Turn Dinner into a Filipino Fiesta with Pancit Bihon (2024)

A Filipino favorite, this Pancit Bihon explodes with flavor from the savory chicken, crisp vegetables, soft noodles, and tender pork. Whether you are making it for a celebration or a weeknight meal, you are sure to enjoy every bite!

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Pancit Bihon Guisado is one of numerous variations of pancit, a popular dish in Filipino culture. Pancit means “noodles” in Filipino. Bihon is an Asian term for rice noodles. This recipe uses bihon noodles, which are thin, translucent strands of rice noodles.

This classic Filipino noodle dish is loaded with incredible flavors that will leave your mouth watering. In this version, we will make it with chicken and Air Fryer Lechon Kawali.

In addition to the meats, we will add several vegetables and a few sauces to give it that umami flavoring. This creates a very well-rounded and balanced meal.

While this dish is traditionally served at birthday parties, holidays, and family celebrations, it is easy and simple enough to enjoy on a weeknight. If you want to enjoy more Filipino dishes, you can’t go wrong with Lumpia or Filipino Spaghetti.

Ingredients

With these wonderful ingredients, this flavorful and comforting dish will come together in such a short time to be enjoyed.

• Chicken thighs. These fillets are boiled in salt water then sliced into bite size pieces with skin removed. Thighs are the juiciest type of chicken to use but you can use skinless breast meat as well.
• Air Fryer Lechon Kawail. These pork belly bites taste fantastic and can easily be made in the air fryer the day before.
• Bihon. Thin Filipino rice noodles that give the dish it’s texture. They can be found at Asian grocery stores or the ethnic section of most grocery stores.
• Chicken Broth. The noodles will be cooked and loosened in the broth. You can use vegetable broth if that is what you have on hand.
• Salt and Black Pepper. Seasoning for the chicken.
• Vegetables. We will use green beans, carrots and cabbage sauteed but left crispy. The carrots and cabbage will be chopped and loosely packed.
• Aromatics. The minced garlic and thinly sliced onion will bring out all the flavors in the dish.
• Sauces. Soy and oyster sauces both add saltiness and an incredible depth of flavor mixed into the dish.
• Sesame oil. A healthy oil that adds great flavor to stir fried dishes.
• Cooking oil. Peanut oil or vegetable oil can be used for sautéing.
• Lemon/Lime wedges. Sprinkle on top of the finished dish to add a bit of citrus flavoring. Typically, calamansi (Filipino Lime) is used but lemon or lime wedges can be used too.
• Coriander. Adds a touch of citrus flavoring along with the calamansi or lemon/lime wedges.

Scroll down to the recipe card for quantities used.

Instructions

Grab and prepare all your vegetables and aromatics before starting cooking. This way everything will flow easily when cooking this dish.

In a large pan boil chicken thigh fillet in salted water. Remove the scum.

Remove chicken. Slice chicken in bite-sized pieces. Set aside.

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In the same pan, boil bihon in salted chicken stock. Loosen bihon once it starts to soften.

Add cabbage and cook for 1 minute.

In another skillet (preferably while bihon is boiling), sauté onions until soft and translucent. Then add garlic. Sauté until garlic is fragrant.

Add sliced chicken thigh fillets then slightly season with salt and ground black pepper. Combine well.

Add carrots and sauté for 1 minute. Mix in green beans. Pour soy sauce and oyster sauce. Combine well and cook for about 3 to 5 minutes.

Reserve half the chicken and vegetable mixture.

Transfer other half of the chicken-vegetable mixture into the large pan with softened bihon and cabbage. Gently toss until well-combined. Add in half of the coriander and sesame oil. Give it a final gentle toss. Place remaining chicken-vegetable mixture on top.

Top with bite-sized chunks of Air Fryer Lechon Kawali. Garnish with the remaining coriander.

Hint: Using high-quality chicken or vegetable stock instead of water to cook the noodles adds an extra layer of flavor to the dish.

Variations

• Make it Vegetarian. Instead of meat, add extra vegetables such as broccoli, bell peppers, snow peas, leeks, zucchini, bok choy or bean sprouts to create even more nutritional benefits.
• Switch up the protein. In place of chicken or pork, use shrimp, tofu or sausage.
• Add fish sauce. In addition to the soy and oyster sauce, adding a little bit of fish sauce can lend too more salty and sour taste. This sauce can be found in many Asian cuisines.
• Add extra toppings. You can top with sliced hard boiled eggs, scallions, pickled red onions, and additional coriander for more citrus flavoring.

Leftover air fryer whole chicken can also be used in the recipe. That way, you don't have to take time to cook chicken.

Tips

• Prepare noodles at the same time you start sautéing the vegetables. This way they will be ready when you add them to the pan.
• Don’t overboil the chicken. Remove the chicken once it turns white, about 3 to 5 minutes in medium high heat. The chicken will be cooked with the vegetables and continue to heat through with the bihon.
• Don’t overcook the carrots, green beans and cabbage. They are best crisp tender to the bite.
• Adjust seasonings and sauces. Add additional seasonings and sauces to your liking and too taste as you go.
• Pancit Bihon is typically served with the Phillippine Lime Calamans. It is also known as calamondin. If you can’t find calamansi, lemon or lime wedges can be used.
• Boil the lechon kawali a day before. Air fry boiled Lechon Kawali just before serving with the pancit.

See Also

Korean BBQ Marinated Chicken

Serving suggestions

Pancit Bihon is best served with calamansi or lemon/lime wedges. It is a full and complete meal by itself but it goes great with a side of lumpia.

It also goes well along side spring rolls, a side of steamed vegetables or a broccoli slaw salad.If you are looking for dessert after your meal, this Filipino Leche Flan or Banana Turon Lumpia are absolutely delicious.

Storage

Place all leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It can be either re-heated in the microwave or served cold when ready to enjoy again.

FAQs

What are Pancit Bihon noodles made of?

Bihon are thin thred-like noodles made from rice flour. They appear semi-transparent when uncooked. The noodles turn translucent and soften as they cook.

Can I use ramen noodles instead?

We don’t advise using ramen as it will change the texture of the recipe. Bihon can easily be found in the ethnic section of most grocery stores or any Asian grocery store. If you need a substitute, you can use vermicelli noodles.

What is so special about Pancit?

In the Philippines, pancit is usually served at birthdays and family celebrations because it is easy to prepare and can feed a crowd. It also represents the heart of Filipino cooking by being hearty, flavorful, and comforting.

If you love Asian cuisine, you can also check out t ihese small-batch dinner ideas.

• Slow cooker pepper steak is perfect for a hassle-free dinner.
• Crab fried rice is a delicious and easy way to enjoy leftover rice.
• Filipino spaghetti combines savory meats in a sweet tomato sauce.
• Ground pork stir fry is a quick and flavorful skillet dish for busy days.
• Black pepper chicken is a popular restaurant dish that's easy to make.

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Recipe

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