Buko salad is a popular dessert which you might often see during special occasions such as Christmas, fiestas, and even birthday celebrations.
This delectable dessert became a part of the Filipino culture. And you can even say that it symbolizes your bond with your loved ones since it became a perfect gift and serves as a representation of what reminds you of them whenever you see each other during memorable occasions, right? Or is this going too far?
Nevertheless, there’s no question that this special dessert would certainly give you memorable moments with the ones you hold dear.
In this article, we are going to help you learn how to make the perfect buko salad for your family. Making one yourself makes it worth it, since making an effort for the ones in your heart–no matter how hard or easy it may be–is a sure way of expressing your love for them.
So be sure to read on and see what’s in store for you.
What is Buko Salad?
Buko Salad is a dessert very well-known here in our country which commonly uses a combination of fruits, shredded coconut fillings, some nata de coco, and sugar palms lathered in a thick coconut cream and condensed milk.
You might easily compare this to another popular dessert which is the fruit salad. But the main difference is-well, you already know–this dish makes use of young coconuts’ potential.
What’s so special about coconuts, you might ask. One good reason here is–even though this dish serves as a dessert–it still has a lot of health benefits.
The most popular among these is that it has a high nutrient content, it contains a lot of antioxidants, and it has properties which promote a healthier heart. So these are all the more reasons to give this dish more meaning when you prepare it for special occasions.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Buko
Buko or young coconut meat is an abundant fruit in the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries. You can buy the buko (young coconut) itself and shred your own buko meat or buy the already shredded ones in the market.
All-Purpose Cream
There are a variety of available brands of all-purpose cream you can choose from. These are usually packed in small carton packs.
Condensed Milk
You have the option to replace this with the much cheaper ‘condensed creamer’, but for best results, I suggest you use the original condensed milk.
Cheese
We will be using processed cheddar cheese for this recipe. You can use brands like Eden, Kraft, Cheezee, Quez-O, Danes, and the likes.
Other Mix-ins
There is a variety of mix-ins used in the buko salad this include, but not limited to, the following items:
- fruit cocktail mix
- nata de coco (coconut gel)
- kaong (sugar palm fruit)
- whole kernel corn
- sago (tapioca pearls)
If you are filling up your pantry, here’s a handy shopping guide:
Other Ingredients You Can Add
Other ingredients you can add are a variety of fruits you can think of at the top of your head. Some suggestions are:
- canned peaches
- canned pears
- canned lychees
Or even fresh fruits like:
- strawberries
- grapes
- diced apples
- oranges
If you’re feeling a little extra, you can even add yogurt in the mix and maybe some nuts which can complement the flavor of the salad.
Equipment You’ll Need
- Mixing Bowl- For this dish, you will be needing a large mixing bowl. You will be mixing everything in a single mixing bowl all at one so make sure it is large enough to accommodate everything.
In need of kitchen tools and equipment? Read this before you buy:
How To Make Buko Salad
Making buko salad is as easy as putting things together and arranging them in a presentable manner. All you have to do is prepare all of your ingredients and mix them in one large mixing bowl, and chill them afterwards. And that’s all there is to do! It is best served after a hearty dinner or even during afternoons.
Also, one good thing about the Buko Salad is it doesn’t really have a strict set of ingredients that we have to follow.
While, yes, this recipe gives you specific ingredients you can follow for an easier approach, it will ultimately be up to you on what fruits you want to add or maybe even other ingredients you also want to add which can give more flavor and personality to it.
Think of it as a way to make this super easy dish more special. This is a good opportunity to make it truly about you and what you make.
How To Serve Buko Salad
Buko salad is usually served as dessert but you can also have it as a snack. You can serve it immediately after mixing but I suggest that you chill it first. Some like this dessert frozen so you have the option to freeze it also before serving.
How To Store Buko Salad
How long does buko salad last? More often than not, you won’t empty one batch of buko salad in one sitting. It is good to take note of its shelf life and ways to extend it.
Because of its ingredients, quality deterioration and bacterial growth can start after 2 hours at room temperature. With proper storage, Buko Salad will last for 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator/chiller and up to 2 weeks when frozen.
Remember to store in an airtight container and do not refreeze after thawing. Thawed buko salad will last for 24 hours when stored in a refrigerator or chiller.
Other Filipino Dessert Recipes
For a quick reference about this recipe, see the recipe table below:
Buko Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 500 g (1.1 lbs) buko (young coconut meat), shredded
- 1 can fruit cocktail
- 1 can whole kernel corn
- 340 g (12 oz) kaong
- 340 g (12 oz) nata de coco
- 2 cups all-purpose cream, approx 2 packs
- 150 ml (5 fl oz) condensed milk, depends on preferred sweetness level
- 200 g (7 oz) processed cheddar cheese, diced (Eden, Cheezee, Ques-O)
- 1 cup sago
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
- Carefully mix all the ingredients until everything is well-distributed
- Place in a refrigerator for 4 to 6 hours (or in a freezer for 1 hour if you can’t wait to enjoy this)
- Transfer to a serving bowl and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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