It seems that violet-colored desserts are all the rage on Instagram. Purple ice cream, brownies, and macarons (and sometimes all three combined) have become the star of many food photoshoots. The gorgeous hue is due to one ingredient: ube (pronounced ooh-beh). But what exactly is an ube, and why has it become so popular?
What Is an Ube?
Ube, meaning tuber in Tagalog, is a purple yam originally from the Philippines. Different than the purple sweet potato, it has an even sweeter, more mellow taste than its orange relative. Ube has a slightly nutty, vanilla taste and is popularly used in desserts in Filipino cuisine, often boiled and then mashed with condensed milk.
What Does Ube Taste Like?
Ube has a unique taste that sets it apart from other root vegetables. It is often described as having a sweet but mild taste, with subtle hints of vanilla, and a nutty undertone. Ube is less starchy than a traditional yam and can be combined with ingredients like condensed milk to create an even sweeter, smoother, and creamier flavor.
What’s the Difference Between Ube, Taro, and Purple Sweet Potato?
Despite their similar appearance, ube, taro, and purple sweet potato are not the same thing. Ube’s light, sweet, and vanilla-like flavor makes it a particularly popular ingredient in desserts. Taro, while sometimes confused with ube due to its similar texture, is primarily used in savory dishes. It has a softer, slightly nutty taste but is not naturally purple and has a more neutral flavor profile. The purple sweet potato, on the other hand, is much denser and drier, with an earthy sweetness. It’s most commonly roasted or baked and served in savory meals rather than desserts.
Is Ube Healthy?
Ube is often confused with taro, another similar root vegetable, but the two are distinct. Taro is often used in savory dishes, while ube (though it can be cooked with savory spices) is more commonly used in sweets.
Ube has a similar nutritional profile to the good ol’ sweet potato, meaning that it’s high in healthy carbs, vitamins, and fiber. The purple variety was also recently shown to have extra-high levels of antioxidants, which can promote overall health. However, that doesn’t mean you should go wild on ube-centered desserts. The health benefits of ube often don’t outweigh other ingredients commonly added to desserts, including high amounts of sugar and fat. All that is to say, enjoy ube-flavored desserts in moderation, as you would any other sweet treat.
Ube in Popular Culture
While the ube has long been a staple in Filipino cuisine-used in cakes, puddings, flan, cheesecake, and more-it’s only made its way into mainstream U.S. culture in the last few years. One of the first New York restaurants to embrace the ingredient was Manila Social Club, introducing ube doughnuts in 2016. From there, restaurants and bakeries across the country began coming up with creative ways to incorporate the technicolor root vegetable into their treats.
It’s pretty safe to say that the ube’s popularity is due in large part to its photographic nature, especially in a culture addicted to social media, but don’t discount this ingredient as one solely for the eyes to feast on. Ube is surprisingly delicious, and with the continued proliferation of ube-flavored goods, you have plenty of opportunities to give it a try. Trader Joe’s even has an ube ice cream, ensuring that this flavor isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
How to Use Ube in Your Cooking
Ube is incredibly versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes. While it’s most commonly found in desserts like ice cream, cakes, and jams, you can also try experimenting with it in savory meals. To incorporate ube into your cooking, you can start by boiling or steaming the purple yam until it becomes tender. Then mash it for use in desserts or as a side dish. Ube can also be added to pancakes, waffles, or bread dough for a fun twist on traditional recipes. You can also stir ube puree into oatmeal or smoothies for a healthy boost of flavor and color.