Puto Bumbong

Filipino Style Recipe: puto bumbong is another Filipino delicacy that is usually served during Christmas season. This dish is commonly sold along the streets during Simbang gabi. Puto bumbong is a purple colored glutinous rice cake steamed in a small bamboo tube then flavored with butter or margarine then served with freshly grated coconut and sugar(muscovado or panutsa).

Ingredients:
1 cup glutinous rice(malagkit)
1/2 cup purple-brown sticky rice(pirurutong)
salt
butter or margarine
freshly grated coconut
sugar(mascuvado or panutsa)
wilted banana leaves

Procedures:
1. Soak glutinous rice and purple-brown sticky rice in salted water overnight.
2. Drain and slowly grind using a grinder until grainy.
3. Wrap and squeeze the rice mixture in a cotton or muslin cloth. Then press it using heavy object to remove excess water.
4. In a large bowl, place the rice mixture and rub by hand until its texture becomes fine-grained.

Cooking Procedures:
1. Fill the bamboo tube with rice mixture and steam both side for 10 minutes or until color turns to dark purple.
2. Remove the bamboo tube from the steamer and shake out to remove the steamed rice mixture.
3. Transfer the steamed rice to banana leaves then spread with butter on top. Serve with freshly grated coconut and sugar.

Notes:
1. You may also used violet food coloring instead of pirurutong.

Tupig

Filipino Style Recipe: Tupig is another popular Filipino delicacy and pasalubong from northern part of Luzon specially in Ilocos and Pangasinan Region. This tupig was from Pangasinan, because we went there to visit my grandparents. Although this was a little bit smaller compare to another Region, tupig from Pangasinan had a lot of coconut strips and slightly sweeter. Tupig is almost similar to suman, only that is made from rice flour and coconut strips then grilled in hot charcoal.

Estimated time of preparation: 10 minutes
Estimated time of cooking: 15-20 minutes

Ingredients:
2 cups rice flour(malagkit)
1 cup young coconut strips
3/4 cup coconut milk
1/2 cup brown sugar
wilted banana leaves for wrapping, about 3 inch width

Procedures:
1. In a mixing bowl, combine rice flour, coconut strips, coconut milk, and brown sugar. Mix well until dough like.
2. In a banana leaf, put a tablespoon of mixture then spread evenly and wrap.
3. Grill over hot charcoal for 15-20 minutes or until done. Turn frequently.

Banana Flan

Filipino Style Recipe: Banana Flan is made with condensed milk, egg yolks and mashed or sliced bananas as main ingredients. This dessert is usually steamed or rarely baked. This is similar to leche flan.

Estimated time of preparation and cooking: 60 minutes.
Good for 6- 8 llanera aluminum molds.

Ingredients:
3 pieces very ripe bananas(lakatan), thinly sliced diagonally
10 egg yolks(pula ng itlog)
1 can(390 grams) evaporated milk
1 can(390 grams) condensed milk
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup water

Utensils:
4-5 Llanera aluminum molds
Steamer
Strainer
Whisk

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a sauce pan, dissolve brown sugar and water over low heat until color turns to pale brown.(do not stir just swirl the pan gently)
2. Pour the syrup in the aluminum molds, spread the caramel on the bottom of the molds.

Part 2
1. In a mixing bowl, combine egg yolks, condensed milk, evaporated milk and vanilla. Mix gently but not foamy. Remove any solids by using a strainer.
2. Pour the mixture on top of the caramel on the aluminum molds. Pour 1/2 inch thick of flan mixture then let it cool until half set.
3. Arrange slices of bananas on top then pour the remaining mixture to about 1 – 1 1/4 inch thick.
4. Cover molds with an aluminum foil, so that the moisture from the steam won’t come in the molds as it will become watery.
5. Steam for about 40-45 minutes.
6. Remove the molds and let it cool at room temperature then refrigerate for several hours before serving.

Notes:
1. You may also blend or mashed the bananas.

