(FOODIEO) Pancit Bihon: Filipino Stir-Fried Rice Noodles

This has to be one of the easiest and tastiest Filipino dishes to make, besides Adobo. Trust me, after coming home from a long day at work, the last thing I want to do is spend hours cooking in the kitchen.

So contrary to popular belief, being a food blogger doesn't mean I'm cooking everyday and having beautiful home-cooked meals - though I'd love to have dinner waiting for me every night. I’m actually a big fan of quick and easy cooking, so this recipe is perfect for that.

Did you know: Pancit is derived from Hokkien "pian i sit", meaning "something conveniently cooked fast".

Pancit is basically noodles in Filipino that is typically stir-fried with soy sauce, sliced meat, vegetables and citrus flavorings. For those who want to get rid of some ingredients in the fridge and want a nice healthy meal, this is for you!

New this year, I've termed my food videos, "foodieos". So stay tuned for more feature foodieos to come your way. Or better yet, learn about the latest foodieos by subscribing to Candice's Cusina's YouTube Channel.



Ingredients:
8oz rice vermicelli noodles
3 tbsp vegetable oil
1 large onion, sliced
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups cabbage, grated
2 medium carrots, grated
1 lb skinless chicken breast, chopped
4 Chinese sausage, sliced on the bias
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup bean sprouts, rinsed
1/2 cup snow peas, sliced
2 green onions, thinly sliced
Pepper to taste
Lemons or Calamansi limes, cut into wedges

Did you know: Calamansi is the Filipino lemon and just as as versatile. They are enjoyed in juices, dipping sauces, marinades, desserts as well as for cleaning and medicinal purposes

Preparation:
1. Place rice noodles in a large bowl, pour boiling hot water and cover. Let soak for 3-4 minutes then drain or according to the package's instructions.
2. Heat oil in pan over medium heat. Add onions and stir fry until translucent, 2-3 minutes. Add carrots, cabbage and garlic and stir fry for another 2-3 minutes.
3. Remove veggies and in the same pot, add chicken and Chinese sausage. Stir fry for another 3-4 minutes.
4. Add veggies back to pan. Pour in broth, soy sauce and pepper. Reduce heat to medium-low and let simmer for 2-3 minutes.
5. Remove pan from heat, add drained noodles, bean sprouts, snow peas and green onions. Gently toss noodles to coat them with the sauce and immerse with all the ingredients. Adjust the seasoning to your liking. Serve immediately with squeezed lemon or Calamansi.

Try this: Add or substitute with meat with pork, shrimp, tofu and hard boiled eggs.

Champorado: Sweet Chocolate Rice Pudding

Champorado is made by cooking sticky rice with cocoa powder. Milk and sugar are added later to taste. I grew up eating hot Champorado on cold rainy days as a snack, dessert or, if I was lucky, for breakfast. It's like eating chocolate oatmeal - what kid or adult who wouldn't want that first thing in the morning?

Sometimes my Mom would add tuyo (salty-dried fish) on the side as a tasty contrast to the sweet rice pudding. It may seem odd to combine these flavours together but I love it!

Did you know: Champorado or Champpurado was introduced to Filipinos by Mexican traders during the Galleon Spice Trade 1600s-1800s. It was originally and still is a chocolate drink in Mexico but eventually, Filipinos found a way to turn this drink into a meal by adding rice and more specifically – sticky rice.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup glutenous rice (rinsed)
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa
1 1/4 cup coconut milk or whole milk
pinch of salt

Did you know: Rinsing rice before cooking helps to remove excess starch and allows the rice to cook more evenly.

Preparation:
1. Place rinsed rice to saucepan set on medium heat. Add coconut milk and stir constantly.
2. Dilute the unsweetened cocoa with boiling water to remove all cocoa clumps.
2. When rice begins to absorb the milk and becomes a bit translucent, reduce the heat to low. Then add diluted cocoa, sugar and salt. Cook until rice is tender the serve immediately with a drizzle of more coconut milk with a side of tuyo.

Try this: Instead of tuyo, try crispy bacon or breakfast sausage instead.