LIST: Cold food and drinks you may try to beat the heat, according to culinary experts
The recent heat index has made Filipinos sweat and complain a whole lot. To combat the scorching temperatures, many have turned to frequent cool showers, mall visits, and, for those fortunate enough to have them, hours-long air conditioning usage. For others, however, refreshing cold foods are another popular way to beat the heat.
Aside from the usual halo-halo and ice cream, there are other cold dishes out there that one may try to feel reinvigorated—without skimping on taste. And even if the scorching heat would supposedly end after mid-May, according to PAGASA, these cold delights may still be enjoyed any time.
PhilSTAR L!fe spoke with chefs and culinary experts for their recommendations and where to buy them—even their very own recipes for one to try at home.
Cold noodles
Chef Gene Gonzalez, president of the Center for Asian Culinary Studies: "These cold noodles are quite admirable because they’re full-flavored and can be served on a hot summer day. They’re basically on the classification of noodle salad.
"(Hiyashi chuka) has vegetables, cold seaweed, pieces of tamago, and pieces of kani. It’s like eating noodle sushi. Sometimes, there are variations in which they put miso to increase the umami. Cold ang broth niya and very refreshing.
"Hiyashi sarada naman, it’s basically spaghetti with mayonnaise, wasabi, and kani. It’s a variation of the maki, but instead of rice, we put noodles.
"As for zaru udon/zaru soba, you dip the cold noodles [in] a cold broth, sprinkled with onions, nori, etc. It’s quite an umami experience, paired off with sashimi or tempura.
"You can get these in Little Tokyo in Makati, if not Okada Manila."
Frozen strawberries with condensed milk
Edward Bugia, Flipside Burgers PH and Bean & Yolk PH: "At Sawada Ichigo Cafe in Bonifacio Global City, they have Ichigo Milk, which is made of frozen strawberries and Hokkaido condensed milk. What’s there not to love?"
Raw fish in sweet and sour chili sauce
(@stephytries/TikTok/Screenshot)
Edward: "Some Thai in Tomas Morato, meanwhile, serves hamachi in namjin sauce. The thing about spicy food is pwede mo ‘yun kainin kahit mainit. Papawisan ka, and when you sweat, it cools down your body."
Sa-Pak Punch!
Chef Roland Laudico of Chef Laudico Guevarra’s: "It’s salabat (Sa) with fresh pakwan juice (Pak)."
Ingredients:
- 6 cups of water
- 1/2 cup of crushed fresh ginger
- Sugar or honey
- One fresh pakwan
- Gin, vodka, lambanog (optional)
Procedure:
- Mix water and ginger boil for 15 to 20 minutes. Strain and refrigerate.
- Take out all the seeds of the pakwan and puree in a blender.
- Mix the cold salabat and pakwan juice. Add sugar or honey to taste. You may also add gin, vodka, or lambanog.
KBL (Kadios, Batuan, Langka) Bilbit
Chef Rey Parreno, board of directors at F and D Restaurant Corporation: "It’s like an ice pop or ice buko counterpart, if not iced candy on a stick."
Ingredients:
- Batuan
- Kadios or pigeon pea beans
- Sugar or honey
- Langka
- Coconut milk
- Cornstarch and water mixture (optional)
Procedure:
- Simmer kadios with two parts water and one part sugar/honey, or depending on how sweet you want it, until soft. Set aside.
- Simmer one batuan fruit in water until soft enough as its skin slowly peels away and the fruit changes into a dark brown color. Taste the broth if it’s sour enough; if not, add more batuan as needed.
- Strain the residues and add sugar to taste. Stir well until dissolved.
- Add the coconut milk, stir, and let it cool. Add cornstarch and water mixture to thicken if necessary.
- Pour mixture into a popsicle mold or freezer-safe plastic glass and let it set for a bit. Mix with sweetened kadios and chopped langka or layer them. Add popsicle stick and enjoy after an hour or so.
Mais con yelo with ube ice cream and cornflakes
@abigailfmarquez EAT or PASS? 🤔🌽 Corn for Dessert! Mais con Yelo is top tier next to Halo-Halo, especially with creamy ube ice cream! Ingredients: * 2 tbsp cream of corn * White sugar to taste * 1 cup shaved or crushed ice, packed * 2 tbsp corn kernels * 3 tbsp cornflakes * 1 scoop of Selecta Super Thick Ube Ice Cream #icecream #scoop #dessert #yum #scooptok #foodporn #food #foodlovers #foodlover #foodieph #foodie #delicious #fyp #tiktokfood #foodtok #recipe #cooking #foodlover #delicious #yummy #abimarquez #lumpiaqueen ♬ original sound - Abi Marquez
Abi Marquez, James Beard Foundation nominee food content creator: "This is the sound of Filipino summer… this is the way to survive that hot summer."
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons of cream of corn
- White sugar to taste
- 1 cup shaved or crushed ice, packed
- 2 tablespoons of corn kernels
- 3 tablespoons of cornflakes
- 1 scoop of ube ice cream
- Evaporated milk
Procedure:
- In a glass, put cream of corn, white sugar, ice, corn kernels, evaporated milk, cornflakes, and ube ice cream. Mix and serve.