Bam-I Recipe (Pancit Bisaya) (2024)

Are you itching for a vacation? Trust me –– you’re not alone. When you’re bogged down by work and other personal matters, the urge to just get away on a getaway is all too tempting. For people who live in the big city, islands like Boracay and Cebu are generally some of the first places…

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Are you itching for a vacation? Trust me –– you’re not alone. When you’re bogged down by work and other personal matters, the urge to just get away on a getaway is all too tempting. For people who live in the big city, islands like Boracay and Cebu are generally some of the first places we look to when itching for relief. The call of ocean waves, white sand, and a mix of delightful people await any adventure you take to the Visayas islands. But more than that, you get to savor a myriad of cuisine that is tasty, filling, and refreshing, all in one! This Pancit Bisaya, or Bam I, is a prime example of how Cebuanos have taken classic Filipino dishes and truly made it their own.

Throw together some sotanghon and canton noodles alongside a mix of different proteins equally tasty. Add your vegetables, sauces, and more, and you have the fantastic Pancit Bam I. Pancit, as we know, is a beloved national treasure. Despite its Chinese roots, it’s truly found a home here within the Philippines Islands –– and plenty of homes, at that! All across the country, different regions, provinces, and people have made their own versions of this popular dish. This Bam I is a pancit that is native to Central Visayas (Cebu in particular), and is sure to be the pride of many Cebuanos.

What makes Bam I different from other pancit dishes?

One of the most interesting things that sets Bam I apart is the combination of noodles it uses. In most pancit dishes, you only see one kind of noodle, be it sotanghon, bihon, or the popular canton. But in Bam I, you get a combination of both canton noodles and sotanghon! The difference in thickness and textures adds to the harmony of flavors that brim on any plate of this dish. It’s definitely a pancit to love, not only because it’s delicious but it can fill you up with ease!

Another reason people love Bam I (myself included) is the various amounts of protein you can find in this dish. On one hand, Cebuanos definitely make use of their abundant access to the sea with all of their seafood dishes. By incorporating sumptuous shrimp into Bam I, you get to enjoy that aspect of island life that makes Cebu one of people’s favorite travel and food destinations.

But on the other hand — we love Cebuano for their pork dishes too, don’t we? Cebu lechon is a party favorite, no matter where in the Philippines you’re celebrating. In Bam I, you see the Cebuanos’ equally large love for meat in their portions of pork, chicken, and Chinese sausages. Meaty, savory, and hearty, Bam I and its ingredients are the gift that truly keeps on giving. It is, as the Cebuanos say, lami kaayo –– very delicious!

What ingredients do I need to prepare?

Bam I is quite an easy dish to make. That said, however, there are quite a number of ingredients to prepare. Don’t let this list fool you, though; the end result — a delicious and savory treat for any special day — will definitely be worth it!

Here’s what you have to do to prepare the ingredients for your Bam I:

• Slice half a pound of pork.
• Boil and shred half a pound of chicken.
• Slice 4 pieces of Chinese sausages.
• Shell a pound of shrimp, removing their heads in the process. From the head of the shrimp, extract half a cup of shrimp juice.
• Soak 4 to 6 ounces of rice noodles, or sotanghon, in water.
• Chop 3 cups of cabbage.
• Julienne ¾ cup of carrots.
• Soak half a cup of dried wood ear (or tenga ng daga), then chop them.
• Dice a medium onion.
• Clean, then chop a quarter cup of garlic.
• Mince a tablespoon of garlic.
• Also prepare half a cup of soy sauce; a chicken cube; 1 1/2 to 2 cups chicken stock; salt and ground black pepper to taste; and 2 to 3 tablespoons of cooking oil.

Got all those ingredients ready? Good! Let’s get started and make this Bam I together.

How to Cook Bam I

The first step in cooking Bam I is pouring 2 to 3 tablespoons in a cooking pot. Once you’ve heated it up, sauté your garlic and onions. Add in your pork slices, then cook this for about 3 minutes. Then, toss in your Chinese sausages and chicken shreds. For about 3 to 5 minutes, let these cook, before adding some other ingredients, like your soy sauce and shrimp juice. Your chicken cube and chicken stock go in as well. Season this mixture with salt and ground black pepper then simmer, for about 5 to 8 minutes.

Afterwards, add your shrimp, cabbage, carrots, and wood ears. Let your Bam I cook for about 2 minutes more before adding your soaked sotanghon noodles. Cook this mix for about a minute, then add your pancit canton noodles. Stir well, cooking your blend of ingredients for about 3 minutes or until the liquid evaporates.

Once it has, turn the heat off the stove and transfer your Pancit Bam I to a serving plate. Top your noodles with green onions, and place a calamansi on the side for that extra zest. Serve your Bam I hot, and share and enjoy it! Mangaon na Ta!