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Home » Recipe Index » Fruits and Vegetables » Buko Salad

Buko Salad

Published: Dec 1, 2019 · Modified: Dec 3, 2019 by Lalaine Manalo · This post may contain affiliate links

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Buko salad is the ultimate holiday dessert! This Filipino fruit salad is easy to make and so creamy and delicious. A guaranteed party favorite!

Buko Salad in a large clear glass bowl
Buko Salad

I try to visit my mom in the Philippines twice a year but I am not always able to time the trip around the holidays. This will be the first Christmas I will be spending with her in three years so you can just imagine my joy and excitement.

I have so many merry holiday memories growing up and a lot of them are centered around food, of course. Like most Filipino families, buko salad was one of our Noche Buena traditions.

I remember my mom and I would make a special trip to the supermarket a few days before Christmas to buy the ingredients and early morning of Christmas Eve, we'd group around our kitchen table to make a big kawa of the delicious concoction. My mom would painstakingly peel grapes, dice the apples, and cube cheese while my brothers and I would squabble over who gets the cherries in the canned fruit cocktail. 🙂

ingredients for buko salad-fruit cocktail, kaong, nata de coco, buko

Every Filipino household has its own version of this classic treat. Along with the basic ingredients of shredded young coconut, fruit cocktail, kaong, nata de coco, condensed milk, and all-purpose cream, my mom's recipe below also includes cubed cheese and corn kernels.

They may sound like a weird addition to a fruit salad but the combination works! The corn provides additional texture while the saltiness of the cheese balances the sweetness of the dessert.

Make the fruit salad as simple or festive as you like. You can choose and add from these options below to suit your tastes.

mixing buko salad in a kawa

Filipino Fruit Salad Ingredients

  • Fruit Cocktail
  • Mixed tropical fruit-this canned fruit mix usually includes pineapple, red and yellow papayas
  • Pineapple tidbits or chunks
  • Canned Peaches or Pears
  • Mandarin oranges
  • Canned Lychees
  • Fresh fruits such as grapes, strawberries, and diced apples (drizzle the cut apples with lemon juice to keep from browning)
  • Shredded young coconut-if using the frozen packages of buko, thaw completely and drain. Reserve the juice and add to the salad if you want more liquid
  • Nata de coco (coconut gel)
  • Kaong (palm fruits)
  • Cut corn kernels or creamed corn
  • Cubed cheese
  • Condensed milk
  • All-purpose cream

Buko Salad in serving cups

How to Serve Buko Salad

Buko salad is as easy as tossing all the ingredients together in a large bowl. You can serve the mixture as soon as it's prepared but for best results, chill for a few hours until very cold or freeze until firm. Either way, it's delicious as an after-meal dessert or midday snack.

Looking for more desserts? Try refreshing buko lychee sorbet or this pasta fruit salad made extra delicious with macaroni noodles!

Buko Salad in a large clear glass bowl
Print Recipe Leave a Comment
4.29 from 7 votes

Buko Salad

Filipino Fruit Salad is the perfect holiday treat! Colorful, creamy and delicious with canned fruit, young coconut, and sweetened cream, this buko salad is sure to a party favorite!
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time0 mins
Freezing8 hrs
Total Time10 mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Filipino
Servings: 12 Servings
Calories: 287kcal
Author: Lalaine Manalo

Ingredients

  • 4 cups young coconut, shredded
  • 1 can (30 ounces) fruit cocktail or tropical fruit mix, drained
  • 1 can (8 ounces) pineapple tidbits, drained
  • 1 can (15 ounces) sweet corn kernels, drained
  • 1 bottle (12 ounces) kaong, drained
  • 1 bottle (12 ounces) nata de coco, drained
  • 1 cup Eden brand or Velveeta
  • 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 can (14 ounces) all-purpose cream
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, combine young coconut, fruit cocktail, pineapple tidbits, corn kernels, kaong, nata de coco, cheese, condensed milk, and all-purpose cream. Stir gently to distribute.
  • Chill for a few hours or freeze until firm.

Video

Notes

If adding fresh fruits such as apples, drizzle with lemon juice to keep from browning.

Nutrition

Calories: 287kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 393mg | Potassium: 368mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 313IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 218mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe? I'd love to see what you made!mention @Kawalingpinoy and hashtag your photo with #kawalingpinoy

 

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Lalaine from Kawaling Pinoy

Hello! My name is Lalaine and welcome to Kawaling Pinoy where you’ll find Filipino and Asian-inspired recipes, cooking tips, and how-to videos. Read more...

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Shyrine Abancia says

    January 04, 2020 at 4:38 am

    Ilang days po ba ang inaabot ng buko salad kung papatigasin nman sya sa ref ?

    Reply
    • Lalaine Manalo says

      January 17, 2020 at 8:39 pm

      Sa ref mga 3 days siya, in the freezer a few weeks 🙂

      Reply
  2. Betty Lay says

    October 20, 2019 at 6:37 pm

    where you get kaong and nata de coco?

    Reply
    • Lalaine Manalo says

      November 30, 2019 at 10:03 pm

      You can find them at most Asian supermarkets; they're usually sold in bottles packed in syrup. 🙂

      Reply
    • Dansen Abanes says

      December 23, 2019 at 5:14 pm

      I lost my dearest mother this year 2019, how to cook favorite food was not taught to us but after seeing this helpful website. I feel my mother is with us. Salamat po.

      Reply
      • Lalaine Manalo says

        January 17, 2020 at 8:38 pm

        I am sorry to hear that. I am glad this website helps bring back fond memories of your mom. God bless!

        Reply
  3. Jade says

    August 28, 2019 at 12:17 am

    umasim po yung buko salad na ginawa ko.. anu po kaya ang cause & how to prevent it po? Thanks

    Reply
    • Lalaine Manalo says

      November 30, 2019 at 10:02 pm

      May gatas po kasi kaya dapat nakarefrigerate at nasa proper temperature below 40 F para hindi mapanis.

      Reply
  4. Rodolfo Moreno says

    December 25, 2017 at 7:25 am

    liked very much the recipes

    Reply
    • Lalaine says

      December 25, 2017 at 1:13 pm

      Thank you, Rodolfo!

      Reply
  5. mrs diane patricia redman-heath says

    April 02, 2016 at 12:29 pm

    liking recipe using premade fruit salad

    Reply
    • Lalaine says

      April 04, 2016 at 12:55 pm

      🙂

      Reply
      • Everett batusin says

        August 02, 2016 at 6:26 am

        Nice one..mam..

        Reply
        • Lalaine says

          August 02, 2016 at 9:36 pm

          Thank you 🙂

          Reply

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