Halo-Halo
Halo-Halo, meaning 'mix-mix' in Tagalog, is a beloved Filipino shaved ice dessert. It's a vibrant and refreshing concoction featuring a delightful medley of sweet ingredients, crushed ice, and creamy toppings, perfect for beating the summer heat.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Sweetened Red Beans (Haricot Beans)(Often pre-cooked and sweetened, available in cans.)
- 1/2 cup Sweetened Garbanzo Beans (Chickpeas)(Often pre-cooked and sweetened, available in cans.)
- 1/2 cup Sweetened Mung Beans(Often pre-cooked and sweetened, available in cans.)
- 1/2 cup Sweetened Jackfruit (Langka)(Canned or fresh, cut into strips.)
- 1/2 cup Sweetened Coconut Strips (Macapuno)(Available in jars or cans.)
- 1/2 cup Sweetened Plantain (Saba Banana)(Boiled and sliced.)
- 1/2 cup Sweetened Yam (Ube Halaya)(Mashed or pureed purple yam, often pre-made.)
- 1/2 cup Jelly (Gulaman or Agar-Agar)(Various colors and flavors, cubed.)
- generous Shaved Ice(Finely shaved ice is key for the best texture.)
- 4 scoops Ube Ice Cream(Vibrant purple yam ice cream.)
- 4 slices Leche Flan(Filipino custard dessert, a slice per serving.)
- 1/2 cup Evaporated Milk(Chilled, for drizzling.)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare your serving glasses. For each glass, begin by layering a small spoonful of each of the prepared sweet ingredients at the bottom. This might include sweetened beans, jackfruit, coconut strips, plantain, ube halaya, and jelly. Aim for a colorful and varied base.
⏱️ 10 minutes - 2
Generously fill the remaining space in each glass with finely shaved ice. Pack it down slightly to create a solid mound. The finer the ice, the better it will absorb the milk.
⏱️ 5 minutes - 3
Top each mound of shaved ice with a slice of leche flan and a generous scoop of ube ice cream. The contrast of the creamy flan and vibrant ice cream is essential.
⏱️ 3 minutes - 4
Drizzle chilled evaporated milk over the entire dessert until it's well-soaked. Serve immediately with a long spoon and straw. Instruct diners to mix all the ingredients together ('halo-halo') before eating to enjoy the full symphony of flavors and textures.
⏱️ 2 minutes
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓The key to a great Halo-Halo is the variety and quality of the sweet ingredients. Don't skimp on the ube ice cream and leche flan!
- ✓Use very finely shaved ice for the best texture; it melts and mixes more readily.
- ✓Many of the sweet ingredients can be prepared ahead of time or purchased pre-sweetened in Asian markets.
- ✓Feel free to add other popular ingredients like sweetened corn or nata de coco.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Add sweetened corn kernels or nata de coco for extra texture.
- Experiment with different flavors of ice cream, such as mango or vanilla.
- Some variations include a drizzle of condensed milk for extra sweetness.