Ginataang bilo bilo is a popular and delicious Filipino dessert made with glutinous rice balls cooked in coconut milk. It is a sweet and creamy treat that is perfect for satisfying your dessert cravings. This traditional Filipino delicacy is enjoyed by people of all ages and is commonly served during special occasions and celebrations.
The main ingredients for ginataang bilo bilo are:
- Glutinous rice flour
- Coconut milk
- Water
- Sugar
- Various fruits and root crops such as jackfruit, sweet potatoes, and bananas
To make ginataang bilo bilo, start by preparing the glutinous rice balls. Combine the glutinous rice flour with water to make a doughy mixture. Roll the dough into small balls using your hands. Next, in a pot, combine water, coconut milk, and sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, carefully add the glutinous rice balls and cook until they float to the surface.
Pro tip: You can also add various fruits and root crops to enhance the flavor and texture of the dessert. Simply chop the fruits and root crops into bite-sized pieces and add them to the pot while the glutinous rice balls are cooking. This will give the ginataang bilo bilo a delightful combination of sweetness and chewiness.
Once the glutinous rice balls are cooked and the fruits and root crops are tender, your ginataang bilo bilo is ready to be served. Transfer it to serving bowls and enjoy it hot or cold. This dessert is best enjoyed with family and friends, sharing stories and creating memories together.
Ingredients for ginataang bilo bilo
Here are the ingredients you will need to make ginataang bilo bilo:
1. Rice balls:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups glutinous rice flour
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
2. Coconut milk mixture:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups coconut milk
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 pandan leaf (optional)
3. Other ingredients:
Ingredients:
- 1 sweet potato, peeled and cubed
- 1 plantain, peeled and sliced
- 1 cup jackfruit, sliced
- 1 cup cooked sago (tapioca pearls)
- 1 cup cooked white beans (optional)
Make sure to gather all these ingredients before you start cooking ginataang bilo bilo.
Main steps to cook ginataang bilo bilo
To cook ginataang bilo bilo, follow these steps:
- Prepare the ingredients:
- 1 cup glutinous rice balls (bilo bilo)
- 4 cups coconut milk
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup diced sweet potatoes
- 1 cup diced taro
- 1 cup diced bananas
- 1 cup diced jackfruit
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 pandan leaf (optional)
- Pinch of salt
- In a pot, combine coconut milk, water, and pandan leaf (if using) then bring to a boil.
- Once the mixture is boiling, add the glutinous rice balls and simmer for about 10 minutes or until the rice balls float to the surface.
- Add the diced sweet potatoes, taro, and bananas. Cook for another 10 minutes or until the sweet potatoes and taro are soft.
- Add the jackfruit and sugar. Stir well until the sugar is dissolved.
- Add a pinch of salt to enhance the flavors.
- Simmer for another 5 minutes to let the flavors meld together.
- Remove the pandan leaf, if used.
- Serve the ginataang bilo bilo warm and enjoy!
Now you know the main steps to cook ginataang bilo bilo. Follow these instructions and you’ll have a delicious Filipino dessert in no time!
Preparing the bilo bilo dough
To make the bilo bilo dough for ginataang bilo bilo, you will need the following ingredients:
- 1 cup glutinous rice flour
- ¼ cup water
Here are the steps to prepare the dough:
- In a mixing bowl, combine the glutinous rice flour and water.
- Stir the mixture until it forms a smooth dough.
- If the dough is too dry, add a little more water. If it is too sticky, add a little more glutinous rice flour.
- Knead the dough for about 5 minutes, or until it becomes soft and elastic.
- Divide the dough into small portions and shape them into balls.
Once you have prepared the bilo bilo dough, you can proceed to cook ginataang bilo bilo by following the remaining steps of the recipe.
Cooking the bilo bilo
Once you have prepared the ingredients for ginataang bilo bilo, it’s time to cook the bilo bilo itself. Follow these steps to ensure that your bilo bilo turns out soft and chewy:
- In a large pot, bring water to a boil.
- Add the glutinous rice balls (bilo bilo) to the boiling water and cook for about 5 minutes or until they float to the surface.
- Using a slotted spoon, remove the cooked bilo bilo from the pot and transfer them to a bowl of cold water. This will help stop the cooking process and prevent them from sticking together.
