Pancit Palabok Recipes

Here’s a recipe for Pancit Palabok, a popular Filipino noodle dish known for its flavorful shrimp sauce and various toppings:

Ingredients:

For the Sauce:

• 2 tablespoons cooking oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 onion, minced
• 2 tablespoons atsuete (annatto) seeds, soaked in 1/4 cup hot water
• 4 cups shrimp broth (you can make this by boiling shrimp heads and shells in water)
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup fish sauce (patis)
• Salt and pepper to taste

For the Noodles and Toppings:

• 500 grams thick rice noodles (bihon)
• 1/2 cup cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1/2 cup smoked fish (tinapa), flaked
• 1/2 cup cooked pork, thinly sliced
• 4 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and sliced
• 1/2 cup green onions, chopped
• 1/4 cup fried garlic
• Calamansi or lemon wedges for serving

Instructions:

For the Sauce:

1. Heat the cooking oil in a saucepan over medium heat.
2. Sauté the minced garlic and minced onion until soft and fragrant.
3. Add the soaked atsuete (annatto) seeds along with the water they were soaked in. Let it simmer for a few minutes to extract the color.
4. Pour in the shrimp broth and bring to a gentle boil.
5. Gradually add the flour while continuously stirring to avoid lumps. Cook until the sauce thickens.
6. Season with fish sauce, salt, and pepper to taste. Set aside.

For the Noodles:

1. Cook the thick rice noodles (bihon) according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
2. Arrange the cooked noodles on a serving platter.
3. Pour the prepared sauce over the noodles, ensuring they are evenly coated.

Assembly:

1. Arrange the cooked shrimp, smoked fish (tinapa), sliced pork, and hard-boiled eggs on top of the noodles.
2. Sprinkle chopped green onions and fried garlic over the pancit.
3. Serve hot with calamansi or lemon wedges on the side.

Enjoy the rich flavors and vibrant colors of this classic Pancit Palabok recipe, a beloved favorite among Filipinos! Adjust the ingredients and toppings according to your taste preferences.