20+ BEST Ube Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What does ube pair well with? ›

Ube tastes mildly sweet (but sweeter than taro and a sweet potato), with a nutty flavor, and is a bit like a vanilla baked good. That's why it's commonly paired with coconut and white chocolate in desserts.

Due to dwindling local production and the need to meet export demands, ube flavoring and color has become common in the Asian country. Scarcity in supply of the crop has also resulted in high prices.

In Filipino culture, ube is not just a food but also a symbol of Filipino resilience and adaptability. Even during challenging times, the ube plant thrives, much like the Filipino spirit.

The flesh of purple sweet potatoes is consistently a deep purple-to-fuchsia color, whereas ube flesh can vary from light violet to dark lavender. Ube flesh contains more moisture than sweet potato, making it a better ingredient to bake with.

Yes, purple yam possesses anti-inflammatory properties due to its antioxidant content. The antioxidants present in purple yam can help reduce inflammation in the body and potentially alleviate symptoms associated with inflammatory conditions.

Taro is high in fiber, vitamins C and E, and potassium. It's also low in fat and calories, making it a great choice for those watching their weight or looking to improve their heart health. Ube, on the other hand, is rich in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties.

Ube is a good source of dietary fiber, which plays a vital role in promoting gut health. Fiber helps keep you feeling full and satisfied, aids in digestion, and may even help regulate blood sugar levels.

With this high demand for ube locally and around the globe, ube farmers and producers can barely keep up. In August 2020, food manufacturer Ramar Foods announced an ube shortage due to demand, climate change, and as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dioscorea alata is a species of yam commonly referred to as purple yam, ube, violet yam, or water yam. This tuberous root vegetable originates from Southeast Asia and is often confused with taro root. An indigenous staple of the Philippines, it's now cultivated and enjoyed worldwide.

Native to Southeast Asia, ube is a purple yam whose glimmering purple center, mild, sweet flavor, and coconut-like aroma have made it a popular ingredient in traditional Filipino sweets.

What fruit goes with ube? ›

Ube likely first arrived in Hawai'i with the sakadas, Filipino migrant workers who came to the islands starting in the early 1900s to work on the growing cane and pineapple plantations; Barbosa's own great-grandparents were sakadas, and her paternal grandmother was born on O'ahu in 1921.

Furthermore, raw ube is toxic, so it's essential to cook it well before adding it to a recipe. Once ube is cooked, however, it's an ideal ingredient for many culinary applications.

Is Ube Safe for Dogs? If the ube has been properly prepared (boiled or steamed), it is perfectly safe for dogs to eat. Feeding a large amount in one go will likely lead to gastrointestinal upset or discomfort, so don't go too crazy.

Blood sugar control

Diabetes affects a sizable portion of the human population. Flavonoids found in purple yams help reduce blood sugar levels. Studies report that eating purple yams can help control blood sugar.

For a simple way to dip into your Ube Spread stash, use it to top pancakes like TikTok user @doll_legs did. The spread is a great substitute for maple syrup on any type of pancakes, and works as a sweet waffle or French toast topper as well. Add some homemade whipped cream and sliced fruit for a really decadent meal.

Fresh ube is often prepared and cooked like a potato — heated until it is soft. Like white potatoes, ube contains some toxins when raw, so it should always be thoroughly cooked. It can be prepared in a variety of ways: boiled, baked, mashed, or fried.

Ube is a type of purple yam native to Southeast Asia. It's a prized ingredient in Filipino cuisine, used in both traditional desserts like ube halaya (a pudding-like dessert) and kakanin (rice cakes), and modern desserts like cakes, cookies, and ice cream.

This food is made by grating or mashing boiled ube flesh before mixing it with milk, coconut milk, or condensed milk and other sweeteners. At this stage, ube halaya can be eaten by itself or added to other recipes to provide ube flavor.