noodles, add the chicken and vegetables (and bacon if using) back into the pot and stir well to combine.
- Remove pan from heat so the noodles do not get overcooked. Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
Tips and Tricks
What other protein can I use besides bacon?
Pork belly, diced pork for stir fry, and ground pork all taste great in pancit bihon in addition to chicken or in place of chicken. Use what you have!
What if I can’t find cornstarch noodles?
Mung bean noodles are probably the closest you will get to cornstarch noodles. However, the texture of the noodle will be different from the cornstarch noodles in traditional pancit bihon.
How do I reheat pancit bihon?
Cover the leftover pancit bihon in a microwave-safe dish with a damp paper towel covering the noodles. Microwave at full power for 1 minute to 90 seconds. This will vary depending on the wattage of your microwave.