Best Ube Desserts Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What flavor pairs well with ube? ›

Combine ube flavoring with other tropical flavors like mango or coconut for unique dessert experiences. Adjust the amount of ube flavoring to create milder or bolder ube-infused dishes, catering to your personal preference.

- good shepherds ube jam has an expiration or shelf life of 1 MONTH if stored in a room temperature, if it is stored in a refrigerator its shelf life can reach up to 2 MONTHS. ORIGINAL GOOD SHEPHERDS UBE JAM has really no seal, yes you heard it right.

A traditional Filipino dessert, ube halaya is a sweet, creamy pudding dessert that is made from the tropical purple winged yam called ube (read all about ube here).

Is Ube Sweeter Than Taro? Generally, ube is sweeter than taro. It contains much more natural sugar, and its softer texture makes it taste sweeter in your mouth. However, both ube and taro usually have plenty of sugar added to them when used in desserts.

The main differences between taro and ube are their origin, the shape and color of their roots, and their flavor and traditional uses. Taro is native to Southeast Asia and has white or light purple roots, while ube (also known as purple yam) is native to the Philippines and has purple roots.

The bottom line

Purple yams are an incredibly nutritious starchy root vegetable. Their powerful antioxidants may help reduce your blood pressure and blood sugar levels. They are tasty and versatile with a vibrant color, making them an exciting ingredient that can be used in a variety of sweet and savory dishes.

"Prebiotics help healthy bacteria in the gut flourish and protect our immune system.” Ultimately, "both ube's antioxidant profile and fiber content make it a great addition to an anti-inflammatory diet," Cabrero says.

Ube and yummy sweet strawberries together are a yummy combination.

If you are able to source ube in fresh form, you should not store the whole ube in the refrigerator, as you would other starchy vegetables. Store them somewhere dry, dark and cool. The best way to preserve cooked ube is to cover it tightly in cling wrap or keep it in an airtight container to keep it from drying out.

Why did my ube turn green? ›

Why do the ube cookies turn green or blue after baking? The acid-base balance is what causes the purple color to change color. Anything basic (alkaline) will turn the purple color greenish or bluish. Ingredients like egg whites and baking powder are more alkaline and cause the color to change.

In general a properly sterilized, sealed and stored, and GLASS BOTTLED jelly should be okay up to a couple of years beyond the “best by" date. Just be certain to give it a really good sniff test first.

Ube halaya or halayang ube (also spelled halea, haleya; from Spanish jalea 'jelly') is a Philippine dessert made from boiled and mashed purple yam (Dioscorea alata, locally known as ube).

Ube (Dioscorea alata) is a purple yam that is native to Southeast Asia and predominantly used in Filipino cuisine. This starchy tuber has a distinct purple-colored flesh that varies in shade and features a nutty, vanilla flavor. It is often used in desserts, from cakes to ice creams, to provide sweetness and color.

Uhi – a Hawaiian yam – is a canoe crop of the same species as ube (Dioscorea alata). Very popular in the Philippines, ube is used in many traditional dishes and modern desserts, such as ice cream and cake. While 'uala is an important staple crop in Hawai'i, uhi never achieved this status.

— It has a smooth texture and a mild, sweet flavor that has been compared to white chocolate or a cross between vanilla and pistachio. — Yes, that unearthly color is natural — you can see it as soon you slice into a raw tuber.

While ube is used in both sweet and savory dishes, Besa said that it's primarily used in sweet recipes. Ube halaya, or ube jam, is often used in desserts like halo-halo (Filipino shaved ice) or added to pies and ice cream, which you can often find at Purple Yam.

If you're a fan of bubble tea, you might be wondering which ingredient - taro or ube - is a better choice for your drink. While both ingredients can be used to create delicious and creamy bubble tea, ube's distinct and sweeter flavor profile might be more appealing to those with a sweet tooth.

Taste and Texture

Both ube and Okinawan sweet potato have a similar sweet, earthy flavor, with ube carrying hints of pistachio and vanilla. Sweet potatoes have a drier texture while ube is more moist; some have even likened ube to an Irish potato!