Filipino Coconut Dessert Soup with Sago - Ginataang Bilo Bilo
Ginataang bilo bilo in English means glutinous rice balls in coconut milk. But it sooo much more than that! It's a cozy dessert filled not just with chewy glutinous balls, but also sago or tapioca balls, sweet potatoes, bananas, and if available, jackfruit!
Disclosure
The equipment and ingredients sections contain affiliate links to products I love to use as well as items that I personally believe make this recipe the best version of itself.
Ingredients
Make Tapioca Balls
- ⅓ cup small tapioca balls
- 4 cups water
White Bilo Bilo (Glutinous Rice Balls)
- 1 cup glutinous rice flour
- ½ cup warm water may need to use more or less
Ube Bilo Bilo (Glutinous Rice Balls)
- ½ cup glutinous rice flour
- ¼ cup ube halaya (jam)
- ¼ cup warm water may need to use more or less
Other
- ½ cup granulated white sugar
- 13.53 oz coconut milk 1 can
- 1¾ cups water
- 1 large banana sliced
- 1 medium sweet potato diced, medium
- 1 can yellow jackfruit, drained strips; optional
Instructions
Cook Sago (Tapioca) Balls
- Add 4 cups of the water to a small pot and bring to a boil. Add the tapioca balls.
- The water will stop boiling so bring it up to a boil again. Once boiling, lower to a simmer and cook for about 5 mins. After simmering for 5 mins, turn off the heat and let it sit in the hot water for 10 mins.
- Then strain out the hot water and rinse the tapioca balls in cold water to bring to room temperature. You may have to pour out the rinsing water and use more water. The balls will still have a white center.
- Add 4 more cups of water to the now empty pot. Bring to a boil again. Add the semi-cooked tapioca balls in the boiling water. Bring to a simmer and simmer for 5 mins again. Then turn off the heat and let it sit in the hot water for 10 mins. This time the balls should be 99% clear and fully cooked.
- Drain the hot water, then rinse again to bring the balls to room temperature. Pour the tapioca balls in a bowl with some room temp water to let sit while you make the glutinous rice balls.
Make Bilo Bilo or Glutinous Rice Balls
- Plain Glutinous Balls: In a bowl, add the measured glutinous rice flour and half of the measured warm water. Stir with a spatula until the water has disappeared. Then add the rest of the warm water 1 tablespoon at a time as you continue to stir. You should get a shaggy dough. Keep mixing the water evenly into the dough until you get a smooth, malleable ball. Cover and let sit while you make the ube dough.
- Ube Glutinous Balls: Mix the measured glutinous rice flour, the ube halaya, and the half of the measured water. Add more water if you need to while you continue to mix and knead with a spoon. When the dough is shaggy and just comes together, you can start kneading with your hands until you get a smooth ball.
- Prepare a plate to place the formed glutinous rice balls. Then take a ½ teaspoon measuring spoon and scoop out some dough. Make a ball with the dough rolling it between the palm of your hands.
- Place the piece on the plate. Repeat for the rest of both dough until there is none left. Cover the plate with cling-wrap and set it aside.
Make the Ginataan or Coconut Soup Dessert
- In a heavy-bottomed pot, add the coconut milk, sugar, and 1.5 cups water for the ginataan. Set it on medium-low heat and bring to a simmer while stirring to melt the sugar. Add the diced sweet potato and let it cook as it simmers for 3 mins.
- Add the bananas and let them cook for 2 mins.
- Gently add the glutinous rice balls and bring to a simmer so that they cook. As the center of the glutinous rice balls get softer and cook thoroughly, they will float to the top. This will happen in about 3 to 5 mins while simmering.
- Once most of the glutinous rice balls float, drain the tapioca balls from its water, and add them to the pot. Gently mix everything together for another 2 minutes. Check that the sweet potatoes are soft enough but still have a bite.
- Serve this dessert soup warm or room temperature.
Nutrition
Calories: 267kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 3gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 32mgPotassium: 272mgFiber: 2gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 4017IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 26mgIron: 2mg