- Once the bilo bilo have cooled down, drain them from the cold water and set them aside.
Now that your bilo bilo are cooked and ready, you can proceed with making the ginataang bilo bilo. The next step is to make the coconut milk mixture and combine it with the cooked bilo bilo and other ingredients.
Ingredients | Amount |
---|---|
Coconut milk | 2 cups |
Water | 2 cups |
Sugar | 1/2 cup |
Glutinous rice balls (bilo bilo) | Cooked in previous steps |
Banana, sliced | 2 pieces |
Sweet potato, cubed | 1 piece |
Make sure to have all of the ingredients ready before proceeding to the next steps of the recipe. Now that the bilo bilo is ready, you can continue with the rest of the ginataang bilo bilo recipe.
Making the coconut milk base
To make ginataang bilo bilo, the first step is to prepare the coconut milk base. This creamy and luscious base is what gives the dish its distinct flavor and texture.
Here’s how you can make the coconut milk base:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups coconut milk
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup sugar
Instructions:
- In a saucepan, combine the coconut milk and water. Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a simmer.
- Add the sugar to the saucepan and stir until dissolved.
- Continue to simmer the coconut milk mixture for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Once the sugar has fully dissolved and the coconut milk mixture has thickened slightly, remove the saucepan from the heat.
- Set the coconut milk base aside to cool while you prepare the other ingredients for the ginataang bilo bilo.
Note: The coconut milk base can be made in advance and stored in the refrigerator until needed. This way, you can easily whip up a batch of ginataang bilo bilo whenever you crave this delicious Filipino dessert.
Combining the bilo bilo and coconut milk base
Once the bilo bilo is cooked and the coconut milk base is prepared, it’s time to combine the two to create the delicious ginataang bilo bilo.
To do this, follow these simple steps:
1. | Bring the coconut milk base to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat. |
2. | Add the bilo bilo to the simmering coconut milk. Be careful not to overcrowd the pot, as the dumplings will expand during cooking. |
3. | Cook the bilo bilo in the simmering coconut milk until they float to the surface, typically for about 10-15 minutes. |
4. | Add the cooked fruits, such as sweet potatoes, plantains, and jackfruit, to the pot. Stir gently to combine. |
5. | Continue simmering for another 5 minutes or until the fruits are tender. |
6. | Optional: Add sugar or condensed milk to taste if a sweeter dessert is desired. Stir well to dissolve the sugar or evenly distribute the condensed milk. |
7. | Remove from heat and let the ginataang bilo bilo cool slightly before serving. |
Once the ginataang bilo bilo has cooled slightly, it’s ready to be enjoyed! Serve it warm for a comforting dessert or snack. The sweet and creamy coconut milk base combined with the chewy bilo bilo and the flavorful fruits make for a delightful treat.
Now that you know how to combine the bilo bilo and coconut milk base, you can easily make this traditional Filipino dessert at home. Enjoy!
FAQ
What is ginataang bilo bilo?
Ginataang bilo bilo is a Filipino dessert made with sticky rice balls, sweet potatoes, bananas, jackfruit, and coconut milk.
How do I make ginataang bilo bilo?
To make ginataang bilo bilo, you will need sticky rice flour, water, sweet potatoes, bananas, jackfruit, coconut milk, and brown sugar. First, mix the sticky rice flour and water to form a dough, then shape them into small balls. Boil the sweet potatoes until tender, then add the rice balls, bananas, jackfruit, coconut milk, and brown sugar to a pot. Simmer until the rice balls float and the coconut milk thickens. Serve hot.
Can I use regular rice flour instead of sticky rice flour?
No, sticky rice flour is essential for making the chewy texture of the rice balls in ginataang bilo bilo. Regular rice flour won’t give you the same result.
Can I use other fruits in ginataang bilo bilo?
Yes, you can add other fruits like taro, plantains, or sweet corn to ginataang bilo bilo. You can be creative and use any fruits you like.
How long does it take to cook ginataang bilo bilo?
Ginataang bilo bilo usually takes about 30-40 minutes to cook. The rice balls should float to the surface and the coconut milk should thicken before it’s ready to be served.