Ask anyone from Visayas or Mindanao what snack they enjoyed as children, and you'll likely hear a similar answer: binangkal.
Resembling buchi on the surface and about the size of a golf ball, binangkal evokes nostalgia with every bite. Often enjoyed alongside a sweet drink, such as sikwate or a beloved coffee, these light-brown fried bread balls create a calm morning or afternoon snack for many locals.
Ready to give it a try? You won't have to book a flight to the region to taste its delicacies. This binangkal recipe brings the taste of Visayas and Mindanao to your home or tea party.
What is Binangkal?
Binangkal, a popular Filipino snack, features small, round-fried bread balls coated with sesame seeds and sweetened with sugar. This treat is prevalent in Central Visayas and Northern Mindanao, commonly carried as baon by young Cebuano students due to its simplicity in preparation and transport.
Its name, "binangkal," is derived from its resemblance to the fruit of the local bangkal tree (scientifically known as Nauclea orientalis).
Unlike traditional loaves, binangkal bread boasts a sesame-seed coating that adds a sweet, nutty crispness to its chewy interior. Enjoy it for breakfast, after lunch, or merienda with its satisfying crispy-soft balance.
Since it's a popular snack many mothers have prepared for their kids, it has a simple recipe with ingredients you might already have.
What You'll Need to Make Binangkal Bread
You'd be surprised at how easy it is to make binangkal bread; it doesn't require an oven, and the ingredients might already be in your pantry. The binangkal ingredients include pantry staples: flour, baking powder, and sugar. Besides that, other components include the following ingredients below, with a special twist to elevate the dish, using Arla's natural ingredients for a richer taste:
Binangkal ingredients
- Sesame seeds: It wouldn't be binangkal without a coating of sesame seeds, so don't forget this!
- Cooking oil: Making donuts will require you to deep fry the binangkal balls mixture in cooking oil.
- Evaporated milk: This will help the ingredients combine to form a bread-like texture. You can also try using Arla Full Cream Milk for a richer and fluffier binangkal bread.
- All-purpose flour: The binangkal balls need this to retain their golf ball-like shape.
- Sugar: You can use white or brown sugar to add sweetness to your binangkal bread.
- Baking powder: To give the binangkal balls a soft and air texture, you must use baking powder.
Other ingredient variations to try
Try varying ingredients to create a new tradition in your family's recipe book. You might even make a unique binangkal recipe pang negosyo your neighbors and village will love.
- Substitute evaporated milk with full cream milk for a creamier and richer texture. Try using Arla's Full Cream Milk to improve the taste of your binangkal bread.
- Add almond extract to enhance the sesame seed coating's nutty flavor. Just about ¼ teaspoon can elevate your binangkal bread’s taste.
- Mix in black sesame seeds to vary the taste of your regular sesame seeds. Black sesame seeds offer a nuttier flavor and essential macrominerals, making this delightful snack a healthy choice for children who adore it.
- Use low-fat milk to create a healthier snack. Arla's Low Fat Milk allows you to snack on binangkal guilt-free.
- Substitute white sugar for muscovado to create a rich, dark brown color. It also adds a slight caramel-like flavor to the final product, which makes it more unique.
- Add yeast if you want to cook bigger binangkal. Opt for a binangkal recipe with yeast to explore diverse ball sizes, as yeast facilitates the rising of bread mixtures.
With these ingredient variations, you can take your binangkal bread to the next level, especially when you blend in the excellence of Arla’s butter. Replace your regular butter with Arla’s unsalted butter to infuse a creamy richness that harmonizes effortlessly with the other flavors. The butter also enhances the dough’s consistency and complements the delightful variations you experiment with.
How to Make Binangkal Bread (Fried Bread Sesame Balls)
Experience the Visayan rendition of doughnuts with these delectable deep-fried dough balls, generously coated in sesame seeds. Delight in a unique twist on the classic treat that tantalizes your taste buds with every bite.
Cook: 10 to 15 minutes
Gear: Deep skillet pan or a large frying pan, with a size deep enough for deep-frying
Ingredients
For the Cake Base:
Set A:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
Set B:
- ¼ cup cooking oil
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 cup evaporated milk, or Arla Full Cream Milk
- 1 tbsp Arla Unsalted Butter, softened
Set C:
- ½ cup sesame seeds
- 1 liter cooking oil, for frying
Instructions
Preparation:
- Sift the Set A ingredients into a bowl. Mix everything.
- Add in Set B ingredients. Mix until well combined.
- Roll and shape into balls, then roll onto sesame seeds.
Cooking:
- Preheat the oil in a deep frying pan.
- Fry over medium heat until golden brown.
- Drain off excess oil, then roll again in sesame seeds.
- Let cool and serve.
A Taste of Visayas and Mindanao
When taking on an adventurous exploration of our 7,000 islands' delicacies, a freshly made batch of binangkal is a perfect choice. This simple snack sends you back to the tranquil memories of childhood, where mom's delicious cooking followed hours of afternoon play.
Relish the delight of these pleasant fried sesame bread balls by sharing them with friends at your next gathering, or savor them alongside your favorite coffee. Want to enhance the flavor further? Experiment with different Arla dairy products when making binangkal. Our diverse recipes offer a gateway to creating new family favorites.
Shop for Arla products at our Lazada page and contact us for your inquiries.
