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filipino palabok

5-Topping Filipino Palabok Recipe with Easy Shrimp Sauce

Easy Filipino palabok recipe done under 30 minutes in a rich, shrimp sauce loaded with ground pork and lemon juice! Beautifully topped with only 5-ingredients needed to make this look party perfect!
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Prep Time:10 minutes
Cook Time:20 minutes
Total Time:30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Filipino
Keyword: Filipino palabok
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces rice noodles
  • 1 pound ground pork
  • ½ large onion diced
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • ½ tablespoon achuete annatto powder
  • 2 shrimp bouillon cubes
  • 4½ cups water
  • 2 tablespoons fish sauce
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • ½ cup cornstarch
  • olive oil
  • salt and pepper to taste

Toppings

  • ½ cup chicharron (fried pork rinds) crushed
  • 3 hard-boiled eggs sliced
  • 2 lemons sliced
  • ⅓ cup green onion chopped
  • 1 cup shrimp cooked

Instructions

  • Soak the rice noodles in a baking dish filled with water for 10 minutes to soften. Set aside. Bring a pot filled with water to a boil. See note below on using the water to cook the shrimp, if not cooked already.
  • In a large sauté pan or skillet, add olive oil over medium heat. Brown the ground pork for 4-5 minutes. Add the onion, garlic, and fish sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover over low heat.
  • Once the water from the pot is boiling, put the soaked noodles in the water and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Strain the noodles and set aside.
  • Dissolve the achuete annatto powder in 4 cups of water. Once dissolved, add the water to the pan with the meat. Bring to a boil. Once the water is boiling, add the shrimp cubes. Simmer for 5 minutes.
  • In a small bowl, mix the ½ cup of water with a ½ cup of cornstarch until a slurry forms. Add the mixture to the pan and combine with the sauce until thickened to desired consistency. Stir consistently. Add the lemon juice and season with salt and pepper to taste. Turn off the heat. (Optional - Mix another ½ tablespoon of cornstarch with a ½ tablespoon of water to add to the pan if you would like the sauce thicker.)
  • Remove half of the sauce from the pan and set aside. Add the cooked noodles to the pan and mix well. When serving, spoon the other half of the sauce on top of the noodles. Add the toppings on top of the noodles. Enjoy!

Notes

  1. For a time saving tip, I like to cook my cup of shrimp in the water boiled for the noodles! Once the water boils, I boil the shrimp for 3-5 minutes until cooked and set aside. Next, I throw my rice noodles in to cook right after. Efficient and flavorful!
  2. If you would like more noodles, you can cook 16 ounces or the whole package of noodles. Just note the noodles will not be as saucy.
  3. See Sam’s Pro Tips for this Filipino Palabok Recipe for further details.