This deeply savory mushroom noodle dish comes from chef Chris Mauricio of Harana Market in Accord, N.Y. Mauricio runs Harana with their spouse, Eva Tringali. They sell lutong bahay (homestyle) Filipino food and a selection of Asian groceries. Mauricio’s grandmother taught them how to make pancit, and it’s as great for big potluck parties as it is for a simple weeknight dinner.
Storage: Refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Where to buy: Pancit canton noodles (Mauricio recommends the Excellent brand) can be found at Asian markets and online. Shiitake stir-fry sauce from a brand such as Wan Ja Shan can be found at Asian markets and online.
Ingredients
Servings: 4–6 (makes about 6 cups)
- 3/4 cup canola oil or other neutral oil
- 14 large garlic cloves, minced and divided (about 1/2 cup)
- 1 small red onion (4 ounces), finely chopped
- 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
- Fine salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 4 ounces fresh shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and sliced
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons oyster sauce, vegetarian oyster sauce or shiitake stir-fry sauce (see Where to buy)
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 1/2 cup water
- 8 ounces pancit canton noodles (see Where to buy)
- 3/4 cup (2 1/4 ounces) sugar snap peas, ends trimmed
- 1 small carrot, peeled and cut into matchsticks or coarsely grated
- 3 cups (8 ounces) finely shredded napa cabbage
- 4 scallions, thinly sliced on the bias, for serving
- 1 lemon, cut into wedges, for serving
Directions
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Step 1
In a large wok or your largest skillet over medium heat, heat the oil until shimmering. Add half of the garlic and cook, stirring often, until golden brown and crisp, 1 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and use a slotted spoon or a small fine-mesh sieve to transfer the crispy garlic to a small bowl; set aside.
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Step 2
Make the pancit: Return the pan to medium heat, add the remaining garlic to the garlic-infused oil and cook, stirring occasionally, until it begins to turn golden brown, about 1 minute. Add the onions and ginger, and season generously with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, just until the onions begin to soften, about 2 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally until browned, about 2 minutes.
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Step 3
Stir in the soy sauce, oyster sauce, broth and water, and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Increase the heat to high, bring the mixture to a boil, then immediately reduce the heat so the mixture is at a gentle simmer and cook until the flavor has a chance to develop a bit, about 10 minutes. Season to taste with more salt and/or pepper, as needed.
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Step 4
Gently add the dry noodles to the broth and stir to combine. Increase the heat to medium-high and cook, stirring gingerly, so as to not break the noodles too much, until most of the liquid has been absorbed by the noodles, 3 to 5 minutes. Gently stir in the snap peas and cook until just tender, about 1 minute. Add the carrots and cabbage, and cook until the vegetables are just barely softened, about 2 minutes. At this point, all of the sauce should have been absorbed by the noodles.
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Step 5
Transfer the mixture to a serving dish and sprinkle with the reserved crispy garlic and the scallions. Grind over a generous amount of fresh black pepper and serve hot, with lemon wedges for squeezing over.
Substitutions
Instead of the pancit noodles >> use low mein or chow mein, and refer to the package instructions. (Note: The dish may be a little more brothy).
For a completely vegan version >> use the shiitake stir-fry sauce (see Where to buy).
