20+ BEST Ube Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the best ube variety? ›

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.

Taro is earthy and starchy, and is a great choice for savory dishes, while ube has a distinct and sweet flavor, making it perfect for desserts. When it comes to nutrition, both taro and ube are packed with nutrients and have numerous health benefits, but they differ in their calorie and carbohydrate content.

Yams are a global staple, particularly in Africa, where 95% are produced, but ube is a rare species that's native to the Philippines. And that's where most ube stays, too; due to immense difficulties farming ube and transporting it fresh, most of us in the States make do with frozen ube or ube extract.

The flavonoids in purple yams have been shown to help lower blood sugar in those with type 2 diabetes. Obesity and inflammation caused by oxidative stress increase your risk of insulin resistance, poor blood sugar control, and type 2 diabetes ( 18 ).

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.

Even though ube and purple sweet potatoes share a sweet, earthy taste, ube has a distinctively nuttier, vanilla-like flavor. In addition to their differences in taste, ube is more moist than sweet potatoes, which tend to be drier in texture.

You have to thoroughly break down these foods' starchy composition to make them easier to eat and digest, which is why raw ube needs to be boiled, steamed, or roasted first — processes that take up to 30 minutes. Furthermore, raw ube is toxic, so it's essential to cook it well before adding it to a recipe.

Ube halaya lends a sweet, earthy flavor and sticky texture, while ube extract imparts a pop of nuttiness.

Can dogs eat ube? ›

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.

A one-cup serving has a third of your daily recommended intake of manganese, which contributes to good metabolism, bone health, and blood clotting. Its high levels of vitamins can also promote healthy vision, skin, circulation, and immune system function. Taro root has more than twice as much fiber as potatoes.

Purple yam is good for several reasons. It offers a good amount of dietary fibre, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. It can support digestive health, provide antioxidant protection, help regulate blood sugar levels, contribute to weight management, and promote overall well-being.

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.

Ube is Tagalog – the national language of the Philippines – for the purple yam native to Southeast Asia that has since been naturalized in South America, Africa, Australia, and the southeastern United States. It is also known as the “winged” or “water” yam in English.

Beni imo, otherwise known as purple sweet potato, is the only one of the three that is actually a sweet potato. It is often confused for ube because of its flesh is a similar color. However, beni imo are light-skinned on the outside while ube are dark-skinned.

The skin of Okinawan sweet potato is thin, like an Irish potato, and can be eaten. Ube has a thick, bark-like skin, which allows the crop to store for longer, but is unpleasant to eat. Okinawan sweet potatoes are in the morning glory family and completely unrelated to yams, such as ube.

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 ube varieties Kimabajo and Sampero have light purple flesh while Rapang-rapang and Shiket have dark purple flesh. Daking has white flesh and purple peel.