Halo-Halo
Manila, Philippines
The Philippines' maximalist dessert — a towering glass of shaved ice layered with sweet beans, jellies, coconut strips, jackfruit, purple yam (ube) ice cream, leche flan, and evaporated milk. The name means 'mix-mix' because you stir it all together before eating. Every ingredient adds a different texture — crunchy, chewy, creamy, icy — making each spoonful an adventure. Best eaten on sweltering Manila afternoons.
Ingredients
- 2 cupsshaved ice
- 0.5 cupevaporated milk
- 1 scoopube halaya (purple yam jam)
- 1 sliceleche flan (custard)
- 1 tbspsweetened mung beans
- 1 tbspmacapuno (coconut sport) strings
- 1 tbspkaong (palm fruit)
- 1 tsppinipig (toasted pounded rice)
- 1 scoopube ice cream
Directions
- 1
In a tall glass, layer the bottom with sweetened beans, macapuno, kaong, and other preserved fruits.
- 2
Fill the glass with finely shaved ice until it reaches the brim.
- 3
Pour the evaporated milk generously over the ice, letting it seep down to the bottom layers.
- 4
Top the ice with a scoop of ube halaya and a square of leche flan.
- 5
Place a final scoop of ube ice cream on top and sprinkle with crunchy pinipig.
- 6
Serve with a long spoon; the diner must vigorously mix everything together before eating.