Ginataang Bilo-bilo is a type of sweet coconut milk soup. Usually, Filipinos enjoy it as a snack or dessert. As you might notice, it has an interesting name. In Tagalog, the word, “ginataang” refers to coconut milk-based dishes, and bilo-bilo means chewy rice balls, which are made of sweet rice flour and water.
I love having Ginataang Bilo-bilo served warm in a bowl, especially on a rainy day. But others enjoy it cold and refrigerated, just like most desserts. I suggest trying both ways and let me know which one you like better. Maybe you’ll be a fan of both versions.
In the recipe below, you’ll notice that this recipe also calls for sweet yams, yellow jackfruit, tapioca pearls, and saba bananas. Because of these varied ingredients, this dish also goes by another name, “Ginataang Halo-Halo.” In Tagalog, “Halo-halo” means “a mix.” You can use either name interchangeably, although purists might argue that this is strictly a halo-halo dish.
- 5 (13.5 ounces) cans coconut milk
- 1 cup water
- 1-2 pieces sweet potatoes and various yams, peeled and chopped (purple yam is okay. Just heads up that it will turn your soup purple)
- ¼ cup small tapioca pearls
- 10-12 pieces mochi balls (see recipe below)
- ¼ cup ripe jackfruit, cut in strips (in a can or fresh is fine as long as it's the ripe yellow kind, and NOT green and unripe)
- 1-2 pieces saba banana, peeled and sliced (plantains are ok too)
- ½ cup organic sugar (or more to taste)
- Pour coconut milk and water in a pot and put to a boil.
- Add yams and sweet potato. Simmer for 10 minutes. If using purple yam, the soup will have a beautiful purple hue.
- Pour tapioca pearls, mix, and put to a boil.
- Carefully place mochi balls (see recipe below). Wait until they float on top (about 5 minutes). If they haven't floated in 5 minutes, mix around and simmer until they float.
- Mix in jackfruit, banana, and sugar. Add more sugar if needed.
- The yams and sweet potato should be tender at this point. If not, simmer until tender.
- Put to a boil then turn off heat.
- Serve warm or cold. To enjoy cold, refrigerate before serving.
To make chewy rice balls/mochi balls/Bilo bilo:
- In a small bowl, mix ¼ cup glutinous rice flour (also known as sweet rice flour) and 2 tablespoons water. Using your hands, form into bite-size dough balls (size doesn't have to be precise). If dough balls are too dry, add more water one teaspoon at a time.
Glutinous rice flour is different from regular rice flour. If you use regular rice flour, the rice balls won't be chewy. Make sure it says "glutinous". Also, "glutinous" does not mean it has gluten in it. This recipe is, in fact, is gluten-free.
When buying Saba bananas (usually available at Asian and Mexcian stores), pick the softer, mushier ones. If it's not that soft, it's not ripe yet.
Ginataang Bilo bilo or Halo halo is a dessert soup full of comforting flavors and textures. Either you serve it hot or cold, I hope you enjoy it with your loved ones. Kain na, let’s eat!
Anything with coconut milk is comfort food! The colors are so pretty in this.
Thanks! And yes I agree coconut milk dish = comfort food
My absolute favorite dish!!! Now I gotta get the ingredients so I can make it!
Cool thanks! The ingredients are basically your favorite tubers. Enjoy!
My favorite dessert! Love ginataang bilo bilo. Beautiful photos!
Thanks Rosie! It’s my fave too 🙂
Um, can you please come cook for me? Seriously, all your foods remind me of the foods I ate growing up. I can just taste that sweet jackfruit in coconut milk right now. Sooo good!
Hehe Sure! But I’m also looking forward to try your dishes. Hopefully one day we could do a potluck.
Mmmmmm that’s almost similar to the Chinese dessert (glutinous rice balls/汤圆), I am amazed that there are many Pinoy dishes that are similar to Chinese dishes 🙂
I’m sure it has a Chinese influence, almost 99% positive!
this looks SO GOOD, lady. i want a big bowl right now!
Hehe thanks Caitlin! I wish I could deliver them to your door.
It is yummier when it is cold. I really love GINATAANG BILO-BILO.
WOW! I’ve never seen this dish before! Thanks! I am going to go back thru a bunch of your older posts, too!!! I NEED to add more of your dishes in my life 🙂 Oh!!! BTW…I’ve over at MyBlissfulJourney.com (I have a WP but don’t use it – only to comment on other WP Blogs)