Cherry & Dennis Recipes
Filipino Bicol Express Coconut Pork
菲律賓椰香辣椒豬肉
Recipe overview
Pork belly simmers with coconut milk, chillies and shrimp paste into a rich, spicy Bicolano stew.
01
Ingredients
Main ingredients
- 800 g Skin-on pork belly
- 1 piece onion
- 5 clove garlic
- 25 g ginger
Seasoning
- 6 piece Red bird’s eye chillies
- 4 piece green chillies
- 1 tbsp cooking oil
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
Sauce
- 800 ml Coconut milk
- 2 tbsp shrimp paste
Stock
- 200 ml water
02
Tools
- knife
- cutting board
- mixing bowl
- measuring cup
- measuring spoons
- pot
- wooden spoon
- tongs
- food thermometer
- ladle
- bowl
03
Steps
Step 1
Cut the pork belly
Cut pork belly into 3 cm cubes and pat dry.
Step 2
Prepare aromatics and chillies
Chop onion, mince garlic and ginger; slice red chillies and split green chillies.
Step 3
Render the pork
Add 1 tablespoon cooking oil to a heavy pot and render the pork belly over medium heat for 10 minutes until the fat releases and the edges are lightly golden.
Step 4
Sauté the aromatics
Sauté the onion for 3 minutes, then add garlic and ginger and sauté for 1 minute more, for 4 minutes total.
Step 5
Fry the shrimp paste
Stir in shrimp paste for 2 minutes until fragrant and coating the pork.
Step 6
Add coconut milk
Add coconut milk and water; bring gently to a simmer without hard boiling.
Step 7
Simmer the pork
Partly cover and simmer gently 30 minutes, stirring twice.
Step 8
Add the chillies
Add red and green chillies and simmer 8 minutes.
Step 9
Reduce the sauce
Uncover and simmer over medium-low heat for 5 minutes; if the sauce does not yet coat the pork thickly, continue for up to 3 minutes.
Step 10
Check the pork
The pork should be fork-tender and at least 71°C in the centre.
Step 11
Balance the seasoning
Stir in sugar; taste before adding only the salt needed.
Step 12
Rest and serve
Rest off heat 5 minutes, then serve in a warm bowl with chillies visible.
Common mistakes
- Do not skip the stated drying, preheating or resting stages; use the food-state and safe-temperature cues.
Tips
Measure every ingredient before starting and follow the stated quantity, heat and timing sequence.
