canton.jpg

Whenever we have guests at home for lunch, noodles is always in the menu. Now, traditionally, for lunch or dinner, noodles are served sauteed and not in soups. And it is not the only dish served, there are usually other meats and of course the ubiquitous rice, steamed or fried. If noodles is in the soup, it usually serve during snacks. Sauteed noodles are usually mixed with chicken or pork, sliced vegetables such as carrots, cabbages and green beans.

For this week’s PPN entry, I’m presenting my own pancit canton. Pancit is noodles in Tagalog and Canton is a type of local dried noodles. Nope, they are not made in China. I like to tweak my pancit canton a bit. I like it chunky so vegetables are not sliced thinly. I like to add mushrooms, whether dried or fresh, which you would not normally find in pancit canton anywhere.

This dish I prepared when long time friends from high school and college came over to visit me at home. It felt good to see them all over again. Much better was the getting to know each of our families making one big extended family for all of us. Here are the ingredients:

200 grams pork belly
a large onion
lots of minced garlic
one large carrot
300 grams of cabbage
mushrooms
soy sauce
salt and pepper to taste
3 cups broth
300 grams pancit canton/dried noodles

1. Boil pork till it is tender. Reserve the broth and fry the pork till golden brown. Chop into one-inch pieces.

canton.gif

2. Saute garlic and onion until onion is caramelized and garlic starts cook.
3. Add the sliced fried pork belly and 2 tbsp soy sauce. Mix thoroughly
then add the carrots,
cabbage, and mushroom. Saute very well. Add a little bit of water at a time till the carrot is half done. Remove the vegetables from pan.
4. Add the remaining broth. If you are using dried mushrooms, reserve the water for soaking and mix later witht the pork broth.
5. Add a tbsp of soy sauce, a pinch of salt and pepper to taste. When boiling, add the dried noodles and mix well.
5. Add the cooked vegetables and mix well. Your pancit canton is now ready to serve.

PS- you may add as much vegetables as you like.