Pancit Bihon ( Filipino Fried Rice Noodle ) - Khin's Kitchen (2024)

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Easy one-pan popular Filipino Pancit Bihon recipe made with rice vermicelli noodles, succulent chicken, and mixed vegetables. Packed with flavour and so simple to make at home with basic pantry-friendly ingredients. A great noodle dish that the whole family can enjoy!

Pancit Bihon ( Filipino Fried Rice Noodle ) - Khin's Kitchen (1)

If you have tried and enjoyed our Chicken and Rice Noodle Stir Fry and Simple Glass Noodle Stir Fry recipes, I am sure you will definitely love this Filipino-style fried rice noodle recipe too!

I learned this recipe from my Filipino friend, the time I visited their home. I made some variations on vegetables due to our liking. Pancit is one of the most requested recipes on our website and social media as we do have many Filipino viewers who love our recipes.

Jump to:
  • What is Pancit Bihon?
  • Why you would love this recipe
  • What do we need
  • How to make it
  • Cooking Tips
  • FAQ
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Reviews

What is Pancit Bihon?

Pancit is a famous Filipino noodle dish and Pancit Bihon Guisado is a Filipino version of fried stew bihon noodles. Bihon noodles are also known as Mee Hoon, Bee Hoon, and Mai Fun in Chinese. Basically made dried rice vermicelli noodles with chicken, prawns, cabbage, carrots, or a choice of protein and vegetables.

Pancit and Chinese Bee Hoon ( Singapore Noodles ) ingredients are similar in general but the cooking process is slightly different. Classic Chinese Mei Fun is a super-fast flash fry dish, meanwhile, Pancit guisado is a combination of meat and vegetable stir fry with braised rice vermicelli.

Why you would love this recipe

  • All ingredients used in this recipe are cupboard-friendly, fridge and freezer-friendly! You don't need a trip to a Chinese grocery store. Everything can be easily bought at local supermarkets.
  • One of the easiest and simplest noodle dishes that even an amateur cook prepares perfectly without much hassle.
  • Simple doesn't mean the taste is bland. Bihon Pancit is packed with the best flavours of chicken, vegetables, vermicelli, and savoury umami sauce.
  • A versatile noodle dish that you can swap the protein and vegetables to your own preference.

What do we need

Pancit Bihon ( Filipino Fried Rice Noodle ) - Khin's Kitchen (2)

Vegetables: Shredded carrot and cabbage are classic vegetables that every Filipino add to their Pancit. In this recipe, I am using cabbage, carrot, bell peppers, onions, mangetout ( snow peas ), and spring onions ( green onions ). Add a good amount of chopped garlic for the garlicky aroma.

You don't need to add the exact same vegetables. Feel free to swap with your favourite stir fry vegetables.

Protein: I am adding boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into small dice. As this is a versatile dish you can also try it with Chinese sausage, chicken breast, prawns, shrimp, or your choice of protein.

Rice Noodles: You can use Bihon noodles, rice vermicelli, or rice sticks. Do not mistake with glass noodles ( bean thread noodles ). Rice vermicelli noodle is a dried long thin strand made of rice flour and water.

If you cannot find Filipino brand Bihon noodles, you can use Thai Kirin, Ko Lee, or any rice noodle brands which you can buy at the local grocery stores.

Seasonings & Sauces: To cook the noodles, you need to season the boiled water with all-purpose soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sugar, and chicken bouillon.
Chicken Bouillon - is a chicken stock cube, you can substitute it with vegetable stock cubes or chicken powder.

Chicken bouillon adds extra rich umami flavour to the dish. If you are not using chicken bouillon you can add chicken broth instead of water.

How to make it

  1. First, gather and prepare the vegetables and chicken.
  2. Season the chicken pieces with soy sauce and black pepper. Mix it well and set it aside.
Pancit Bihon ( Filipino Fried Rice Noodle ) - Khin's Kitchen (4)
  1. In a large pan or wok stir fry the chicken pieces for a few minutes.
  2. Follow with the garlic, onion, and vegetables. Remove the chicken and vegetables from the pan and set them aside.
Pancit Bihon ( Filipino Fried Rice Noodle ) - Khin's Kitchen (5)
  1. In the remaining pan, add water, regular soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sugar, and chicken stock cube. Stir it well and bring it to simmer.
  2. Add Bihon rice sticks and cook until the noodles absorbed the water.
  3. Place the cooked chicken and vegetables back in the pan and combine everything evenly. Make a taste test and add salt or pepper to your taste.
  4. Finish with spring onions, remove from heat and transfer to a serving plate.
Pancit Bihon ( Filipino Fried Rice Noodle ) - Khin's Kitchen (6)

Cooking Tips

  • Do not dump all the vegetables straight in the pan. Add the hard vegetables first, then follow with soft vegetables to cook everything evenly.
  • Use a large pan, non-stick pan, wok, or skillet to toss all the ingredients.
  • Do not overcook the rice noodles, as they can be sticky when overcooked. Add the cooked chicken and vegetables straight away in the pan, once the noodles soaked up all the sauces.

