Last Updated on July 13, 2024 by Chef Mireille
Ube is a type of purple yam that is found in some southeast Asian cuisines, but permeates Filipino cuisine. Although most popular in dessert recipes, it can also be used in savory recipes. It has a unique flavor that is less of a potato flavor and more of a nutty flavor with sweetness. Here is a collection of the most delicious Ube Desserts and drinks for you to indulge in.
It started trending here in the United States a few years ago, but I have been cooking with it for many years.
IN THIS POST
Not all purple yam is the same. Ube is a distinct type of purple yam that has a deep, rich, vibrant purple hue. Some people mistakenly confuse Peruvian purple potatoes or Japanese purple sweet potatoes aka Okinawan Sweet Potatoes for ube. Both of these are less sweet and are missing the vibrant purple color that characterizes real ube.
Notes on Buying Ube
- Fresh Ube is rare to find in the United States. If you do find them at an Asian supermarkets, make sure it is real ube and not Okinawan sweet potato. The best way to confirm it is ube is to snap off the end and you should find a deep dark purple hue.
- Halayang Ube aka as ube jam or ube halaya jam is the base ingredient used in many Filipino desserts. You can find this ready made in some Asian stores especially in a local Filipino market like Phil-Am Market here in the NYC area. Look for a local Filipino grocery store in your area for the best options. However, there is also a homemade ube halaya recipe below so you can make it yourself.
- Some people make an instant ube halaya by mixing ube powder with water.
- When ube is mixed with ingredients like coconut milk and flour, the color can be quite muted in the end result. To combat this, ube extract or ube paste is usually added to give the recipe its characteristic purple hue. If nothing else, you can also just use purple food coloring. This is done primarily for aesthetic reasons as it does not really add any additional ube flavoring. You can include it or not, per your preference.
- Frozen ube is the most common way to find ube in an Asian market. Frozen ube comes in two forms – cooked mashed ube or grated ube. Mashed ube will have a deep purple color and is the better option. Lucia is the brand I usually use.
Delicious Desserts with Ube Halaya: Recipes with Purple Yam Jam
Are you ready to make your own homemade ube halaya? Try out this recipe and then you can make all the other recipes that use purple yam jam as a base.
One you have your Ube Halaya or Purple Yam Jam, you can know make any of these recipes that use it as a base.
Recipes with Frozen Ube or Fresh Purple Yam
The following recipes all utilize ube in the forms of either frozen ube or fresh purple yam.
This vibrant purple Southeast Asian yam is one of my favorite ingredients to cook with. With its nutty flavor and eye catching color, it’s no wonder it is included in so many various Filipino desserts.
Take a Cooking Class in Malaysia!
Malaysia was the first place I tried Ube Ice Cream before ube started trending in the United States. Check out this post which details the best Travel Cooking Class experience I’ve ever had. If Malaysia is in your travel plans, this Malaysian Cooking Class must be included in your itinerary.
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