Easy Palabok Recipe - Simply Bakings (2024)

by Lainey · Originally Published: Nov 1, 2021 · Modified: Mar 12, 2024 · This post may contain affiliate links ·

This Vegetarian Easy Palabok Recipe is a healthier version of a traditional Filipino noodle dish, known as Pancit Palabok. Made with plant-based using ingredients like tofu, vegan seasonings, cornstarch noodles, and annato powder were used in this dish. It is a quick and easy noodle recipe that is great for birthdays, potlucks and celebrations!

Love Filipino Noodles? Try my Easy Pancit recipe, my delicious Sotanghon or Bam.i.

What is Vegetarian Palabok?

Traditionally, people prepare Palabok, a flavorful Filipino food noodle dish, by drizzling thin rice noodles with a creamy shrimp sauce. They then add enjoyable toppings such as hard-boiled eggs, pork cracklings, shrimp, fish flakes, and scallions. Typically, they serve it alongside slices of calamansi citrus.

The term "Palabok" signifies "sauce," while "pancit" originates from a word meaning "something easy to cook" in another language. This noodle dish combines various textures and flavors and is commonly crafted for special celebrations.

This vegetarian Palabok recipe uses plant-based ingredients like tofu, vegan seasonings, cornstarch noodles, and annato powder. Then a garnish of green onion slices, banana chips, and crispy fried garlic, creating a delightful and healthful meal that the entire family can relish.

Health Benefits of Annato:

Annatto has been linked to various benefits including the following:

• natural food additive
• reduces inflammation
• improves eye and heart health
• antioxidant
• antimicrobial
• anticancer properties

How to Make Vegetarian Palabok

Listed below are all the ingredients you will need:

• palabok noodles (cornstarch noodles) or spaghetti noodles
• vegetable oil
• sweet onions
• garlic
• annatto powder
• tofu
• vegan chicken seasoning
• vegan fish sauce
• white sugar
• vegetable broth/water
• water
• cornstarch
• salt
• ground black pepper
• crispy garliccloves
• egg
• scallions(green onions)
• banana chips, optional
• lemon wedges

Follow package instructions to cook the noodles and make sure to strain the noodles.

Place oil in a heated pan or pot and sauté sweet onions for 2 minutes.Add in minced garlic and continue cooking for another 30 seconds.

Then add the annatto powder, crumbled tofu, vegan chicken seasoning, vegan fish sauce, and white sugar.Mix well and continue cooking for another 2 minutes. Stir constantly:

Pour in the vegetable broth and bring to a rapid boil.Reduce to simmer for 10 minutes.In a small bowl, mix water and cornstarch.

Add the mixture to the simmered sauce, and bring to a boil.Season the sauce with salt and ground black pepper to taste.Allow the sauce simmer for another minute until desired consistency is achieved:

Turn off the heat and pour the sauce over the cooked palabok noodles.Mix well and arrange the remaining ingredients:

Serve immediately.Enjoy!

Substitutions

• If you don’t want to make your own sauce there are other palabok mix that is available in Asian markets like Mama Sita. Make sure to read the ingredient's because sometimes it's made with chicken or shrimp flavorings.

Storage

• Pancit palabok is best consumed immediately but leftovers can be stored in an airtight container and put in the fridge which typically lasts for about five days.

Pro Tip

• Add black salt or Kalanamak to give an "eggy" note to the sauce.
• Topping options: sliced green onions, fried crushed garlic, calamansi citrus slices, crushed vegan chicharon, boiled egg, vegan tinapa flakes, and crushed pop soy or fried bean curd.
• Add a bit more water if sauce gets too thick to mix.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Popular Filipino Dishes

• Filipino Corn Soup
• Poqui Poqui
• Corn Bibingka