Ube, also known as purple yam, is a staple in Filipino desserts. Here's a simple recipe for Ube Halaya, a classic Filipino dessert.

What is ube?

Is a root vegetable that is commonly used in Filipino cuisine. It is also known as purple yam because of its distinctive deep purple color. It has a sweet and nutty flavor, and it is often used in desserts like ice cream, cake, and pastries. Ube can be cooked in many ways, including boiling, roasting, or baking. It is a good source of fiber, potassium, and antioxidants.

Types of Ube:

Basco Ube:

comes from the Batanes province, particularly the town of Basco. It is known for its smooth texture and distinct nutty flavor.

Leyte Ube:

is grown in the Leyte province and is known for its slightly firmer texture and subtle sweetness. It is often used in traditional Filipino desserts such as ube ice cream, ube cake, and ube pastries.

Zambales Ube

is grown in the Zambales province, and it is known for its deep purple color and sweet flavor. It is often used in desserts such as ube halaya, a type of jam made from ube.

Ingredients:

1 lb. grated purple yam
2 cups coconut milk
1 cup condensed milk

Instructions:

1. Pour the coconut milk in a cooking pot. Bring to a boil.
2. Put-in the grated purple yam. Continue to cook while stirring (using low to medium heat) until the texture gets thick. Note: It will take around 20 to 30 minutes. Please be patient.
3. Pour in the coconut milk and condensed milk. Stir well.
4. Let it cool down to room temperature. You can serve it immediately of place it in the refrigerator (covered with cling sap).
5. Share and enjoy!

Here is the video tutorial: 

Enjoy this sweet and creamy Filipino dessert!

Grab our Ube Book here: 

Ube is an interactive book with different activities that explores the Filipino culture through food. Learn about the popular purple yam called UBE from the Philippines. 

Ube Book