Original Bicol Express Recipe

The Bicol Express Recipe is the most popular spicy Filipino food recipe there is. It is best eaten as a main dish or as a “pulutan”. It can be described as a pork dish cooked in coconut milk with shrimps, vegetables, and lots of chilies. Have you ever wondered why the name Bicol Express? Well, the first and obvious reason is because this popular, spicy dish originated in the Bicol Region. There was also an old story that this famous, spicy dish was named after the express train that traveled from Manila to Bicol.

Original Bicol Express Recipes (the one that Bicolanos use) use more chilies than pork. They are really hot and spicy. So, if you think Thai food is spicy then you better think again because the Bicol Express is definitely hotter and spicier. There are some known variations of this recipe but they really don’t differ much. Its either you use more pork and lesser chilies or more chilies and less pork. I have heard of Bicol Express Recipes that use chicken meat too. Although, I haven’t personally tasted this so called Chicken Bicol Express, I would say that pork will still be my first choice.

Here is my Bicol Express Recipe. Enjoy cooking! 

Ingredients:

• 1 med. Eggplant, cut in 1" slices
• 1 med. Ampalaya, cut in 1" slices
• 6 pieces red pepper cut in 1/2" slices
• 6 pieces chili finger (sili)
• 1 cup coconut milk (first extract)
• 1 cup coconut milk (second extract)
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 1 med. onion
• 1/2 to 3/4 kilogram pork, sliced small
• 1 tbsp Bagoong (alamang) or shrimp paste
• 2 tablespoons cooking oil
• salt
• vetsin

Cooking Procedure:

• Sauté the garlic, onion, pork, shrimp, and bagoong
• Add second extract of coconut milk and bring to a boil
• Simmer until pork is halfway cooked
• Add the vegetables (including the peppers and chili fingers)
• Add first extract of coconut milk and bring to a boil
• Simmer until cooked
• Add salt, vetsin to desired taste

Hot Tip:

• I prefer freshly extracted coconut milk rather than processed-canned coconut milk.
• If you want it to be super spicy-hot, add more red chilies.

SEE MORE FILIPINO PORK RECIPES!

Do you have your own Bicol Express Recipe? For suggestions, cooking tips, and new recipes, feel free to write it in the comments section below.