Pinoy Summer Foods You Can Enjoy While In Lockdown

Food, Recipes / By
Pinoy summer foods

Many Filipinos consider summer as a time to pig out on food. But with the Luzon lockdown underway, fiestas and outdoor picnics are now out of the question. Luckily, you can still enjoy some great desserts while at home. Here are tasty Pinoy summer foods you can make while in quarantine. 

Pinoy summer recipe no. 1: Halo-halo

Image from Foxy Folksy.

Halo-halo is considered as one of the quintessential Pinoy summer foods, with even foreigners being eager to try it out. True to its name (halo-halo means a mixture of things in English), this dessert is a combination of different tasty ingredients. Sweet fruits like mangoes and bananas are some of the common ingredients but you can also add other desserts like ice cream. This means that there are plenty of variations to try out. This recipe is one of the more popular versions. 

Ingredients

Note: There are no exact measurements for the ingredients since you can add as much as you want. 

  • Shaved or crushed ice
  • Plantain bananas (saging na saba), chopped
  • Sweet potatoes (kamote), chopped into cubes
  • Jackfruit (langka), fresh or sweetened
  • Sweetened red munggo
  • Garbanzos or beans
  • Nata de coco
  • Tapioca pearls (sago), or jelly cut into cubes
  • Evaporated milk
  • Coconut strips
  • Pinipig
  • Leche flan
  • Ice Cream
  • Suger 

Steps

  1. Get a tall glass and add a teaspoon of each ingredient until halfway full. You can also add sugar as you like. 
  2. Add the shaved ice to the glass until filled to the brim. 
  3. Drizzle with milk and add the leche flan and ice cream as toppings. 
  4. Serve with a spoon for mixing all the ingredients. 

Pinoy summer recipe no 2: Smooth ice candy

Image from Mama’s Guide Recipes.

Ice candy is another popular Pinoy summer food. It is fairly inexpensive since you will find most of the ingredients in your food stocks. The wrappers also typically cost just around 50 pesos for a pack of 100. This particular recipe makes ice candy that is smoother than the usual ones you buy at the nearby sari-sari store, giving it that creamy texture.

Ingredients

  • 7 liters water
  • 1 cup powdered milk
  • 2 cups cornstarch dissolved in 1.5 liters of water
  • 1 ¾ kilos sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • Flavoring of your choice

Steps

  1. Bring the water to boil in a large pot. Add the sugar and salt and mix until these are fully dissolved. 
  2. Pour in the dissolved cornstarch and the powdered milk, stirring well to break the lumps.
  3. Continue boiling the water for 8 minutes, then turn off the heat. 
  4. Let the water cool for a few hours before adding your desired flavors. It would be a good idea to make several batches of flavors to give you different options. 
  5. Use a funnel to pour the mix into the ice cream wrappers, leaving a small portion at the top of the wrapper unfilled. 
  6. Twist the top portion and tie into a tight knot. Freeze the ice candy until solid. 

Pinoy summer recipe no. 3: Sorbetes

Image from Food.com.

While ice cream is a staple this season, the Luzon COVID-19 lockdown means that you won’t be able to buy a tub whenever you want. So, the best thing you can do is to make your own. This recipe is similar to the ice cream frequently sold in stainless steel carts, which makes for a nostalgic trip while in lockdown. 

Ingredients

  1. ½ gallon powdered milk
  2. 1 ½ gallon coconut milk
  3. ⅓ gallon evaporated milk
  4. 2 kilos sugar
  5. ⅓ kilo cornstarch
  6. Flavorings of your choice

Steps

  1. Combine all the ingredients into a large mixing bowl. Using an egg beater or hand mixer, mix everything until it has a foamy consistency. 
  2. Pour the mixture into a large stainless steel pan or pot. Let it boil for 14 minutes to kill off any microbes. 
  3. Add the flavorings of your choice. You can use powdered flavorings for faster preparation or opt to use real fruits for that added taste. 
  4. Place in the freezer for 30 minutes or until it is half-frozen. Remove from the freezer and mix until you get a thick consistency. 
  5. Transfer the ice cream into a large stainless steel container and cover. Place the container in a larger wooden or styrofoam box and put plenty of ice and salt around the stainless steel container. You can also use dry ice. 
  6. Let the ice cream set for 30 minutes to make it firm. 

Pinoy summer recipes no. 4: Bananacue

Image from Pinch of Yum.

Bananacue is one of the most popular afternoon snacks for Filipinos and compliments well with the cold foods above. It is also fairly easy to prepare, making it a great finger food to share with your family while in lockdown. 

Ingredients: 

  • One hand of plantain bananas (saging na saba)
  • 1 cup of brown sugar
  • Cooking oil

Steps

  1. Heat the oil over a medium low fire. 
  2. Add the sugar and stir until it starts to caramelize. 
  3. Fry the bananas in the oil. Cook on both sides until they turn golden brown and are covered with the sugar syrup. 
  4. Drain on paper towels and serve. You can serve them as is or put them on bamboo skewers for a traditional touch. 

Enjoy these summer recipes while in lockdown

Even though everyone is staying indoors due to the Luzon lockdown, these Pinoy summer foods will make them feel the season. Cook these and give your family and friends some tasty treats for the hot weather. Enjoy and stay safe.