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Creamy Palabok

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Creamy Palabok is a rich and comforting Filipino noodle dish made with rice noodles topped with a seafood-and-flavored orange-hued sauce, and garnished with hard-boiled eggs, smoked fish flakes, chicharrón, and scallions. It’s a festive, umami-packed recipe perfect for gatherings or special meals.

Ingredients

  • 400g rice noodles (bihon or palabok-style)
  • 2 tbsp oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 250g shrimp, peeled and deveined (reserve shells for stock)
  • 3 cups seafood stock (made from shrimp shells or prepared)
  • 2 tsp annatto powder or 2 tbsp annatto seeds
  • 1/2 cup smoked fish flakes (tinapa)
  • 2 tbsp fish sauce
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch or all-purpose flour mixed with 3 tbsp water (slurry)
  • 2 hard-boiled eggs, sliced
  • 1/4 cup chopped scallions (green onions)
  • Lemon, calamansi, or lime wedges for serving

Instructions

  1. Prepare seafood stock: Cook shrimp shells in water or stock for 10-15 minutes, then strain. Set aside. Reserve some shrimp for topping, and mince the rest.
  2. Soak and cook rice noodles according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  3. In a skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Sauté chopped onion until translucent, then add garlic and cook until fragrant.
  4. Add minced shrimp, smoked fish flakes, fish sauce, annatto (dissolved if using seeds), and black pepper. Cook until shrimp is done and mixture is well combined.
  5. Pour in the seafood stock and bring to a simmer.
  6. Add the cornstarch or flour slurry while stirring to thicken the sauce. Simmer until the sauce coats the back of a spoon.
  7. Place cooked noodles on a serving platter or plates. Pour sauce evenly over the noodles.
  8. Top with sliced hard-boiled eggs, reserved cooked shrimp, crushed chicharrón, smoked fish flakes, and chopped scallions.
  9. Serve warm with lemon or calamansi wedges on the side.

Notes

Keep sauce, noodles, and toppings separate when storing to maintain texture.Use annatto powder for convenience, or steep annatto seeds in oil or water for color.Add more seafood like squid or mussels for a luxe version (Pancit Malabon style).Vegetarian option: Replace shrimp and fish with mushrooms or tofu, and use vegan fish sauce or seaweed broth.Only reheat sauce and noodles; add toppings fresh for best texture.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookibly.com/creamy-palabok/