Like many other Filipino dishes, the Bicol Express has several iterations. What remains constant however is its use of pork, balao/balaw, or local salted baby shrimps, coconut milk, chili, and aromatics.
In some areas of Bicol, versions of it may incorporate vegetables such as string beans, winged beans, and bell pepper.
Some would add pineapples, adding a layer of sweetness to the dish. Others have versions of the Bicol Express as sauteed and pan-fried with little coconut milk, while others would be in its original stew version.
While the origin of the dish and its name is widely debated, )others credit its roots to a non-Bicolana cook who was inspired by Bicol’s Gulay a Lada, or Sinilihang Gulay during her stay in the region in her youth), it is a fact that the Bicol Express has become synonymous to the region’s cuisine alongside Laing/Katanga/Nantong and Pinangat.
After several successful product launches (bottled ready-to-eat meals such as Sinantolan (minced cotton fruit in coconut milk), Vegan Laing (shrimp- and meat-free dried gabi leaves in coconut milk), and other meat products such as the Pineapple-Cured Chicken Tocino) in events, bazaars, and in the digital space, the Que Rica team is taking Bicol cuisine to new, greater heights, with their newest addition Bicol Express Longganisa which is made with chicken making it a healthy option togther with salted baby shrimps, coconut milk and aromatics.
Que Rica’s Bicol Express Longganisa is available in pack of 8pcs or 350g for only ₱320.00. Visit https://querica.ph for orders and more details.
