Main Course · Dinner · Asian ·

Spicy Filipino Bicol Express

Name: Spicy Filipino Bicol Express
Prep time: 27 min
Cook time: 80 min
Total time: 107 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Main Course
Ingredients: 500g pork belly, cut into bite-sized cubes; 1 tbsp vegetable oil; 1 medium onion, finely chopped; 4 cloves garlic, minced; 4 tbsp shrimp paste (bagoong); 1 cup coconut cream; 2 cups coconut milk; 6-8 green chilies, sliced diagonally; 2 red chilies, for extra heat, sliced; 2 tbsp fish sauce; 1 tsp sugar; Salt and pepper, to taste

Bicol Express is a tantalizingly spicy Filipino dish, combining pork, shrimp paste, and creamy coconut milk for a rich and fiery experience.

4.8(427 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·October 25, 2025

Spicy Filipino Bicol Express — Main Course served and photographed from above

Prep

27 min

Cook

1 h 20 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Pork

For the Spicy Sauce

For the Seasoning

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 1099 kcal
Protein: 19.75 g
Carbs: 15.5 g
Fat: 107.5 g
Fiber: 1 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 4395 kcal
Protein: 79 g
Carbs: 62 g
Fat: 430 g
Fiber: 4 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
500g pork belly cut into bite-sized cubes	2380	57	0	235	0
1 tbsp vegetable oil	120	0	0	14	0
1 medium onion finely chopped	44	1	10	0	2
4 cloves garlic minced	18	1	4	0	0
4 tbsp shrimp paste (bagoong)	80	6	0	2	0
1 cup coconut cream	792	5	20	83	0
2 cups coconut milk	904	6	16	96	0
6-8 green chilies sliced diagonally	25	1	6	0	2
2 red chilies for extra heat, sliced	6	0	2	0	0
2 tbsp fish sauce	10	2	0	0	0
1 tsp sugar	16	0	4	0	0
Salt and pepper to taste	0	0	0	0	0

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Marinating the Pork

1
Combine Pork and Seasoning
In a bowl, combine pork belly cubes with salt and pepper.
2
Rest the Pork
Let it sit for 30 minutes to allow flavors to permeate.
3
Drain Excess Liquid
Drain any excess liquid before cooking.

Preparing the Ingredients

1
Prep Chilies
Slice the chilies and keep them aside.
2
Prep Aromatics
Mince the garlic and finely chop the onion.
3
Mix Coconut Milk and Cream
In a pot, mix coconut milk and cream, and set aside.

How to Make Spicy Filipino Bicol Express

Total time: 1 h 47 min · Yields 4 servings

1
Brown the Pork
In a pan with oil over medium heat, brown the pork cubes. Remove and set them aside.
2
Sauté Aromatics
In the same pan, sauté garlic and onion until fragrant.
3
Cook the Sauce
Add shrimp paste and chilies to the pan, and continue to sauté for 2-3 minutes.