Originating in the Philippines, halo-halo is a shaved ice dessert that beats any snow cone on a hot summer day. Meaning "mix-mix" in Tagalog, the icy treat gets its name from a concoction of sweet ingredients—in interesting flavors and textures—topped with shaved ice and evaporated milk. Mix thoroughly to get all of the ingredients incorporated before you take that first, perfect bite.
Look for halo-halo ingredients in your local Asian market or online—the more variety of mix-ins, the better.
Ingredients for Halo-Halo
Every Filipino has a favorite combination of halo-halo ingredients. The most commonly used mix-ins include syrup-packed beans (a combo of chickpeas, red beans, and white beans), nata de coco (coconut gel), macapuno strings (coconut sport), sweet jackfruit, tapioca pearls, and colorful jellies. All this gets topped with shaved ice and a drizzle of evaporated milk. Some common halo-halo toppers include ube halaya (purple yam jam), leche flan, pinipig (flattened, toasted rice), fresh fruit, ube ice cream (you can purchase this or make it at home), and glazed pili nuts.
Offer as many mix-ins as you can when serving halo-halo for the most colorful variety of flavors and textures. You can stick with red mung beans, sweetened jackfruit, macapuno strings, nata de coconut, ube halaya jam, leche flan, evaporated milk, and ube ice cream as written here, or add even more variety to the table with other types of sweetened fruits, including bananas, mango, pineapple or strawberries, Kaong (sugar palm fruit), tapioca pearls, sweet corn, gulaman (agar-set jelly cubes), yema (sweetened condensed milk spread), and more.
If you can't source some of these ingredients, don't worry—the more mix-ins you have, the better, but halo-halo will still be delicious whether you have 10 different components, or five.
How To Make Your Own Shaved Ice
No shaved ice machine? No problem. A high-powered blender or food processor will do the trick. Start with crushed ice, if possible, then blitz until fine and fluffy. In a real pinch, you can crush the ice by placing it into a large zip-top plastic bag covered with a kitchen towel, and using a rolling pin or mallet to crush until you reach your desired consistency.
Ingredients
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1-2 tablespoons syrup-packed red mung beans, white beans, and/or garbanzo beans
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1 tablespoon sweetened jackfruit
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1 tablespoon macapuno strings (coconut sport)
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1 tablespoon nata de coconut (coconut gel)
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1 cup shaved ice
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1 tablespoon ube halaya jam
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2 tablespoons leche flan, purchased
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2 to 4 tablespoons evaporated milk
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2 tablespoons ube ice cream
Directions
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Begin To Layer the Halo-Halo
In a tall glass or a trifle dish, layer the assorted beans, sweetened jackfruit, coconut gel, and coconut strings. Feel free to add more or less of any of the ingredients you enjoy.
Test Kitchen Tip: Look for pre-mixed jars of halo-halo ingredients at your local Asian grocery stores. Common brands include Tropics, Kapuso, Kamayan, and Monika.
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Add Shaved Ice, Toppings, and Ice Cream
Add shaved ice to fill the glass, leaving room for toppings. Top with ube halaya, leche flan, and ube ice cream.
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Drizzle with Evaporated Milk
To finish the halo-halo recipe, drizzle evaporated milk over the top. Mix and enjoy. Halo-halo is best enjoyed right away.
How To Store Leftover Halo-Halo
The beauty of this dessert is that it's made to order, meaning you shouldn't have any assembled halo-halos left laying around. But if you do have leftover mix-ins on hand, store in airtight containers in the refrigerator so you can use them for your next batch, or incorporate into other desserts as desired.