Pancit canton recipe that helps you make this favourite Filipino dish at home with ingredients that are readily available in your local supermarket.
(Looking for other Filipino recipes? Try this sopas recipe, the ultimate Filipino comfort food. Or this no-fail creamy leche flan recipe, a favourite Filipino dessert.)
Whenever people find out I’m from the Philippines, I almost always get asked: do you have a pancit recipe (pronounced pan-sit)? They always walk away disappointed because I’d always say no.
Well not anymore! Now I have a fabulous pancit canton recipe and the best part is, the recipe uses ingredients readily available here while still keeping that traditional pancit canton taste. Win-win!
What is pancit?
Filipinos grew up eating pancit but even non-Filipinos love it (they also love lumpia – I’m still working on that lol). But what is it?
You take some noodles, stir-fry it with soy sauce, some vegetables like snow peas and meat like chicken breast. Add some Chinese sausages or Chinese chorizo then serve it as a main or side.
So in a way it’s very similar to chow mein. But also very different.
What is canton noodle?
This recipe uses canton which is a type of egg flour noodle. You can find rounded ones like spaghetti or flat ones like fettuccini.
They’ve been dried and precooked so it doesn’t take long to fully cook them. A few quick minutes is all it takes.
What are the different types of pancit?
There are different kinds of noodles you can use for pancit, like pancit bihon, pancit habhab, etc. Each one looks and tastes different though the preparation is for the most part the same.
What is common is that it’s a staple in any Filipino gathering because pancit signifies long life. I’m not sure why that is, though it’s a common belief among Filipinos that noodles = luck and abundance.
So if not pancit, sweet and salty Filipino spaghetti would most likely be on the menu instead.
How to cook pancit canton recipe
First you stir fry your vegetables in a tablespoon of oil on medium/high heat. We like using a wok
but any deep large skillet will do.
Remove the vegetables from the pan and set aside.
Using the same pan (yes, everything happens in 1 pan so less clean-up!) cook your garlic and onions until the onions are soft and translucent. Then add your chicken and cook until lightly browned.
You want to add your fish balls
now then your Chinese sausage
. Watch your meat so they don’t get burned. Lower the heat if needed.
At this point add your chicken broth, season and bring to a boil. Then add your canton noodles
and stir just until it absorbs all that tasty liquid. Add the black fungus
(also called dried black wood ear mushrooms) then remove from heat.
Add back the vegetables you cooked earlier, sprinkle some chopped green onions and drizzle with sesame oil
. You’re done!
Ingredients for pancit canton
Don’t be intimidated by the list of ingredients. The key to this pancit canton recipe is mis en place. Once you have everything ready, cooking is a breeze.
Speaking of ingredients, we buy all these in our local supermarket. Just look in the Asian or International aisle for things like flour stick noodles (apparently that’s what canton noodle is in English, who knew?), Chinese sausage or chorizo and soy sauce. The rest are easy.
If your local store doesn’t carry some of these items, you are certainly going to find them in an Asian supermarket. Or there’s always amazon!
Tools you need to cook pancit canton
The tools you need to cook pancit are pretty basic too.
Apart from the wok or the large, deep skillet, it would help to have a mandoline
or a food processor
for all that chopping.
That’s it, pancit. Plus other Filipino recipes
So go ahead, take the plunge and make pancit today. It’s easier than you think. Plus, it’s delicious and remember, it brings good luck!
For other Filipino recipes, you might try filipino turon for a snack. Top it with vanilla ice cream, drizzle it with salted caramel sauce and you’re golden.
If you’re in a baking mood, why not try this easy, traditional pandesal recipe? It will not only make your kitchen smell wonderful, it would also give you a batch of the softest, fluffiest bread rolls ever.
Pancit Canton Recipe (Filipino Stir-Fried Noodles)
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil divided
- 3/4 cup julienned red bell pepper
- 3/4 cup julienned carrots
- 1 cup snap peas
- 2 tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 cup chopped onions
- 1/2 cup sliced chicken breast
- 1 cup fish balls sliced in half
- 1/2 cup sliced Chinese sausage also known as Chinese chorizo
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
- 1 16oz pack canton or flour stick noodles
- 1/4 cup dried black fungus see note
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1/2 cup chopped green onions divided
Instructions
- Add 1 tbsp vegetable oil to a wok or a deep, large skillet on med/high heat. Add 3/4 cup red bell pepper, 3/4 cup carrots and 1 cup snap peas. Stir and cook for 1-2 minutes. Remove from pan and set aside.
- Add another tbsp of oil to the pan and sauté 2 tbsp garlic with 1/2 cup onions until the onions are soft and translucent. Stir in 1/2 cup chicken and cook until lightly browned.
- Add 1 cup fish balls and cook for 2 minutes. Add 1/2 cup Chinese sausage and cook for a minute more. Be careful not to overcook or burn the meats. Lower your heat if necessary.