FAQ

How to make it vegetarian?

For vegetarian and vegan, swap chicken with tofu or omit the protein. Add a choice of extra stir fry vegetables like mushroom, broccoli, cauliflower, baby corn, etc. Use vegetarian broth instead of water or add one cube of vegetable bouillon to the boiled water.

What is Bihon called in English?

Bihon is a thin rice noodle made from rice flour and water. You can find it as a rice vermicelli noodles in the packaging. Available at Oriental Asian grocery stores or supermarket Asian aisles.

Is this dish healthy?

This dish is loaded with chicken, noodles, and plenty of vegetables and 401 kcal per serving. This nutritional fact is calculated approximately and it can be varied by a number of different factors.

More Delicious Rice Noodle Recipes

  • Rice Noodle Stir-Fry (Chicken Chow Fun)
  • Beef Ho Fun ( Beef Chow Fun )
  • Drunken Noodles ( Pad Kee Mao )
  • Prawn Pad Thai

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📖 Recipe

Pancit Bihon ( Filipino Fried Rice Noodle ) - Khin's Kitchen (11)

Easy Pancit Bihon Recipe (Filipino)

Easy one-pan Pancit Bihon recipe made with rice vermicelli noodles, succulent chicken, and mixed vegetables. Packed with flavour and so simple to make at home with basic pantry-friendly ingredients.

5 from 28 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Filipino

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 401kcal

Author: Khin

Equipment

  • Large pan or wok

Ingredients

  • 300 gram Chicken thigh About 10.5oz, Chicken thigh or breast, cut small pieces
  • 200 gram Rice vermicelli About 7oz, Bihon or thin rice sticks
  • ½ Onion Cut thin slices
  • 3 cloves Garlic Finely chopped
  • 1 Carrot Julienne, cut thin slices
  • 100 gram Cabbage About 3.5 oz, Cut thin slices
  • 10-12 Mangetout Snow peas/ sugar snap peas
  • ½ Red bell pepper Cut thin slices
  • 2-3 Spring onion Cut thin slices
  • 3 tbsp vegetable oil

Chicken Marinade

  • 1 tsp Soy sauce
  • ¼ tsp Black pepper

Sauce

  • 3 tbsp Soy Sauce Regular all-purpose soy sauce or light soy sauce
  • 1 tsp Dark soy sauce Optional
  • 2 cup Water Add more water if needed
  • tbsp Sugar
  • 1 cube Chicken bouillon Or chicken/vegetable stock cubes

Instructions

  • First prepare and gather the chicken and vegetables. Season the chicken pieces with soy sauce and black pepper. Mix it well and set it aside.

  • Heat the large pan or wok over medium high heat. Drizzle 2-3 tbsp of oil and stir fry the chicken pieces for 2-3 minutes.

  • Push the chicken pieces to one side of the pan and add the chopped garlic. Stir for few seconds and add the onions. Follow with the carrot, bell pepper, mangetout, and cabbage.

  • Once the vegetables are just cooked through, remove everything from the pan and set them aside.

  • In the remaining pan, pour the water in. Season it with regular soy sauce, dark soy sauce, sugar, and chicken stock cubes. Stir it well and bring it to simmer.

  • Add the rice vermicelli noodles and stir it gently occasionally. Once the noodles soaked all the sauce, place the cooked chicken and vegetables back in the pan.

  • Combine everything evenly and make a taste test. Adjust salt or pepper to your taste.

  • Finish with spring onions, remove from heat and transfer to serving plate.

Video

Notes

Ingredient Variations

  • Customize the ingredients - You don't need to add the same vegetables and protein used in this recipe. Swap chicken thigh with chicken breast, prawns, sausages, seafood, or your choice of protein. Feel free to add your favourite stir fry vegetables and make it your own style.
  • Chicken bouillon - You can use chicken stock cubes, chicken powder, or vegetable stock cubes. Instead of chicken bouillon, you can also use oyster sauce or vegetarian stir-fry sauce.
  • Water - You will need about 2 cups of water to boil the rice noodles but you can add more water if needed. The noodle cooking time can be varied according to the different brands used.
  • Noodles - Do not overcook the noodles as they can be sticky and gooey when it is overcooked.
  • Regular soy sauce - can be substituted with light soy sauce or fish sauce.
  • Salt - We don't usually add extra salt as the soy sauces and chicken bouillon contain salt content. But you can add extra salt to your liking.
  • What to serve with Pancit Bihon? You can simply serve it on its own with fresh lime or lemon wedges on the side. Or pair with the Chicken Spring rolls and Chicken Sweet Corn Soup, and make it a wholesome dinner.

Nutrition

Calories: 401kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 1157mg | Potassium: 374mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 3184IU | Vitamin C: 33mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 2mg

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Pancit Bihon ( Filipino Fried Rice Noodle ) - Khin's Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between pancit and bihon? ›

The difference between the dishes is the type of noodle used. Pancit bihon includes a thin translucent rice noodle while pancit canton incorporates an egg noodle, similar in appearance to the familiar spaghetti noodle.

