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Filipino Ginataang Halo-Halo

Filipino Ginataang Halo-Halo

This snack is made up of bilo-bilo (glutinous rice balls), sliced saba (plantains), sago (tapioca balls), langka (jackfruit), kamote (sweet potatoes) in a creamy coconut sauce. While these are the most common ingredients, it’s not unheard of to add ube (purple yam) or gabi (taro) to the mix.
Prep 20 minutes
Cook 45 minutes
Total 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 8
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Ingredients
  

For the Sago:

  • 100 grams sago (tapioca balls), small
  • 4 cups water

For the Bilo-bilo:

  • 142 grams glutinous rice flour, 1 cup
  • 2 tbsps ube powder, optional
  • 1/2 cup water
  • few drops of ube flavoring, optional

Other Ingredients:

  • 2 cups coconut milk
  • 1 cup water
  • 73 grams sugar, 1/3 cup
  • 400 grams sweet potato, diced
  • 4 saba (plantain bananas), sliced to 1-in thickness pieces
  • 6 pieces jackfruit, cut into strips

For Banana Topping (Optional):

  • 2 saba, plantain bananas, sliced thinly
  • 55 grams brown sugar, 1/4 cup
  • oil for frying

Instructions
 

To make the sago:

  • Bring 4 cups of water to a boil.
  • Add the sago, and boil for 10-15 minutes until the sago turns transparent. Stir the sago occasionally to prevent them from sticking to the bottom of the pan. Add more water as needed.
  • Once the sago balls are transparent, remove from the heat and drain completely. Put aside in a bowl.

To make the bilo-bilo:

  • In a bowl, combine the rice flour and ube powder.
  • Mix the water and a few drops of ube flavoring (if using).
  • Add the water to the rice flour and mix until it forms into a soft and flexible ball. You can add more drops to the ball for a stronger color but make sure to knead the dough thoroughly to mix the ube flavoring uniformly.
  • Divide into 24 balls using a half tablespoon. Set aside and cover with a damp towel.

To make the Ginataang Bilo-bilo:

  • In a large pot, mix the coconut milk, water, and sugar. Bring the mixture to a simmer while stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar.
  • Add the sweet potato and boil for 5 minutes. Add the saba and boil for another 3 minutes.
  • Add the bilo-bilo and jackfruit strips. Cook until the bilo-bilo floats.
  • Mix the sago and stir to prevent lumps from forming. Cook for 5 minutes before removing from heat.
  • Serve warm or cold.

To make the saba topping:

  • Heat enough oil to deep fry the saba pieces.
  • Fry the saba slices until translucent.
  • Add the brown sugar to the oil. Swirl the saba slices in the brown sugar until they are coated.
  • Remove from the oil and set aside. Cool slightly before using as toppings.

Notes

  • Want a deeper purple hue? Add a few extra drops of ube flavoring to your bilo-bilo for a more vibrant color.
  • You can skip the ube powder or ube flavoring if you prefer a more traditional take.
  • Ginataang bilo-bilo thickens as it cools, so expect a creamier consistency over time.