Filipino

Bicol Express

Name: Bicol Express
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 3 servings
Cuisine: Filipino
Ingredients: 1 lb pork belly, cut into 1-inch cubes; 2 cups thick coconut milk (kakang gata); 3 tbsp sautéed shrimp paste (bagoong alamang); 10-15 pieces long green chilies (siling haba), sliced diagonally; 3 pieces Thai bird's eye chilies (siling labuyo), chopped (adjust to spice preference); 4 cloves garlic, minced, and 1 onion, chopped; 1 tbsp cooking oil

A spicy pork stew cooked in coconut milk and shrimp paste.

45 minutes

Serves 3

Lunch/Dinner

Contains common allergens

Dairy Seafood Shellfish

In the app, Listahan checks these against your household automatically.

Instructions

5 steps

1
Sauté Aromatics: Heat oil in a wide pan over medium heat. Sauté the chopped onion and minced garlic until the onion is translucent and fragrant.

2
Brown the Pork: Add the pork belly cubes to the pan. Cook for about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pork is lightly browned and its fat begins to render.
3
Add Shrimp Paste: Stir in the sautéed shrimp paste, mixing it thoroughly with the pork for about 2 minutes to cook off the raw fermented smell and infuse the meat with its umami flavor.
4
Simmer in Coconut Milk: Pour in the coconut milk. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then lower the heat. Cover and simmer for 25-30 minutes, or until the pork is extremely tender.
5
Spicy Finish: Uncover the pan and add all the sliced green chilies and chopped Thai chilies. Let it simmer uncovered for another 5-10 minutes. The dish is done when the coconut milk reduces, thickens into a creamy sauce, and the spicy oil starts to separate. Serve hot with rice.

Unlock the full recipe

Get every step for Bicol Express — plus exact amounts and 2,000+ more recipes — with Listahan Pro.

Unlock in app Get Listahan free

30-day free trial · cancel anytime

Plan it in Listahan

Add Bicol Express to your week, check it against your household's allergens, and build the shopping list automatically.

Open in app iOS (Beta) Android (Beta)

More Filipino recipes

Filipino

Chicken Adobo

A classic Filipino dish of chicken marinated and simmered in soy sauce, vinegar, and garlic.

45 min Serves 5

Soy Wheat

Filipino

Sinigang na Baboy

A sour and savory tamarind-based pork soup with vegetables.

60 min Serves 5

Fish Seafood

Filipino

Kare-Kare

A rich peanut stew typically made with oxtail and vegetables, served with shrimp paste.

150 min Serves 5

Dairy Peanut Seafood +2

Browse all Filipino recipes