What does bihon mean in Filipino? ›

Pancit bihon calls for bihon noodles (thin rice vermicelli, sometimes called rice stick noodles). However, in pancit canton, you'll usually see flour stick noodles used. These pre-fried wheat based noodles are closely related to lo mein noodles.

Is Pancit Bihon high in carbs? ›

The noodles are high in carbs that are easily broken down to become sugar, and the meal is high in sodium or salt. Opt for the thinner rice noodle version, the pancit bihon guisado, which has less carbs than the canton noodles.

What does pancit mean in Philippines? ›

In the Filipino language, pansít is the generic word for noodles. Different kinds of noodles can be found in Filipino supermarkets which can then be cooked at home. Noodle dishes are also standard fare in local restaurants, with establishments specializing in them called panciterias or pancitans.

What is pancit bihon best paired with? ›

I like my shrimp pancit bihon served with calamansi or lime. I also add a few drops of patis (fish sauce) when I am about to eat. It will be best if pancit bihon is eaten along with lumpiang shanghai. They make a good pair, in my opinion.

Is pancit a healthy food? ›

Yes, Pancit is a healthy dish. It is packed with essential nutrients, including carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, and minerals. However, the nutritional content can vary depending on the ingredients and cooking methods used.

Why do Filipinos eat pancit on their birthday? ›

In Filipino culture, eating noodles during one's birthday symbolizes long life. Pancit is a Filipino noodle dish. It features lengthy rice noodles, meat, and vegetables, creating a savory taste.

Is Sotanghon noodles same as bihon? ›

Where the more popular pancit bihon (bee-hon) is made with rice noodles, sotanghon (so-tahng-hon) is made with glass noodles (or cellophane noodles or bean thread noodles). They are thin and translucent, often made with mung bean starch with a chewy, springy texture when cooked.

What does pancit taste like? ›

Pancit has a very straight forward flavor profile so there isn't anything too exotic included. It's tangy and savory from the soy sauce and oyster sauce. White and black pepper add both fruity and earthy flavors that I love.

Is it OK to eat pancit everyday? ›

While pancit Canton is undeniably tasty, it is not worth pursuing the idea of consuming it every day due to its negative health effects. The high sodium content poses a significant risk to heart health, and the calorie and fat content can contribute to weight gain and obesity-related complications.

Is pancit bihon made of rice? ›

Also known as bihon guisado to Filipinos, the word bihon comes from the Hokkien word “bi,” for rice and “hun” for flour. The term pancit is Tagalog, and its Chinese Hokkien origins mean “pian” for ready and “e-sit” for food. Bihon are thin thread-like noodles made with rice flour or flour mixed with rice and corn.

Are instant noodles good for diabetics? ›

Because instant noodles are also in the group of foods containing a lot of powdered sugar. Therefore, diabetic patients need to reduce their consumption of instant noodles.

Why do Filipinos love pancit? ›

Filipinos have made this Chinese influence truly their own. The pancit sits well among local palettes because it's versatile, economical, and flexible. To this day, pancit continues to develop new variations, whether through ways of making the noodles, ways of cooking the dish, or ways of reflecting the times.

What nationality is a Filipino? ›

These writings are also credited with transforming the term Filipino to one which refers to everyone born in the Philippines, especially during the Philippine Revolution and American Colonial Era and the term shifting from a geographic designation to a national one as a citizenship nationality by law.

Is chow mein and pancit the same? ›

What sets Chinese chow mein and Filipino pancit apart? Besides the flavor profile, another major difference lies in the noodles. While pancit typically uses wheat flour noodles (canton) or rice vermicelli (bihon), you'll often see chow mein make use of yellow egg noodles.

What is another name for pancit noodles? ›

There are two styles of Pancit-Pancit Canton and Pancit Bihon. The main difference is the noodle type. While Pancit Canton uses a lo mein style noodle made of wheat flour, Pancit Bihon favors use of thin rice noodles, sometimes called rick stick or rice vermicelli.

Are bihon and vermicelli the same? ›

Pancit bihon (or pancit bihon guisado) is a general term for rice vermicelli dishes with a mixture of stir-fried shrimp, meat (usually pork or chicken) and various vegetables cooked in an adobo-style sauce with garlic, black pepper, soy sauce, patis (fish sauce), and other spices to taste.

What is pancit similar to? ›

Today, pancit to Filipinos is like pasta to Italians: ubiquitous, comforting, and needs no occasion. Like pasta, pancit comes in tons of different varieties. Many regions in the Philippines have their spin on it, with textures, flavors, and cooking styles varying per area.

What is a substitute for pancit noodles? ›

If you can't locate Pancit Canton noodles at your Asian Market (I like the Excellent brand, also available on Amazon), you can substitute spaghetti noodles.

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