Pancit (Filipino Fried Rice Noodles)
Published Apr 20, 2019
Updated Sep 02, 2024
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Pancit is Filipino fried rice noodles. Pancit Bihon is a classic Filipino recipe that is easy to make with simple ingredients. An easy and authentic recipe!
What Is Pancit
I love pancit, which means noodles in Filipino language. Many years ago, I tried pancit at a Filipino restaurant and fell in love with it. I have been making Filipino recipes at home, for examples: chicken adobo, lumpia and shrimp sinigang. Today, I am sharing this homemade fried noodles dish with you!
How To Cook Pancit Noodles
Pancit bihon or noodle is a classic Filipino noodle dish is very easy to make and can be put together using simple ingredients.
What is Pancit made of? Just like other Asian cuisines there are several variations of it around the Philippines. Some include the addition of Chinese sausage, chorizo, or simply vegetarian.
However, the basic ingredients are bihon or rice vermicelli or rice sticks, protein such as chicken, pork and/or shrimp, vegetables plus the seasonings.
How To Prepare Rice Sticks Or Rice Vermicelli
Bihon is the Filipino word for rice sticks, rice vermicelli, or rice noodles. For this recipe, I recommend the Excellent brand rice sticks.
I always soak the dry noodles in warm water for about 5-10 minutes before cooking. This step removes the starch on the rice sticks and also soften the noodles before stir-frying.
After they turn soft, drain the rice sticks in a colander. As you can see in the picture below, they are soft but still a bit stiff and ready for stir-frying.
Ingredients For Pancit Sauce
I used a combination of the following ingredients for the best results:
- Soy sauce
- Oyster sauce
- Fish sauce
- Ground black pepper
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients.
Frequently Asked Questions
After cooking, you can keep the leftover in the fridge overnight or for up to a couple of days. Just make sure you cover the noodles with plastic wrap. You can reheat using microwave before serving.
If you don’t have a microwave, you can reheat in the skillet.
This recipe is only 427 calories per serving.
What To Serve With Pancit
This meal is best served on its own or with other dishes. For a wholesome Filipino meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes.
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Other Recipes You Might Like
Pancit (Filipino Fried Rice Noodles) Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 oz. (230g) rice sticks, "Excellent" brand
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 small onion, sliced
- 4 oz. (125g) boneless and skinless chicken thigh, or chicken breast, cut into pieces
- 4 oz. (125g) shrimp, shelled and deveined
- 2 oz. (60g) green cabbage, thinly sliced
- 2 oz. (60g) carrots, cut into thin strips
- 2 stalks scallions, cut into 2-inch (5 cm) strips
Seasonings:
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- salt, to taste
- 3 dashes ground black pepper
Instructions
- Soak the rice sticks in water for 5-10 minutes, or until they become soft. Drain in a colander and set aside. Prepare the garlic, onions, and vegetables.
- Heat a wok or skillet over medium to high heat. Add the oil and stir-fry the garlic and onions until the onions turn translucent. Add the chicken and shrimp, and stir-fry until the surface turns white, followed by the cabbage and carrots.
- Add the rice sticks to the wok or skillet and stir to combine well with a spatula. If you have a pair of long chopsticks for cooking, use them instead of the spatula. This will help prevent the rice sticks from breaking too much.
- Add all the ingredients for the Seasonings and stir to mix well. Once the noodles are cooked through, about 1 minute, add the chopped scallions, stir, and dish out immediately.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I’m a Latina,
but love Asian cuisine. This Filipino Pancit is super yummy. I have made it several times and it comes out perfect, just follow the recipe and your taste buds will appreciate you. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe with your readers. I have also made spring rolls and my friends and coworkers love them. God bless you!
Thanks, Sandy.
I just made this earlier for lunch and it’s aamaaaazzziinnng!!!! Hubby and I loved it!
Hi, I love you recipes btw, not trying to criticize but more like helpful. Im filipino so this are main ingredients for the pancit:
Rice vermicilli lumgkow bean thread is a good brand doesnt fall apart easily
Soy sauce
Fish sauce
Sugar
Salt and pepper
Cabbage
Carrots
Green beans
Choice of meat and any kind of stock
( I prefer pork belly minced
Chicken and shrimp). My mom also put chicken liver for flavoring.
Hope this helps!
Thanks for sharing.
HEY HOW DO YOU CUT THE MEAT?
I have always used the Excellent Brand of rice sticks in the past but lately the product as changed. The noodles fall apart now and obviously the formula is different. Has anyone else mentioned this to you? I need to find a new brand. Not happy with “Excellent” anymore.
Hi Todd, yes, I always run into the same issues even with the same brands. Always look for brands that uses only rice and water. I don’t like the ones with starch added.
Hi there! I’m going to be the strange one but this recipe was different before (bihon didn’t have to be soaked and no oyster sauce). Is this recipe under a different name? It’s my family’s favorite and because I am only going off of memory, when I make it, it is different every time. All yummy of course but different. TIA!
I have updated the recipe.
Darn! Ok. Thanks for the reply. The old one was closest to my Lola’s (she’s old-school, never even heard of oyster sauce ).
I have a big bag of rice noodles 16 OZ. and I’m going to make it for a family gathering. Would I double the seasoning or would it taste too fishy? I’ve made pancit before, but the recipe didn’t call for fish or oyster sauce.
Thank you!
You can double the seasoning. You don’t have to use fish sauce or oyster sauce, but it just won’t taste very flavorful.
I love this recipe. I used to not know how to make pancit, if i try, it comes out as tasteless pancit. I am glad I found this online. Thank you so much!
I made this for dinner tonight. Thanks for an easy, yummy recipe Bee!
Awesome Jill. Thanks for trying this pancit recipe.
Oh YUM! I love how easy this recipe is but can tell that it must have a ton of flavor! Gorgeous pictures!
Thanks!
Just like malaysian fried rice noodles
Yes, similar.
I love this dish which we had eaten in a phillipino restaurant in Doha. All these years I was looking for this recipe. I’m so glad it’s here.
I just want to know what is the red paste I see on the picture of this recipe
It’s chili sauce.