Savory egg noodles come together with tender pork, cabbage, carrots, red bell pepper, and sayote in this comforting homemade pancit. Cooking the noodles in the reserved liquid from the pork and vegetables brings their flavor into every bite—a family dish I’ve also served at Thanksgiving.
Ingredients
1 pack egg noodles
4–5 thin, butcher-sliced bone-in pork chops, meat cut into strips with bones kept for cooking
2–3 carrots, peeled and cut into thin strips
½ onion, chopped
½ head cabbage, chopped
1 red bell pepper, cut into strips
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 sayote (chayote), peeled, seed removed, and thinly sliced
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 pork bouillon cube
Black pepper, to taste
Olive oil, for sautéing
Water, as needed
Chopped green onions, for garnish
Instructions
Warm a little olive oil in a large, deep skillet or wok. Add the minced garlic and chopped onion. Sauté until fragrant and the onion softens.
Add the pork strips and reserved chop bones. Stir in the soy sauce and black pepper. Cook until the pork is cooked through and tender, adding a little water if needed to prevent drying or scorching.
Add the cabbage, carrot strips, red bell pepper, sayote, and pork cube. Stir and cook until the vegetables reach your preferred tenderness and the cube dissolves.
Set a strainer over a large bowl or pan. Carefully strain the pork and vegetables, saving all the cooking liquid. Keep the pork and vegetables aside.
Return the reserved liquid to the skillet and bring it to a simmer. Add the egg noodles, following any preparation directions on their package.
Gently toss and cook the noodles until tender. Add water a little at a time whenever more liquid is needed.
Return the pork and vegetables to the skillet. Toss gently until evenly combined and heated through. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
Sprinkle chopped green onions over the pancit just before serving. Serve warm, keeping the pork bones visible so diners can set them aside.
Egg noodle packs vary in size and preparation requirements. Adjust the water gradually to suit your noodles.