- Pour 3 cups chicken broth. Season with 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp oyster sauce, salt and pepper to taste. Stir then allow the mixture to boil.
- Carefully add the canton noodles and stir until it absorbs all the liquid. Add chopped black fungus then remove from heat.
- Add back your cooked vegetables, half of your chopped green onions and 1 tsp of sesame oil. Stir until combined.
- Sprinkle the rest of your green onions before serving. Best served warm.
Video
Notes
Happy cooking!
Did you make this pancit canton recipe? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below.
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Joedl says
I don’t usually cook so I followed this recipes and directions to the letter (I just added chopped cabbage and used fish sauce instead of salt). My daughter who can identify ingredients by taste, my wife who is a gourmet eater, and my sons who like to eat love this pancit canton. Even my 4-yr old grandson keeps on asking “more pancit lolo.” So much so that they just left a small bowl for me. That pancit was gone in a jiffy.
Many thanks Jolina and may God always bless your gift of cooking.
Jolina says
That’s awesome Joedl! I’m so happy everybody liked it 🙂 Lolo of the year!
Cheryl says
This looks so yum! I love it when I can put so much veggies in this noodles, a way to make the kid eat more vegetables. Can’t wait to try this recipe. Thank you for sharing!
Dawn says
Hey Jolina! This looks AMAZING! I’ve never had this before, but clearly I’ve been missing out cause this has my name written allllll over it….see it, lol ?? Seriously, though, gotta get this one on the menu. I know hubby would love too. Extra green onion for me please! Hope you have an awesome weekend and send some of that sun along, will ya 😉
Tiffany D says
Yummmmm! I LOVE Pancit. I have Filipino family members and whenever there’s a big gathering it’s on the menu along with lechon! Your recipe looks delicious so I’ll definitely give it a try!
Jolina says
Mmmm now I want lechon lol!
David Allen Elliott says
I have heard of Pancit before, but I have never tried it out. But now that I see it I am going to have to try it out in the near future, whether it means I make it or find someone who serves it. It looks awesome.
brianne says
My mouth is watering looking at this noodle recipe. I am definitely going to make this at home!
Prajakta Sharma says
Wow this recipe looks so colorful and delicious…I need to try this out.
Annemarie LeBlanc says
Asian style noodles are always the best! I love the play of flavors and textures in this dish. I can’t believe it is so easy to make too. I will add this to our menu plan for next week.
Hieu Le says
As a Vietnamese boy, this would satisfy me so well. I am starving by looking at the pictures!
Peter says
Now this is something that I could eat often and a lot of . I love all the ingredients and can’t wait to try it
Angela Tolsma says
I have never heard of this but it sounds delicious! Definitely something I would try!
Denise C says
I could eat a noodle dish every night of the week and never get tired of it. They’re so yummy and versatile.
Jolina says
You and me both!
Tami says
Guess what we’re having for dinner this week!?! I do not every serve filipino food, so this will be a treat for the family.
Jolina says
Awesome! Hope you and the fam like it
Wendy says
Yay for pancit! My MIL loves pancit. Every time we go to different restaurants, an order of pancit is a must.
Jolina says
Yay for pancit 🙂 Even though we cook it at home, we almost always order it when we’re at a Filipino restaurant too lol!
Di Hickman says
It’s always fun creating your own dishes isn’t it! Love that you got outside your comfort zone and now have a signature dish to represent your heritage!
Jack says
That’s amazing you managed to do it and it looks amazing and colorful which is pretty amazing. I love kind of food like this.
Nellwyn says
This sounds and looks so yummy, I’d love to try it! My boyfriend has made similar dishes for us before so I’m going to ask him to try this recipe next time!
maria long says
Stir fries are my weeknight staple. They are easy to make and come together with most anything you have in your fridge and freezer.
Neely Moldovan says
Oh I had not heard of this but it sounds incredible. I love stir fry!
Julie says
This looks so tasty! I’ve never made a Filipino dish before– I may need to start with this one! So good.
Jolina says
I agree! This is a really delicious dish to start exploring Filipino cuisine. Hope you like it!
Wendy says
My father in law makes some great pancit too! This recipe is one we need to try also. Looks great!
Jolina says
Hope it lives up to your standards! 🙂
Lois says
I never heard of pancit but it looks delicious! I love all kinds of noodles and would really like to try these!
Tonya Michelle says
I’ve never heard of Pancit. It looks delicious and healthy too. I’m going to print this recipe out and save for later.
Marjie Mare says
I always buy pancit in that Filippino store by me. Now, thanks to you, I will be able to make my own.
Stephanie T. says
I’ve had this before but never knew how to make it. It was so good that I want to make it right now haha. I didn’t know that it was believed to bring good luck either, so interesting.