Whenever people find out I’m from the Philippines, I almost always get asked if I have a pancit recipe (lumpia, too, but that’s for another day lol). I get asked so often that Red and I finally decided to document our pancit canton recipe and share it here for everyone to enjoy.
Pancit canton is a favorite Filipino noodle dish that you can now easily make at home using ingredients readily available in your local supermarket. This recipe allows you to customize the dish to your family’s preferences, ensuring a pancit canton that your loved ones will truly enjoy.
What is Pancit?
“Pancit” (pronounced pan-sit) is the general Filipino term for noodles. Pancit canton, specifically, is the Filipino version of Chinese lo mein and chow mein. It involves stir-frying or tossing noodles with soy sauce, vegetables like carrots, and meat such as chicken breast. You can also add Chinese sausages or chorizo to elevate the flavors. Pancit canton can be served as a main dish or a side.
What is Canton Noodle?
This recipe calls for canton noodles, a type of egg flour noodle that you can easily find in your local supermarket. It comes in rounded shapes like spaghetti or flat shapes like fettuccini. In English, these noodles are often labeled as “flour stick noodles.” Now you know!
Why You’ll Love This Pancit Canton Recipe
Pancit canton is a crowd-pleaser, making it perfect for potlucks and special occasions. It’s so beloved that we often prepare it for weeknight dinners as well. Here’s why you’ll love cooking this pancit canton recipe:
- Easy to Make: I’ll guide you through all the steps in the recipe card below.
- Accessible Ingredients: You can easily find all the pancit ingredients in your local supermarket.
- Customizable: Feel free to substitute ingredients according to what you have on hand. The pancit canton will still capture the taste of home.
What You’ll Need
Making this beloved Filipino noodle dish is easy and straightforward. The main prep work involves gathering the ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Vegetable oil or canola oil
- Red bell pepper
- Carrots
- Snap peas
- Garlic
- Onions
- Chicken breast
- Fish balls
- Chinese sausage (or Chinese chorizo)
- Chicken broth
- Soy sauce
- Oyster sauce
- Salt and ground black pepper
- Canton or flour stick noodles
- Dried black fungus
- Sesame oil
- Green onions
If your local store doesn’t carry some of these items, don’t worry! You can find them in an Asian supermarket or even online.
How to Make Pancit Canton
- VEGETABLES: Heat vegetable oil in a wok or a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add red bell pepper, carrots, and snap peas. Stir and cook for 1-2 minutes. Set aside.
- GARLIC AND ONIONS: Add more oil to the pan and sauté garlic and onions until the onions are soft and translucent.
- CHICKEN: Stir in the chicken and cook until lightly browned.
- FISH BALLS: Add fish balls and cook for 2 minutes.
- CHORIZO: Add chorizo or Chinese sausage and cook for another minute. Be careful not to overcook or burn the meats. Lower the heat if necessary.
- CHICKEN BROTH: Pour in the chicken broth and season with soy sauce, oyster sauce, salt, and pepper. Stir and allow the mixture to boil.
- CANTON NOODLES: Carefully add the canton noodles and stir until they absorb all the liquid.
- BLACK FUNGUS: Stir in the black fungus, then remove from heat.
- COOKED VEGETABLES: Add back the cooked vegetables, half of the green onions, and sesame oil. Stir until well combined.
- SERVE: Sprinkle the remaining green onions on top before serving. Best served warm.
Expert Tips
Recipe Substitutions and FAQs
There you have it, pancit canton—a delicious Filipino noodle dish that you can easily recreate at home. It’s simpler than you might think, and the outcome is incredibly tasty. Don’t forget, making pancit brings good luck!
Happy cooking!
Did you make pancit canton noodles? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below.
