DISH RESEARCH · Main dish
Bicol Express
Also known as: Bikol Express, Pork Bicol Express
Filipino pork belly stewed in coconut milk and cream with chillies and shrimp paste.
About Bicol Express
Vanjo Merano presents Bicol Express as a traditional Filipino pork-and-coconut stew. This selected pork-belly version includes Thai chillies, Serrano peppers and bagoong alamang, retaining the author’s simmered preparation.
Coconut milk and cream give the sauce richness and mild sweetness against the chillies’ heat. Shrimp paste adds savoury depth, supported by garlic, ginger, onion and the recipe’s named seasoning blend.
Tender pork strips sit in a thick, creamy sauce. The source describes hot service with warm rice, while its alternative proteins and sautéed preparation remain separate versions.
Allergens in this recipe
Contains: Crustaceans.
Other allergen details are unconfirmed.
Ingredients vary by restaurant. Confirm your allergens with staff before ordering.
Ingredients in Bicol Express
Vanjo Merano’s traditional pork-belly Bicol Express.
- Pork belly stripsProtein
- Coconut milkLiquid
- Coconut creamLiquid
- Shrimp paste (bagoong alamang)Seasoning
- GarlicAromatic
- Thai chilliesSeasoning
- GingerAromatic
- OnionAromatic
- Serrano peppersSeasoning
- WaterLiquid · Conditional liquid · Optional
- Maggi Magic SarapSeasoningIngredient page not linked
- Warm riceAccompaniment · Serving
Ingredient details & uncertainties
Allergen information is incomplete. Unconfirmed details do not establish that an allergen is absent.
- Pork belly strips: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed
- Coconut milk: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Product extras unspecified
- Coconut cream: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Separate listed cream retained; product extras unspecified
- Shrimp paste (bagoong alamang): Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Crustaceans source-confirmed. Selected instead of salted krill; complete condiment formula unresolved
- Garlic: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed
- Thai chillies: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Broader chilli record; exact source Thai-chilli option retained instead of labuyo/bird’s-eye substitution
- Ginger: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed
- Onion: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed
- Serrano peppers: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Exact card variety retained
- Water (optional): Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Source optional as-needed addition
- Maggi Magic Sarap: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Named compound product; full formula and additional allergen identities unresolved
- Warm rice: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Broader rice record; serving rice subrecipe unexpanded
Origins & food traditions
The author identifies a traditional Filipino dish and discusses its disputed Manila/Bicol association without a single exclusive origin.
Countries
- Philippines
- PhilippinesCatalogue link pending review
Cuisines & regions
- Filipino Cuisine
- Bicolano CuisineCatalogue link pending review
AI-generated illustration of one possible presentation. Recipes and ingredients vary; the image does not establish allergen content.