Apple buko salad is a fresh take on a classic Filipino holiday dessert. Made with young coconuts and gorgeous Ontario apples, it’s sweet, tangy, red, green, delicious!
Disclosure: This Easy Refreshing Apple Buko Salad post is sponsored by Ontario Apple Growers but all photos, words and opinions are mine. Thank you for supporting the brands and organizations that support me!
Christmas prep is in full swing in the TUB household. The tree is up (who am I kidding, you guys know it’s been up for a while now lol!), presents are starting to pile up waiting to be wrapped and we’re close to finalizing the holiday menu for the different parties we’re hosting this year.
Apple buko salad will make an appearance, of course. Like Filipino Style Spaghetti, Ube Cake and Brazo de Mercedes, it’s one of those dishes that we grew up eating around the holidays (I remember there’s always buko shortage just before Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, which is a serious matter in a land of coconuts!).
It’s a refreshing, sweet and wonderful dessert to cap a sensational holiday feast.
Fresh apples instead of canned fruit
Traditional buko salad is usually made of young coconut plus a can (or cans) of fruit cocktail. Fresh fruit like apples, oranges and pears are not organic to the Philippines and therefore a little expensive so a lot of Filipinos turn to the cheaper, canned alternative.
Luckily, I now live in Ontario where apples are not only abundant but affordable too. Fact: there are 15 different main varieties of apples grown on nearly 16,000 acres in Ontario! So many apples, so little time. You can read more fun apple facts here.
I love apples fresh but especially love them in desserts (have you seen my Apple Galette or my Salted Caramel Apple Cheesecake?). This time I paired apples with young coconut to make a beloved Filipino dessert.
Empire apples
For this apple buko salad, I wanted a crisp apple – one that would not get soggy submerged in all that delicious milky dressing. I knew crisp apples would also lend a wonderful texture to the salad.
I also knew I wanted a tart apple as a refreshing contrast to all that sweetness. So in the end I chose Empire apples – slightly tart, juicy and crisp. Perfect! (Here’s a great apple usage guide.)
Apple buko salad
Armed with a single apple goal, I went to go buy my Empire apples (quick tip: look for the Foodland logo to make sure you’re buying Ontario apples) and started to recreate a childhood favourite.
And you know how food has that magical ability to transport you? That’s what happened when we were making this. It smelled like Christmas, it looked like Christmas and it tasted like Christmas! It brought us back to a time of love, family and simple joys. Who knew a humble apple buko salad can do that?
This holiday season, amidst all the chaos that is our lives, I wish you all quiet moments filled with simple joys. And how about some apple buko salad while you’re at it? It’s quick and easy to make, no baking, just stirring, and it is delicious.
Easy Refreshing Apple Buko Salad
Ingredients
- 2 cups young coconut meat grated, see note 1
- 1 1/2 lbs Empire apples (3-4 apples) cored and cubed
- 1/4 lb sharp cheddar cheese cubed
- 1 12-oz jar sugar palm (kaong) in syrup see note 2
- 1 12-oz jar coconut gel (nata de coco) drained, see note 2
- 1 10-oz can condensed milk
- 1/2 cup table cream
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix all ingredients (except the milk and cream) together.
- In a smaller bowl, whisk condensed milk and table cream until combined. Pour over fruit and stir. Chill before serving.
Notes
- If fresh young coconut is not available, you can buy frozen grated coconut from Asian stores or the international aisle of your supermarket. Just thaw according to package instructions.
- You can also find sugar palm and coconut gel in Asian stores, the international aisle, or online.
- Look for the Foodland logo to make sure you’re buying Ontario apples.
Nutrition
Nutritional information are estimates only.
Happy stirring!
Did you make apple buko salad? What’s that one dish that reminds you of Christmas? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section below.
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Finn says
Hello my friend! I wish to say that we tried this recipe for holidays and it was delicious! Unique way to partake of apples. Thank you very much have a nice day.
Jolina says
Hi Finn! I’m so glad you liked the salad! Have a nice day as well 🙂
London Mumma says
This is certainly a refreshing looking apple salad and looks super tasty indeed.
Louise says
I’m not a fan of canned fruit, so I always use fresh when I’m preparing a fruit salad. Yours looks super tasty. I really want to eat some apples right now!!
Julia says
What a fun and unique salad! Sounds quite yummy and it looks pretty!
Sarmistha Goswami says
This looks mouth watering and definitely very healthy too. I too love fresh fruits over canned ones while making a salad and I love salads! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Surekha says
I love this recipe. Sounds healthy and looks delicious. I am pinning it for future
Eloise says
that sounds delicious and healthy… I’ll remember this for my healthy, fresh snacks… thanks!
Sues says
What a unique and delicious salad with such pretty colors!!
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says
Forget the salad !! I’d make this as a dessert. Fruit in the wintertime sounds so good, especially with all the sweet desserts. Apples in the States are finally coming down in price. Yay!!
Jolina says
You’re in luck Marisa! This “salad” is actually a dessert 🙂 And yay for lower apple prices!
kuminkueche says
Yummy! This recipe looks amazing. I love easy healthy recipes, and this one I would definitely try making it soon. Thanks for the inspiration!
Arlene Mobley says
What a refreshing recipe. I have never heard young coconut meat referred to as buko. Up until a few months ago my neighbor had a huge coconut tree that would litter the yard with fresh coconuts.
One of the first things I did as a child when we moved to Florida was crack open a fresh coconut and drink the coconut water. Having moved from New York to Florida it was one of the most exotic experiences of my childhood.
