Calamansi and Green Onion Pancit
Photo: Thomas J. Story
Imagine the comfort of buttered noodles, but with the tang of citrus and the saltiness of fish sauce. Chad Valencia of Lasa restaurant in Los Angeles loosely modeled his totally addictive pancit after Italian aglio e olio. At the restaurant he adds grated cured egg yolk.
How to Make It
Step 1
1
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add about 2 tbsp. salt (the water should be as salty as the sea).
Step 2
2
Meanwhile, melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat and stir in calamansi juice, fish sauce, and 1 tsp. salt.
Step 3
3
Cook noodles in boiling water until barely tender, 1 minute. Drain and return to pot.
Step 4
4
Toss noodles with calamansi butter. Transfer half to a serving bowl and scatter with half of green onions. Pile in remaining noodles and scatter remaining onions on top.
Step 5
5
*Unless you have a friend with a calamansi (aka calamondin) tree, you're unlikely to find this small, tart citrus that tastes like a cross between lime and kumquat with a faint floral bitterness. (Though Seafood City supermarket chain in California sometimes carries fresh calamansi.) So go online for bottled Sun Tropics pure calamansi (amazon.com). Or use our Test Kitchen fresh citrus substitute: Combine 3 tbsp. lime juice, 1 tbsp. Meyer lemon juice, and 1 tbsp. orange juice.
Step 6
6
Find fresh pancit egg noodles and chow mein noodles at Asian markets. Find Megachef Premium fish sauce at amazon.com, or Red Boat fish sauce at well-stocked grocery stores.
Ingredients
About 2 tbsp. plus 1 tsp. kosher salt
1 cup unsalted butter
6 tablespoons fresh calamansi juice, bottled pure calamansi*, or calamansi substitute
2 tablespoons Thai or Vietnamese fish sauce, such as Megachef or Red Boat
2 pkg. (14 oz. each) fresh pancit egg noodles* (also called Canton noodles) or fresh chow mein noodles
1 cup green onions thinly sliced on a diagonal
Directions
Step 1
1
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add about 2 tbsp. salt (the water should be as salty as the sea).
Step 2
2
Meanwhile, melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat and stir in calamansi juice, fish sauce, and 1 tsp. salt.
Step 3
3
Cook noodles in boiling water until barely tender, 1 minute. Drain and return to pot.
Step 4
4
Toss noodles with calamansi butter. Transfer half to a serving bowl and scatter with half of green onions. Pile in remaining noodles and scatter remaining onions on top.
Step 5
5
*Unless you have a friend with a calamansi (aka calamondin) tree, you're unlikely to find this small, tart citrus that tastes like a cross between lime and kumquat with a faint floral bitterness. (Though Seafood City supermarket chain in California sometimes carries fresh calamansi.) So go online for bottled Sun Tropics pure calamansi (amazon.com). Or use our Test Kitchen fresh citrus substitute: Combine 3 tbsp. lime juice, 1 tbsp. Meyer lemon juice, and 1 tbsp. orange juice.
Step 6
6
Find fresh pancit egg noodles and chow mein noodles at Asian markets. Find Megachef Premium fish sauce at amazon.com, or Red Boat fish sauce at well-stocked grocery stores.
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