Filipino Fruit Salad Recipe

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This Filipino Fruit Salad Recipe is a quick and easy dessert perfect for the warm weather. This recipe uses canned fruit cocktail, table cream, and a Filipino favorite- condensed milk. Get ready to taste the tropical goodness in every bite of this super easy treat!

Looking for more delicious Filipino Desserts? Try my Easy and Delicious Maja Blanca, Ube Flan, and Ube Biko!

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What is Filipino Fruit Salad Recipe?
Ingredients
Instructions
Substitutions
Variations
Storage
Top Tips
FAQ
Filipino Fruit Salad Recipe

What is Filipino Fruit Salad Recipe?

The Filipino Fruit Salad Recipe is a beloved dessert in the Philippines, often enjoyed during festive occasions like Christmas, New Year, and family gatherings. What makes this dessert special is its simplicity and the unique combination of ingredients that come together to create a creamy, sweet, and refreshing treat. This recipe is perfect for those who love desserts with a rich, creamy texture and a burst of fruity flavors.

What is Nata de coco?

Nata de coco is a chewy, jelly-like Filipino treat made from fermented coconut water. It has a slightly sweet, firm texture and is commonly used in desserts and drinks like fruit salads, bubble teas, yogurts, and ice creams.

What is Sweetened Macapuno Strings?

Sweetened macapuno strings are a Filipino dessert made from the soft, jelly-like flesh of a special coconut variety. The coconut is cut into thin strips, cooked with sugar, and turned into a sweet, chewy treat. Macapuno strings are commonly used in Filipino desserts like halo-halo, cakes, and pastries, adding a unique sweetness and texture.

Ingredients

Listed below are all the ingredients you will need:

Instructions

Let's begin!

Strain the juice of the fruit cocktail, nata de coco, and macapuno strings:

straining the fruit cocktail for filipino fruit salad recipe

Place fruit in a large bowl and add the nestle cream and sweetened condensed milk and mix:

adding the cream to the strained fruit cocktail for filipino fruit salad recipe

Add the macapuno strings and mix:

adding the macapuno strings for filipino salad recipe

Now it's time to add in the nata de coco and mix well:

mixing in nata de coco for filipino fruit salad recipe

Refrigerate overnight and serve:

ready to be chilled mixed filipino fruit salad

For me, this is one of the best Filipino desserts I have ever eaten. A popular fiesta dessert which everybody loves and looks for in every occasion!

serving the delicious filipino fruit salad

Substitutions

Fruits: Substitute fruit cocktail with fresh fruits like pineapple chunks, peaches, lychees, pears, or diced fresh apple. You can also add maraschino cherries for extra color and sweetness.
Cream and Milk: Use heavy whipping cream or softened cream cheese instead of cream. You can also mix in a splash of vanilla to enhance the flavor.
Additional Ingredients: Incorporate kaong (sugar palm fruit), coconut gel (nata de coco), or young coconut (buko) for added texture and sweetness. For a twist, add cooked macaroni or corn kernels.

Variations

Cheese Addition: Add small cubes of cheddar cheese to introduce a savory contrast to the sweetness.
Buko Pandan: Include buko pandan jelly cubes for an authentic Filipino twist.
Unique Additions: Try adding cooked macaroni for a different twist, or corn kernels for a surprising sweet crunch.

Storage

Store the fruit salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It can be kept for up to three days.
Although not recommended due to texture changes, you can freeze the salad in a sealed container. Thaw it in the refrigerator before serving and mix well to restore its creamy consistency.

Top Tips

Use a colander to drain the liquids from your canned fruits, like the fruit cocktail, jar nata de coco, and kaong. This prevents your salad from becoming too watery.
Refrigerate the salad immediately after mixing all the ingredients. The cream and milk can spoil quickly if left at warm room temperature.

FAQ

What fruits should not be mixed in fruit salad?

Fruits like bananas and apples can turn brown and mushy, so it's best to avoid them unless you serve the salad immediately.

Why is fruit salad called macedonia in Italy?

The term "macedonia" in Italy refers to fruit salad, likely originating from the diverse mix of fruits resembling the cultural diversity of the Macedonian region.

What is the main nutrient in fruit salad?

The main nutrient in fruit salad is vitamin C, thanks to the variety of fruits included.

a bowl of delicious Filipino fruit salad

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