Recipe for Halo-Halo

Years ago, you stole my cool, captivating me with Halo-Halo…

This unofficial national delight of the Philippines is akin to a turbocharged tutti-frutti, and remains a personal favorite for summertime indulgence. Translating to “mix-mix” in Tagalog, Halo-Halo typically layers sweetened chickpeas, red and/or white mung beans, candied palm seeds, coconut sport strips (macapuno), jackfruit, saba bananas in syrup, coconut jellies, tapioca pearls, sweet potato cubes, and of course, shaved ice. A generous drizzle of evaporated milk and occasional garnish of ube ice cream and flan complete this delectable treat.

A riot of colors and flavors, refreshing Halo-Halo offers an array of tastes and textures, from savory to sweet, and soft to crunchy. Its origins trace back to Japanese settlers in the late 1800s who introduced kakigori, a shaved ice dessert with adzuki beans and condensed milk. With the advent of the Insular Ice Plant in Manila in 1902, Filipinos adapted the concept, swapping adzuki beans for mung beans and chickpeas, thus birthing the modern-day Halo-Halo.

Crafting Halo-Halo is a breeze; all you need to prepare is the shaved ice. Ingredients can be sourced from the canned fruit section of your local Asian market or online. While an ice shaver machine is ideal, a high-quality blender or food processor can serve as alternatives.

Halo-Halo Recipe
A Note From Our Recipe Tester
Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup sweetened red beans
• 1/4 cup sweetened white beans
• 4 cups shaved ice (from approximately 6 cups of ice cubes)
• 1 large banana, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup canned, sliced jackfruit, drained
• 1/4 cup drained macapuno strips
• 1/4 cup drained nata de coco
• 1/4 cup drained red palm seeds (Kaong)
• 1/4 cup drained green palm seeds (Kaong)
• 1 cup evaporated milk, divided
• 1/2 cup Cap’n Crunch with Crunch Berries cereal
• 2 scoops ube ice cream (store-bought or homemade)

Steps:

1. Begin by preparing the ingredients and two tall parfait glasses.
2. Place half of the sweetened red and white beans at the bottom of each glass.
3. Process half of the ice cubes until they resemble snow. Add about a half cup of shaved ice on top of the beans.
4. Layer banana and jackfruit slices, followed by another half cup of shaved ice. Add macapuno strips and nata de coco.
5. Process the remaining ice cubes and add another half cup of shaved ice on top.
6. Include the red and green palm seeds, then top with the final half cup of shaved ice, gently doming it.
7. Pour 1/2 cup of evaporated milk over each parfait and add a scoop of ube ice cream.
8. Finish with Cap’n Crunch cereal and enjoy immediately, stirring well with a long spoon!

Tips and Storage:
Halo-Halo is best enjoyed immediately and cannot be stored frozen. Keep plenty of ice cubes on hand for endless summertime indulgence!