andrejthechef
PhilippinesStewDinnerGluten-freeDairy-free

Bicol Express

Pork simmered in coconut milk with shrimp paste and plenty of chilies, from the Bicol region known for its love of heat.

prep
15 min
cook
35 min
total
50 min
serves
4
level
easy
Bicol Express, a dish from Bicol region

Bicol Express comes from the region in the Philippines famous above all others for its love of chili heat, pork simmered in coconut milk with shrimp paste and a generous hand of green and bird's eye chilies.

The name is a joke about speed, supposedly how fast the heat hits you, rather than any real connection to an actual train.

Part of our 20 best Filipino recipes list.

method

  1. Heat the oil in a wide pan. Soften the onion, garlic and ginger for 5 minutes.

  2. Add the pork belly and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 8 to 10 minutes.

  3. Stir in the shrimp paste and cook for 1 to 2 minutes.

  4. Add the coconut milk, bring to a gentle simmer, and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, until the pork is tender and the sauce has thickened slightly.

  5. Add the green chilies and bird's eye chilies, and simmer another 5 minutes.

  6. Taste and adjust salt; the shrimp paste usually provides enough, but add a little more if needed.

  7. Serve hot with plenty of rice.

chef's tips

  • Bicol is known across the Philippines as the region with the biggest appetite for chili heat, and this dish is the clearest example of that reputation.
  • Adjust the number of bird's eye chilies to taste; the dish should have real heat, but you're in control of exactly how much.
  • Shrimp paste is salty and funky in the best way, and it's what gives the coconut sauce its depth, so don't substitute plain salt for it.
  • This dish is named after a train, apparently as a joke about how fast the chili heat hits, not for any real culinary connection to trains.