Bicol Express (Filipino Pork in Spicy Coconut Milk)
In short: Pork simmered in coconut milk with long green chilies, shrimp paste, garlic and ginger until the sauce is rich, oily and fiery, served with plenty of rice. It takes about 1 h 15 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 1 h
- Total
- 1 h 15 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 530 kcal
Bicol Express comes from the Bicol region in the southeast of Luzon, where coconut and chilies are part of nearly every meal. Pork is simmered in coconut milk with a lot of chilies and a little shrimp paste until the sauce thickens and the coconut oil separates at the edges. It is rich, hot and salty, and it is eaten with a mountain of plain steamed rice that tames the heat.
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a wide pot over medium heat. Cook the onion, garlic and ginger for 3 to 4 minutes, until soft and fragrant.
- Add the pork and cook for 8 minutes, turning, until the outside is no longer pink. Stir in the shrimp paste and cook for 1 minute.
- Pour in half of the coconut milk and the water. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer on low for 30 to 35 minutes, until the pork is tender when pressed with a spoon.
- Add the rest of the coconut milk and half of the sliced green chilies. Simmer uncovered for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring often, until the sauce is thick and the oil starts to separate and shine.
- Add the remaining green chilies and the bird's eye chilies, if using, and cook for 2 minutes.
- Taste and season with pepper and a little salt if needed. Serve hot with plenty of steamed rice.
Tips
- Remove the seeds and white ribs from the green chilies to keep the heat moderate. Taste a small piece first, since chili strength varies widely.
- Simmer gently. A hard boil makes the sauce grainy, while a slow simmer gives a thick sauce with a glossy layer of coconut oil.
Questions and answers
What does Bicol Express taste like?
It is rich and creamy from the coconut milk, salty from the shrimp paste, and quite hot from the chilies. Plain rice is the traditional balance.
How can I make Bicol Express less spicy?
Use mild green chilies, remove their seeds and skip the bird's eye chilies. An extra splash of coconut milk also softens the heat.
Can I use chicken or tofu instead of pork?
Yes. Chicken thighs need about 25 minutes of simmering, and fried tofu cubes only need 5 minutes in the sauce to take up the flavor.
How long does it take to make Bicol Express (Filipino Pork in Spicy Coconut Milk)?
About 1 h 15 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 1 h of cooking.
How many calories are in Bicol Express (Filipino Pork in Spicy Coconut Milk)?
About 530 kcal per serving, with 30 g of protein, 8 g of carbohydrates and 42 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 530 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 30 g |
| Carbohydrates | 8 g |
| Fat | 42 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 900 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
