Bilo-bilo facts for kids
Bilo-bilo
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| Alternative names | bilu-bilo, binignit, paradusdos, pinaltok, pinindot, ginataang bilo-bilo, ginataang halo-halo, tambo-tambong |
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| Course | Dessert |
| Place of origin | Philippines |
| Region or state | Tuguegarao |
| Serving temperature | Hot or cold |
| Main ingredients | Sticky rice coconut milk saba, taro, sweet potato, pearl sago, landang |
| Variations | see Binignit |
Bilo-bilo is a yummy Filipino dessert. It's made with small, chewy balls of sticky rice flour. These little balls are cooked in sweet coconut milk.
This delicious treat often includes other ingredients too. You might find slices of jackfruit, saba bananas, and different root vegetables like taro or sweet potato. Tiny tapioca pearls are also a common addition.
Bilo-bilo comes from the Philippines, especially from Luzon Island. The city of Tuguegarao in Cagayan is known for it. There are many different ways to make bilo-bilo. Some recipes add young coconut meat or fragrant pandan leaves for extra flavor. People usually enjoy bilo-bilo warm, but some like it chilled from the fridge.
How to Make Bilo-bilo
Making bilo-bilo involves a few simple steps. First, you create the chewy rice balls. Then, you cook them with the other ingredients in coconut milk.
Preparing the Rice Balls
- Get some sticky rice flour.
- Mix the flour with water in a bowl until it forms a dough.
- Roll the dough into small balls. Each ball should be about 1/2 inch wide.
- Carefully drop these balls into boiling water.
- Cook them until they float to the top. This means they are ready!
Cooking the Other Ingredients
- If you are using tapioca balls, boil them separately. Cook until they are soft and clear. Then, drain the water.
- In a large pot, mix coconut milk with a little water. Bring this mixture to a boil.
- Add chopped sweet potato and the cooked tapioca balls to the pot.
- Stir in some sugar to make it sweet.
- Finally, add the cooked bilo-bilo (rice balls) to the pot.
- For even more flavor, you can add strips of cooked jackfruit and round slices of saba banana.
- Let everything simmer until the flavors blend and the ingredients are tender.