Jolina says
Hi Arlene! Buko is just the Tagalog word for young coconut 🙂 And now you’re just making me feel jealous! My grandparents had a coconut farm where we would drink fresh coconut juice and eat fresh coconut meat. Ahhhh it was wonderful 🙂 Now I just have to make do with frozen LOL!
emman damian says
We have this at home! My mom usually makes this dessert! Great recipe! I’ll try your version.
Jolina says
Awesome! Do you guys put Queso de Bola? I would have loved to put some but it’s ridiculously expensive here!! The apples are a wonderful change vs. the canned fruit though. Hope you like it!
Tyra says
I love new dishes. I really want to try this.
soonjoo says
I love using fresh ingredient especially fruits in a dish! Would love to try Apple Buko Salad, since California we do have great fresh apples year round and this seems great recipe to try!
Sonika Balyan says
a healthy and easy alternative for breakfast. Can be made in minutes, i am surely going to add this to my recipe lists.
Caitlin says
That looks amazing and so fresh!
Samantha Donnelly says
This sounds so nice, never tried anything like this before but really want to try it now x
Mary says
This salad looks delicious and fresh which is a welcome change from all the heavy holiday food.
Deb Savage says
This salad seems like it tastes amazing! I am going to have to give this a try.
Priyadarshini Rajendran says
What a simple recipe. I too love using fresh apples. Definitely gonna try this soon.
Liz says
This sounds delicious. I actually really like eating apples with cheddar cheese, I thought I was sort of weird for eating them like that but I guess I’m not the only one!
Jolina says
Hi Liz! It think it’s not weird at all 🙂 They go great together. Hope you’re having lovely weekend!
Veena Azmanov says
Such and interesting recipe. I love apples in my salad but I have never added condensed milk and coconut in my salad. I cannot wait to try this. I love coconut so this definitely sounds yum!
Jolina says
Hi Veena! I think Filipinos have a love affair with condensed milk. It seems we put it on everything lol. Hope you like this salad!
Michelle says
That salad looks so perfect – sweet but not too heavy. Yum!
Heather Johnson says
MY family absolutely loves apples! Your salad sounds and looks like a perfect addition to an upcoming meal in my house!
Kristen says
Okay, this looks AMAZING. What a great combination of flavors!
Kapila says
This looks amazing..I am going to try this for my fussy eater.. she doesn’t eat fruit
Jolina says
Aha, this is a sneaky way to get her to eat some apples. She would never know it 🙂
Shell says
Wow this recipe looks absolutely delicious and I can’t wait to give it a try!!
Angela Tolsma says
I have never heard of anything like this! It sounds amazing. I love how bright the salad is. Apples are cheap and easy to get here too!
Sheena says
I must tell you I just started on a diet and this blog post couldn’t have come at a better time. This looks like such a simple and truly refreshing salad (and I loveeee apples). I am certainly going to try this out and also going to look through some of your other recipes. Adding your food blog to my favourites 🙂
Jolina says
You’re in luck! I loveeeee apples too 🙂 I have some really great apple recipes on the blog. Hope you find one you like!
Denise Wright says
You always have the most interesting recipes to me! I checked out that apple guide and we love Fuji’s which of course are the sweetest but I think I’m going to try some Honeycrisp which seem similar but maybe not so sweet. I’m going to have to make this for my son. He’s the apple lover in our family.
Jolina says
Hi Denise! I really love that guide. It’s so useful right? I never used to know what to buy. Now I have that bookmarked on my phone 🙂 Hope your son (and your family) enjoy the salad!
Joan says
With abundance of apples in North America canned fruits is no longer an option..for sure this will be in my Noche Buena spread.
Jolina says
I agree! I actually never liked the taste of the local fruit cocktail my mom used (shhh don’t tell her lol!) This is a much better version 🙂 Hope you enjoy it!
brianne says
What a delicious and healthy salad! I would eat this all the time for lunch!
Scott says
This reminds me so much of an apple salad my grandmother used to make. Right down to the cheese cubes!
Jolina says
That’s awesome Scott! Grandma recipes are the best 🙂
Mjchristine says
Oh how i miss buko salad! I think these fruits are good combination and taste really delicious!
Jolina says
Hi! Are you a Filipino living abroad too? This is a really great version of buko salad if I say so myself 🙂 Perfect for Christmas!
Liz Mays says
Oh yum! I’m definitely liking the apple with the coconut flavors. I think this sounds delicious!
Neely Moldovan says
I am loving this salad recipe! Sounds so good for a side for dinners!
Dawn- Girl Heart Food says
Love that you used fresh apples over canned – so much better!! Haven’t had a salad quite like this before, but all the flavours sound delicious! It’s nice and light and a good break in between the holidays indulgences. Wishing I had some apples left on my tree to make this….looks like I’ll have to make a trip to the grocery 😉 Have a great week, Jolina!
Jolina says
Hey girl! (I can’t believe I only saw this now, it’s been that cray cray). There you go again making me all jealous of your lovely apple tree lol! Have a great week too!
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy says
Congrats on the sponsored post. This salad would be great as a brunch item during all the holiday get togethers. We need to eat healthy sometime…and this sounds delicious.
Heather says
This apple buko salad looks so yummy! I can’t wait to make this for my family.
Jaime says
We eat so many fresh apples all year round (we’re lucky in the fall to have an abundance of farms that grow apples.) This salad looks delicious!
Jolina says
We feel so lucky too! We love apples – fresh, baked, in desserts, in salads, we just love ’em 🙂