An Icy Treat in the Philippines
Halo-Halo (also spelled Halu-Halo) is a favorite icy treat eaten by Filipinos.
Literally meaning "Mix-Mix" in Tagalog and dubbed the "Queen of Desserts," haluhalo is a blend of fruits, sweet preserves, evaporated milk and shaved ice.
Although referred to as a dessert, it's actually more common to eat it as a stand-alone snack, especially in the middle of a hot afternoon.
During the peak of the Philippine summer in April and May, makeshift stands are set up all over the islands by people selling halo-halo. The ingredients are laid out on a table and the customer gets to choose which to have added to his or her order. Indoors, it's easier to have halo-halo topped off with a scoop of ice cream.
Main Ingredients. Step-by-Step Procedure. Recipe.
To make halo-halo, combine kaong (sweet palm fruit), macapuno (shredded coconut), langka (jackfruit) and red munggo (mung beans) in a parfait glass. Other possible ingredients are slices of saba (plantains), chunks of ube (purple yam), mais (corn), nata de coco (coconut gelatin) and pinipig (pounded dried rice). Top with shaved ice, evaporated milk and a scoop of ice cream.
Make sure to halo (mix) thoroughly before digging in. Yes, mixing all those goodies at the bottom without spilling the ice and ice cream off the glass is a skill that needs to be honed by regular indulgence!
Source: How to Make Halo-Halo
