Ube (pronounced ooh-beh), also known as purple yam, has been causing quite a stir lately in the social media food world, and that’s because its bright purple color makes anything it touches look like it came straight from some sort of culinary fairy tale. This root vegetable has been used in the colorful cuisine from Asian nations such as the Philippines for decades, but now we’re finding our own ways to put Ube to work and color our own kitchens all shades of violet. Here are 10 ways you can go crazy with these beautiful and tasty ube treats today:
You wouldn’t have much trouble finding this brightly colored ice cream on the streets of Manila, but if you can’t make it all the way to the Philippines, making ube ice cream at home is actually pretty simple, especially if you happen to have an ice cream machine at home.
https://eatandtreats.blogspot.ca/2014/09/10-things-to-do-in-manila-phillipines.html Photo by: Eats & Treats
Move over red velvet, there’s a new pancake in town and its color is au natural! The addition of purple yam means that these scrumptious pancakes not only look amazing, but also contain extra vitamins and nutrients, perfect to help kick-start your day!
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/299982025162380070/ Photo by: Pinterest
Ube jam is a staple pantry item if you’re living in the Philippines, but you can make this sweet, rich purple jam in your own kitchen with only a few ingredients (and a lot of stirring!) Once you’re done, spread it on bread, rolls or use it to make other Ube treats like this next recipe…
http://burntlumpiablog.com/2014/12/rum-ube-jam-halayang-ube.html Photo by: Burnt Lumpia
This recipe takes a classic American pastry and adds a fun southeast Asian twist by using ube for a bright purple filling that makes these turnovers look sooo inviting! You can also take a time-saving shortcut and use that ube jam to fill these pastries so you’ll have tempting turnovers in no time at all.
http://www.sweethaute.net/2015/05/purple-sweet-potato-turnovers-recipe.html/purple-sweet-potato-turnovers-sweet-haute-recipe Photo by: Sweet Haute
The cake pop craze is far from over, so why not check two trends off your list with one recipe? These cute cake pops are made from ube chiffon cake which will give your cake pops that irresistible pop of purple, perfect for birthdays, showers, or anytime you just want a cake pop.
https://twitter.com/allcakedupdc/status/516690256222232576 Photo by: All Caked Up/Twitter
Yams are a pretty popular food for the Thanksgiving holiday, but imagine your family sitting down to a Thanksgiving meal with a big basket of bright purple ube rolls on the table?! You’ll be the new star of thanksgiving for sure, especially in the eyes of all the kids who won’t be able to keep their hands off these little rolls.
https://abusymom.wordpress.com/2013/08/06/purple-sweet-potato-bun/ Photo by: A Busy Mom
You didn’t think we’d get through this article without mentioning cupcakes did you? These ube cupcakes look good enough to eat already, but if you want to go full Filipino, try topping them with young coconut strips (macapuno) or pieces of canned jackfruit (langka) Yumm!
http://bakehappy.net/2014/01/ube-macapuno-cupcakes.html#.WAEjyugrKUm Photo by: Bake Happy
These doughnuts don’t just dress the part, break one open and they’re ube-packed, through and through! How could you possibly resist that glossy purple paint job? Or the better question is, how could you possibly resist a doughnut?! (I know I can’t!)
https://www.instagram.com/p/_-AURiGvZr/?taken-by=indulgenteats Photo by: Indulgenteats/Manila Social Club
Looking for another way to use that jar of ube jam you’ve made? Look no further than this super cool loaf of twisted ube mochi bread! This is another recipe where you can take a time-saving shortcut by using refrigerated crescent dough, or go completely homemade by making your own buttery brioche.
http://www.butterandtype.com/blog/twisted-ube-mochi-bread Photo by: Butter & Type
Cupcakes and cake pops aren’t the only cake creations you can whip up using the purple yam known as ube. This ube cake roll will make for a show-stopping centerpiece that will have all the guests swooning at your next party.
http://pinoyinoz.blogspot.ca/2014/12/ube-cake-roll.html Photo by: Corinne Q. Pike
