Pancit Luglug aka Pancit Palabok (Rice Noodles with Seafood and Pork in Anato Sauce)

The most popular pancit that we serve and sell is called Pancit Luglug. It’s not only popular with us, but in most Filipino restaurants, this is a best seller. Because thin rice noodles are used, it’s light and bright! BUT, it’s very time consuming to make because it has so many ingredients, thus the term ‘palabok’ (flowery or flamboyant). But because it is so delicious,  every morsel and mouthful is well worth in making  the effort. Luglug refers to the technique used in cooking the thin rice noodles; one just quickly dips it in boiling broth for 3 seconds. The good thing with Pancit Luglug, one can also eat it cold and it will still taste good. Then, there are those like my daughter, who likes to eat this at room temperature.  Topping: 1/4 cup cooking oil 2 tablespoons finely minced garlic 1/2 cup finely chopped onions 1 tablespoon anato liquid – to extract anato liquid, get 1 tablespoon of anato (atswete) seeds. Mix anato with 1/2 teaspoon liquid lye. Leave for 1 hour. Pour 1/2 cup of boiling water and mix well. Leave for 30 minutes; strain out the seeds and use liquid. Use the balance for the sauce. In the Philippine market, one can get anato seeds that have lye mixed with it. In other countries, one can find anato/atswete powder (follow instructions on package) 250 grams shrimps – steam to cook, peel and cube – save shrimp heads, set aside 250 grams blue swimmer crabs (alimasag) – steam to cook and peel to get meat (you can also use the canned or frozen variety) 1/4 kilo pork belly – boil till tender; slice into 1/4-inch thick strips 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Topping Preparation In a medium sized frying pan, over low fire, pour in cooking oil and saute the garlic till a light golden tan. Remove half of the sauteed garlic and place over kitchen paper towel to drain. This is to be used for garnishing. Add the onions and continue to saute till the onions are translucent. Pour in the anato/atswete liquid and simmer for 5 minutes. Add shrimps, crab and pork and simmer for another 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside. Sauce Ingredients: 1 tablespoon cooking oil 1 teaspoon finely crushed garlic 1/4 cup finely chopped onions 2 tablespoons atswete liquid 1 tablespoon fish sauce (patis) 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 3 cups chicken broth 1/2 cup shrimp head juice – shrimp heads – using a mortar and pestle, pound shrimp heads and place in a small sauce pan; add 3/4 cup water to pan and simmer for 10 minutes then strain...