How to Make Pampango Frozen Fruit Salad

Pampango frozen fruit salad makes for a refreshing summer treat.

In the province of Pampanga, the Kapampangan people have a style of cuisine that is different from most other Filipino cuisine. It has many similarities to Cantonese and also Spanish cuisine. One of the most popular desserts in the Pampanga region is Pampango frozen fruit salad, which is a very refreshing treat on a warm summer day. The Philippines is blessed with a number of indigenous fruits including pineapple, banana and mango. Pampango frozen fruit salad can be made with several kinds of fresh fruit and in a short period of time.

Things You'll Need

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup water
• Medium saucepan
• 2 large mixing bowls
• 2 cups canned fruit cocktail in light syrup
• 1 cup fresh Royal Ann (maraschino) cherries, pitted
• 1 cup peaches, diced into 1-inch cubes
• 1 cup pineapple, diced into 1-inch cubes
• 1 cup Golden Delicious apples, diced into 1-inch cubes (marinated to prevent discoloration)
• 1 cup bananas, sliced into 1-inch pieces (marinated to prevent discoloration)
• 1/2 cup seedless red grapes
• 2 oranges, peeled and cut into sections
• Colander
• Whisk or electric mixer
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 cup almonds, chopped

Instructions

1. Make a simple syrup. In a medium saucepan on high heat, add water and bring it to a rolling boil. Add sugar and blend well. Turn heat down to medium and simmer syrup mixture for about five minutes. Once the sugar has dissolved, remove saucepan from heat. Allow syrup to cool.

2. Chill all fruits. In a large bowl, add fruit cocktail (with syrup), cherries, peaches, pineapple, apples, bananas, grapes, and oranges. Add the simple syrup from Step 1 and mix well. Cover bowl and refrigerate for about two hours.

3. Drain excess syrup. Remove fruit bowl from refrigerator and gently pour fruit into colander, draining away any excess liquid. Put fruit back in bowl and set aside.

4. Make whipped cream. In another mixing bowl, combine heavy cream, sugar and vanilla extract. Either by hand with a whisk or with an electric mixer, whip heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Blend whipped cream with mayonnaise.

5. Combine all ingredients. Gently fold fruit mixture into whipped cream/mayonnaise mixture, blending well. Arrange in a serving bowl and garnish with chopped almonds and maraschino cherries, if desired. Cover bowl and freeze for one hour. Serve chilled.

Tips & Warnings

• If certain fruits are not available from your local grocer, you can make substitutions. Consider adding mango, papaya, grapefruit, cantaloupe, or honeydew melon for one of the fruits listed.

References

• Sun.Star Publishing, Inc.; Tantingco: History and Destiny in Kapampangan Cuisine; Robby Tantingco; 2011
• "Philippine Food & Life"; Gilda Cordero-Fernando; 1992
• United States Department of Agriculture: Choice Plus; Fruit Product Sheets: Fruit Cocktail: Canned