Noodles & Rice

Pancit Palabok

Cooking 25 mins Prep 35 mins Serves 6
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Pancit Palabok

Pancit Palabok: Noodles in Shrimp Sauce

Palabok is rice noodles covered in a bright orange shrimp sauce and topped with shrimp, crushed chicharon, egg and green onions. It is a favorite party noodle dish.

About Pancit Palabok

Pancit palabok is rice noodles in a bright orange shrimp sauce, topped with shrimp, egg, chicharon and green onions. It is a party favorite and a classic merienda, with a sauce colored with annatto and flavored with shrimp stock.

Pancit palabok is often compared to pancit Malabon, but it uses thinner noodles and a lighter sauce. The sauce gets its color from annatto and its flavor from shrimp stock and smoked fish. It is a traditional dish for parties and special occasions.

Ingredient notes

  • Rice noodles: boiled until tender.
  • Shrimp and shrimp heads: the source of the stock.
  • Annatto oil: gives the orange color.
  • Chicharon and eggs: the toppings.

Tips for the best Pancit Palabok

  1. Make a good shrimp stock. From the heads and shells.
  2. Thicken the sauce. With rice flour.
  3. Prepare the toppings ahead. So you can assemble quickly.

What to serve with Pancit Palabok

Serve at gatherings with calamansi wedges.

Variations and substitutions

Storing and reheating

Refrigerate components separately for up to 2 days and assemble fresh.

Frequently asked questions

What gives palabok its color?

Annatto and shrimp stock.

What is the difference between palabok and Malabon?

Malabon uses thicker noodles and sauce.

What is the difference between palabok and Malabon?

Malabon uses thicker noodles and a thicker sauce.

How do I keep the sauce from getting lumpy?

Whisk the rice flour with cold water before adding it.

More Filipino recipes you might like

Champorado, Pancit Malabon and Lugaw.

Ingredients

6 servings
  • Rice noodle400 g
  • Shrimppeeled, shells and heads reserved250 g
  • Annatto oil2 tbsp
  • Garlicminced4 cloves
  • Water720 ml
  • Rice flouror Cornstarch60 ml
  • Fish sauce2 tbsp
  • Hard-boiled eggsliced3
  • Pork rind (chicharon)crushed120 ml
  • Green onionsliced3
  • Calamansihalved6

Optional ingredients

  • Smoked fish flake120 ml

Instructions

  1. 1

    Simmer the shrimp heads and shells in the water for 10 minutes and strain to make a stock.

    medium heat ~10 mins
  2. 2

    Soak or boil the noodles until tender, drain well and arrange on a platter.

    medium heat ~8 mins
  3. 3

    Cook the garlic in the annatto oil, add the stock, fish sauce and smoked fish, and thicken with the rice flour mixed in a little water.

    medium heat ~8 mins
  4. 4

    Poach the shrimp in simmering water until pink.

    medium heat ~3 mins
  5. 5

    Pour the sauce over the noodles and top with shrimp, eggs, chicharon and green onions. Serve with calamansi.

Notes

  1. 1. Color

    Annatto oil gives the signature orange; paprika works in a pinch.

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Photo: Pancit palabok with calamansi (cropped).jpg by Judgefloro via Wikimedia Commons, CC0.