International kitchen

Bicol Express

Cuisine of the Philippines Bicol express is a Filipino pork dish with coconut milk and chili peppers. Popularized in Malate, Manila, the dish took its name from a passenger train from Bicol Region going to Manila and vice versa. Bicol Region is famous for cooking dishes using coconut milk and chili peppers.

Bicol Express prepared recipe
PrepNot statedCookFollow stepsServesFlexibleLevelHome cook
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Before you start

A quick setup makes the method easier to follow and keeps important steps from being missed.

Preparation checklist

  • Read all 5 method steps from beginning to end.
  • Measure and arrange all 10 listed ingredients.
  • Keep the recipe open and follow each step in order; the source does not state a total time.

Useful preparation guidance

Read the complete method before starting so ingredients and equipment are ready when needed.

Measure and prepare every ingredient before applying heat or beginning time-sensitive steps.

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General kitchen guidance; no recipe-specific claim has been added.
Step by step

Method

  1. 01

    Heat a frying pan over medium heat, then add the cooking oil.

  2. 02

    When the oil is hot, add the onion and garlic. Sauté until fragrant and aromatic.

  3. 03

    Add the shrimp paste, siling labuyo and the pork belly. Stir fry the mixture until the pork is browned on all sides.

  4. 04

    Add the sugar, pepper, and monosodium glutamate if using.

  5. 05

    Stir in the coconut milk, and simmer until the meat is cooked through.

Ready to serve

Serve the dish as directed and enjoy it while it is at its best.

Bon appétit — enjoy your meal!
Transparent sourcing

Source & licence

This recipe was adapted and reformatted from Wikibooks Cookbook . Text: CC BY-SA 4.0. Image: CC BY-SA 3.0, credited to Raymund Macaalay; view original image record .