Bicol Express

Christmas
Filipino
Mains
Pork

Easy Level:

Servings:

3-4 Pax

Christmas is one of the biggest holidays in the Philippines🎄 This year, we’re celebrating by adding a twist to Bicol Express!

There are so many ways to cook this classic Filipino comfort dish, and as we like to do with our dishes, we added a little Meatmen twist by braising our pork belly in coconut water (inspired by Vietnamese Thit Kho).

Might sound controversial, but you’ll never know how good it is until you try it! With a lighter and fresher taste, there was a subtle hint of sweetness in our pork belly, making it perfect to serve over a steaming bowl of rice 🍚

It’s no surprise that Bicol Express is one of the more popular Filipino dishes; its sweet creaminess from the coconut milk is perfectly mixed with the spicy notes from the chillies. Add that funky umami from the essential ingredient — Bagoong (fermented shrimp paste), and you have the perfect hearty meal for your loved ones! ❤️

Ingredients

Adjust Servings
US / Metric
0.00
tbsp
tbsp
Oil
0.00
tbsp
tbsp
Oil
0.00
kg
kg
Pork belly
0.00
kg
kg
Pork belly
Salt and Pepper
Salt and Pepper
0.00
cloves
cloves
Garlic
0.00
cloves
cloves
Garlic
0.00
Red onion
0.00
Red onion
0.00
tbsp
tbsp
Shrimp paste (Alalamang)
0.00
tbsp
tbsp
Shrimp paste (Alalamang)
0.00
ml
ml
Coconut Water
0.00
ml
ml
Coconut Water
0.00
Green chillies
0.00
Green chillies
0.00
ml
ml
Coconut milk
0.00
ml
ml
Coconut milk

Garnish

0.00
Red chillies
0.00
Red chillies
0.00
Green chillies
0.00
Green chillies
Rice
Rice

Steps

1

In a wok pan over high heat, add oil and add pork belly in, season with salt and pepper. Stir fry until lightly browned.
In a wok pan over high heat, add oil and add pork belly in, season with salt and pepper. Stir fry until lightly browned.
Mark as completed

2

Push pork belly aside and add in, garlic, onion and stir fry until fragrant. Mix them all together.
Push pork belly aside and add in, garlic, onion and stir fry until fragrant. Mix them all together.
Mark as completed

3

Add in shrimp paste and mix well.
Add in shrimp paste and mix well.
Mark as completed

4

Add in coconut milk, green chillies and mix well.
Add in coconut milk, green chillies and mix well.
Mark as completed

5

Cook without covering for about 20 minutes, until coconut water is reduced. Cover and cook for another 20 minutes.
Cook without covering for about 20 minutes, until coconut water is reduced. Cover and cook for another 20 minutes.
Mark as completed

6

Add in coconut milk, mix well and cook for about 5 minutes.
Add in coconut milk, mix well and cook for about 5 minutes.
Mark as completed

7

Add in red and green chillies and mix well.
Add in red and green chillies and mix well.
Mark as completed

8

Serve with rice.
Serve with rice.
Mark as completed

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