As a Filipino, what kind of dessert do you think when summer starts? Let me guess, is it the famous cold, sweet and refreshing halo-halo? Nothing can beat this dessert because of its variety of flavors in a glass!

Halo-Halo is made from shaved ice, condensed milk, and lots of sweet toppings like jellies, beans, corn, candied fruit, fresh fruit, ube ice cream, and even sometimes pieces of leche flan (Filipino sweet custard).

Most Asian countries have some variety or other of a sweet ice dessert. The origins of Halo-Halo most likely derived from a Japanese dessert called, kakigori, which was shaved ice served with sweet beans. Americans introduced ice to the Philippines in the mid 1800’s and then built the first ice plant, Insular Ice Plant, in 1902. With the readily availability of ice, and the introduction of new foods by the Japanese during their occupation prior to WWII, Halo-Halo began to form its roots.

Filipinos adapted the ice dessert to fit their own tastes and preferences and it soon became completely unique to any of its ice-dessert counterparts in other surrounding countries. The addition of ube jam (made from purple yams) and ube ice cream gives it the distinctive purple color and a proud pinoy feature.

It is very easy to make! Read this recipe to find out:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of shaved ice
• 1 ripe large banana
• 1 cup young shredded coconut, fresh or bottled
• 1/2 cup sweet corn or chick peas (garbanzos)
• 2 cups evaporated milk
• 1 cup firm gelatin set into gel and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
• 2 ripe mangoes
• 1 cup ripe jackfruit
• 1 cup cooked sweet yams or (ube halaya)
• 4 scoops of favorite ice cream
• 1/2 cup rice pop

Preparation Instructions

1. Peel mangoes and slice into half-inch cubes.
2. Divide each ingredient into 4 equal parts. Get 4 tall glasses, then place each ingredients layer by layer.
3. Put the one half cup of shaved ice to each glass.
4. Pour a quarter of milk evap over shaved ice to each glass.
5. Put a scoop of ice cream on top
6. Drizzle some nuts or rice crispies on top of the ice cream.

 

sources:

http://www.halohalomixmix.com/do-you-know-the-history-of-halo-halo/

https://balay.ph/halo-halo-dessert-recipe/