Cooking Guides
Party Noodles and Baked Pulutan: Bam‑I, Bihon Guisado and Baked Tahong
In this article
Filipino get‑togethers are rarely just about one big viand. There’s usually a tray of noodles, something baked with cheese, and a few dishes that can work as pulutan with drinks or as mains with rice.
Three recipes that fit that role perfectly are bam‑i, bihon guisado with tokwa and gulay, and baked tahong with garlic and cheese.
Bam‑I – Cebu’s mixed noodle fiesta
Bam‑i is a Cebuano party staple that mixes two kinds of noodles – canton and sotanghon – in one pan with meat, seafood and vegetables. The result is a colourful, textural dish that almost always shows up at birthdays.
Our Bam‑I recipe walks you through how to balance the noodles so one doesn’t overcook before the other, and how to layer the flavours so every bite hits with soy, garlic and a bit of sweetness.
Bihon Guisado with Tokwa and Gulay – lighter, veg‑forward noodles
Bihon guisado is one of the most common Filipino pancit dishes – thin rice noodles stir‑fried with vegetables and protein. A version that leans more plant‑forward is bihon guisado with tofu and vegetables.
On PagkainPinoy, Bihon Guisado Tokwa & Gulay puts tofu and mixed vegetables at the centre, making it a good option when you want a pancit that’s satisfying but not too heavy.
It works well as a main dish for lighter eaters or as a balance to richer, meatier trays on the table.
Baked Tahong – garlic and cheese mussels for sharing
Baked tahong is one of those dishes that can work as pulutan, appetizer or even main if you serve enough of it: half‑shell mussels topped with garlic butter and cheese, then baked until bubbly.
See Baked Tahong with Garlic & Cheese for a version that leans into the garlic and gives you clear instructions on prep and baking so the mussels stay tender.
Putting it together for a party
If you want a small but complete Filipino spread for a celebration, you can do it with just these three dishes plus rice:
- Bam‑I as the main pancit tray, loaded with mixed noodles and toppings
- Bihon Guisado Tokwa & Gulay as a lighter, vegetable‑forward noodle option
- Baked Tahong as the cheesy, garlicky pulutan / appetizer tray
All three recipes already live on PagkainPinoy, so you can pick one for a weeknight, two for a small gathering, or all three for a proper party table without having to search elsewhere.