Pichi Pichi

Filipino Style Recipe: Pichi-Pichi is another popular and easy Filipino delicacy specially in Quezon province. In traditional way we used to boil and grate the cassava(kamoteng kahoy). To make things easier, we will used cassava flour instead. This delicacy is made with combined grated cassava, water and sugar. Steamed and rolled in grated coconut.

Estimated time of preparation and cooking: 60-70 minutes

Ingredients:
2 cups grated cassava or cassava flour
1 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon lye water
2 cups pandan water(combine 2 cups water and 1/2 teaspoon pandan extract)
1 cup grated coconut or grated cheddar cheese

Procedures:
1. In a bowl, combine all the ingredients except grated coconut. Mix until well combined.
2. Pour the mixture into individual cup molds.
3. In a steamer, steam the mixture for 40-45 minutes or until golden and translucent.
4. Remove from steamer and let it cool.
5. Remove from the cup and roll each pieces into grated coconut for nice coating. Done!

Notes:
1. Another traditional way is to boiled pandan leaves to produced pandan water.

Buko Salad

Filipino Style Recipe: buko salad is another variety of popular Filipino salad that usually served in every occasion specially during Christmas and New Year. The typical buko salad is consist of young coconut strips and various fruits blend in condensed milk, heavy cream and cheese. Refrigerate and serve cold.

Estimated time of preparation: 20-40 minutes(plus chilling time)

Ingredients:
4 cups young coconut strips(buko)
2 cans (15oz) fruit cocktail
1 jar(12 oz) Nata de coco
1 can(14 oz) condensed milk
1 pack(7 oz) all-purpose cream

1 small bottle sugar palm fruit(kaong)(optional)
1 can(8 oz) pineapple tidbits(optional)
1/2 cup jackfruit(langka)(optional)
100 grams raisins(optional)

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a strainer, drain all the fruits thoroughly for at least 30 minutes.

Part 2
1. In a bowl, combine all the ingredients and mix till well blended.
2. Cover and refrigerate for several hours. Served cold.

Buko Pandan

Filipino Style Recipe:buko pandan is another popular Filipino dessert that usually served in any occasion specially during Holidays. It is made of young coconut strips and pandan flavored gelatin mixed with cream and condensed milk.

Estimated time of preparation and cooking: 10-15 minutes(plus draining time)
Good for  5-8 persons

Ingredients:
2 cups young coconut, shredded into strips
1 pack gulaman(sweetened pandan flavor)
1 pack(250 ml) All-Purpose Cream
1 can(300 ml) condensed milk
1 tablespoon pandan flavoring essence

1 bottle clear nata de coco(optional)
1/2 cup tapioca pearls(sago), cooked(optional)

Procedures:
Part 1
1. Prepare gulaman based on package instructions.
2. Cut into small cubes. Set aside.

Part 2
1. In a large bowl, combine all purpose cream and condensed milk then mix until well blended.
2. Add gulaman, coconut strips, nata de coco, sago and pandan flavoring essence then mix.
3. Cover and refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight before serving.

Mango Sago

Filipino Style Recipe: mango sago is a refreshing dessert that usually served during summer season. Usually the ripe mangoes cut into cubes then mix with mango juice, milk, sugar and tapioca pearls.

Estimated time of preparation and cooking: 20-25 minutes(plus soaking time)
Good for 3-4 servings

Ingredients:
2 sweet ripe mangoes, peel and cut into cubes
4 tablespoons tapioca pearls(sago), soak in water for 3 hours
125 ml evaporated milk
200 ml mango juice
50 ml water
3 tablespoons sugar

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a pot, boil water on medium heat then add tapioca pearls. Cook for 15 minutes.
2. Stir constantly and make sure they don’t stick together. The pearls should turn clear when they’re cooked.
3. Drain tapioca pearls and transfer to a bowl of cold water.

