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Flavorful Bicol Express Spicy Pork Recipe Easy Creamy Coconut Sauce

Bicol Express spicy pork - featured image
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A comforting Filipino dish featuring tender pork simmered in a creamy coconut milk sauce with fresh chilies and shrimp paste for authentic spicy and savory flavors.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb (450 g) pork shoulder or pork belly, cut into bite-sized cubes
  • 1 can (400 ml) full-fat coconut milk
  • 5–7 fresh finger chilies, chopped (substitute with jalapeños for milder heat)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 1 thumb-sized piece ginger, sliced thin
  • 1 tablespoon shrimp paste (bagoong alamang), optional but recommended
  • 2 tablespoons cooking oil (coconut oil or vegetable oil)
  • Salt to taste
  • Black pepper to taste
  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) water, to adjust sauce consistency if needed

Instructions

  1. Prep your ingredients: Cut pork into 1-inch (2.5 cm) cubes. Mince garlic, chop onion finely, slice ginger thin, and chop fresh finger chilies. This prep takes about 10 minutes.
  2. Heat oil over medium heat in a large sauté pan or wok. Once shimmering, sauté garlic, onion, and ginger until fragrant and softened, about 3-4 minutes.
  3. Add pork cubes to the pan and cook until lightly browned on all sides, about 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. Stir in shrimp paste and cook for 2 minutes to deepen the aroma.
  5. Add chopped fresh finger chilies and cook for another minute to release their heat.
  6. Pour in the full can (400 ml) of coconut milk, stirring gently. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low and let bubble gently for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally until sauce thickens slightly and coats the pork.
  7. Adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper to taste. If sauce is too thick, stir in 1/4 cup (60 ml) water to loosen it up and simmer another 5 minutes.
  8. Before serving, taste and adjust spice level by adding more chopped chilies or a pinch of sugar if needed.

Notes

Use pork shoulder or belly for juiciness. Simmer gently to avoid curdling the coconut milk. Adjust spice level with fresh chilies. Shrimp paste adds authentic umami but can be omitted or substituted for allergies. Leftovers taste better after a day and can be frozen for up to 2 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: Bicol Express, spicy pork, coconut milk, Filipino recipe, creamy sauce, shrimp paste, easy dinner, comfort food

Find it online: https://evabake.com/flavorful-bicol-express-spicy-pork-recipe-easy-creamy-coconut-sauce/