Bicol Express: Bicol's Finest Dish

Bicolanos love to eat spicy food. If you are a fan of spicy food, then this is the perfect Bicolano dish that you have to try: the Bicol Express. The origin of this famous dish started when Cely Kalaw, a native in Laguna, moved to Naga in Bicol when she was only 3 years old and she grew up there. She was then exposed to the cooking style of the Bicolanos. With adapting the Bicolano approach in preparing food, she then came up with the dish we now all know as Bicol express. She introduced this dish in her restaurant located in Malate, Manila called the Grove Restaurant. It said have been named after the train that travels from Paco train station to Bicol.

Bicol express is said to have been derived from a popular Bicolano dish called Gulay na Lada (gulay means vegetables in Tagalog and Lada means Indonesian/Malay), only it was made popular and known for as Bicol Express. (Source: http://thebellytalks.blogspot.com/2011/09/hot-and-spicy-bicol-express.html)

(Source: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicDTjNNxovIBUEh5Eu3rM7B5Mh4X8iEtDg5-AN_AOrzdv1Z1DU9antsVhYu45GuCw3RJjtPRKYvqNHbGxjedC7LZYibSC_Czk6IPRGYX_HdJMSnEws-ilZGeCdBXJtXvFmTgwqTebngSo/s1600/bicol+express.jpg)

This is the recipe for the Bicol Express;

Ingredients:

3 cups coconut milk

2 lbs pork belly, cut into strips

½ cup Shrimp Paste

1 tbsp Garlic, minced

6 pieces Thai chili or Serrano pepper

3 tablespoons minced ginger

1 medium onion, minced

2 tablespoons cooking oil

Salt and Pepper to taste

Procedure:

1. Heat a pan and then pour-in the cooking oil.
2. Sauté the garlic, onion, and ginger
3. Add the pork and then continue cooking for 5 to 7 minutes or until the color becomes light brown
4. Put-in the shrimp paste and Thai chili or Serrano pepper. Stir.
5. Pour the coconut milk in. Bring to a boil. Simmer for 40 minutes or until the pork is tender
6. Add salt and ground black pepper to taste
7. Serve Hot. Enjoy!

(Recipe source: http://panlasangpinoy.com/2009/05/25/bicol-express/)

There you go, everyone! If you want to try something spicy, you should visit Bicol and try the Bicol Express. This is also a must-try for all the tourist who are visiting the Bicol region in order to feel the spicy feeling in your mouth once you try this spicy and famous Bicolano dish.