Part 2
1. Blended the half of mango cubes, mango juice, sugar, water and milk.
2. Transfer to mixing bowl, Add remaining mango cubes and tapioca pearls and stir until well blended.
3. Refrigerate before serving.

Ube Halaya

Filipino Style Recipe: Ube Halaya is a Filipino dessert made from purple yam. The purple yam comes boiled, peeled and grated. Cook with condensed milk and evaporated milk until thick.

Ingredients:
1 kilo purple yam(ube)
2 cans(12 ounces) condensed milk
1 can(14 ounces) evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup butter

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a pot, arrange purple yam and pour water. Bring to boil for 30 minutes or until tender.
2. Drain and let it cool. Peel and grate the purple yam.

Part 2
1. In a pan, melt butter in a low heat and add condensed milk, evaporated milk and vanilla extract. Mix well.
2. Add grated purple yam and cook for 30 minutes or until becomes really thick.
3. Transfer to shallow pan and let it cool.
4. Refrigerate for 2 hours then serve.

Notes:
1. You may also used powdered purple yam, available in grocery stores.

Yema

Filipino Style Recipe: Yema is another popular and easy Filipino sweet delicacy that is made up of condensed milk and egg yolks, some added flavor like jack fruit, ground nuts or just roll it into sugar.

Estimated time of preparation and cooking: 10-15 minutes

Ingredients:
1 big can condensed milk
3 egg yolks
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup white sugar(optional)

Procedures:
1. In a bowl, combine condensed milk and egg yolks. Mix well.
2. In a saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Add milk mixture.
3. Keep stirring until thick. Remove from heat and let it cool.
4. Shape the mixture into balls and roll in granulated sugar.
5. Repeat until all the mixture are consumed. Wrap into cellophane or put in fluted baking cups.

Notes:
1. You may also add flavored like ground nuts or jack fruit.

Crema de Fruta

Filipino Style Recipe: Crema de Fruta is another popular Filipino dessert. It is usually consist of sponge cake topped in succeeding layers of custard cream, fruits and gelatin. This dessert is usually served during Holidays.

Ingredients:
sponge cake
1 can slices of peaches, well drained
1 can slices of pineapple, well drained
1 small bottle cherries, well drained

Cake Syrup:
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup water

Custard Cream:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
3 cups evaporated milk
4 egg yolks
1/4 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Gelatin:
1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin
2 cups pineapple juice
2 cups water
1/4 cup sugar

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a rectangular container, arrange sponge cake.

Part 2: Cake Syrup:
1. In a saucepan, pour water and add sugar, cook until sugar has dissolved. Pour over the sponge cake.

Part 3: Custard Cream:
1. In a saucepan, combine flour, milk, water and sugar then cook in a medium heat. Stir constantly until thickens.
2. Add egg yolks, butter and vanilla extract, cook for another 2-3 minutes or until well blended. Stir well.
3. Pour over the cake syrup and let it cool. Set aside.

Part 4: Gelatin:
1. In a saucepan, boil water and add unflavored gelatin, pineapple juice and sugar.
2. Simmer until gelatin is dissolved.
3. Arrange fruits over custard and pour the gelatin syrup on top.
4. Refrigerate over night or until gelatin is firm. Serve chilled.

Notes:
1. You may also also fruit cocktail as alternative fruits.
2. Sponge cake is available in grocery and bakery stores. But if you prefer to do it by yourself, here’s the recipe on how to make the sponge cake.

Sponge Cake:
Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 large egg yolks
1 cup sugar
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Procedures:
1. In a bowl, sift flour and baking powder together. Set aside.
2. In another bowl, put egg yolks and sugar. Stir until light and fluffy.
3. Add sifted flour and baking powder into egg mixture. Stir until well blended.
4. In a saucepan, combine milk, butter and vanilla extract. Cook until well blended.
5. Pour milk mixture into egg mixture. Stir until well blended.
6. Pour the mixture into baking pan and bake in 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 25 minutes or until done. Let it cool.