BICOL EXPRESS - Video

Bicol Express is a popular Filipino dish made with pork, coconut milk, chili peppers, and shrimp paste. It’s a spicy and flavorful dish originating from the Bicol region of the Philippines. Here’s how you can make it:

### Ingredients:
- 1 lb (450g) pork belly, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1 cup coconut cream
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons shrimp paste (bagoong alamang)
- 5-10 pieces of green chili peppers (siling haba), sliced diagonally (adjust according to heat preference)
- 2-3 pieces of red chili peppers (siling labuyo), minced (optional, for extra spice)
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
- Salt and pepper to taste

### Instructions:

1. **Prepare the Ingredients:**
- Cut the pork belly into bite-sized pieces.
- Slice the green chili peppers and mince the red chili peppers (if using).
- Mince the garlic and chop the onion.

2. **Cook the Pork:**
- In a large pan or wok, heat the cooking oil over medium heat.
- Add the pork belly pieces and cook until browned on all sides. This will take about 10-15 minutes. Stir
occasionally to prevent burning.

3. **Sauté the Aromatics:**
- Push the pork to one side of the pan and add the minced garlic and chopped onion. Sauté until fragrant and the onion becomes translucent.

4. **Add Shrimp Paste:**
- Stir in the shrimp paste and cook for about 2 minutes. The shrimp paste will enhance the flavor of the dish with its umami and salty taste.

5. **Add Coconut Milk and Simmer:**
- Pour in the coconut milk and bring to a boil. Once boiling, lower the heat and let it simmer for about 15-20 minutes, or until the pork becomes tender.

6. **Add Chili Peppers:**
- Add the green and red chili peppers to the pan. Stir well to distribute the heat from the chilies throughout the dish. Let it simmer for another 5-10 minutes.

7. **Finish with Coconut Cream:**
- Pour in the coconut cream and cook for an additional 5 minutes. The coconut cream will thicken the sauce and make it rich and creamy.

8. **Season to Taste:**
- Taste the dish and season with salt and pepper as needed. If you want it spicier, you can add more chopped red chili peppers.

9. **Serve:**
- Serve hot with steamed rice. Enjoy your Bicol Express!

Tips:
- Adjust the amount of chili according to your spice tolerance.
- Some variations of Bicol Express include adding vegetables like long beans or eggplant for added texture and flavor.

Enjoy this rich and spicy dish!