A Scientist in the Kitchen – Haleyang ube ala UPLB

Purple yam is a type of yam that has a very distinct violet color and is popular in the Philippines. We call it ube in the Philippines. It is cooked with milk and sugar and is eaten as a sweetened dessert called haleyang ube which has a bright violet color. It is an ingredient for halo-halo, a favorite Filipino dessert during the summer. While the tuber is seasonal, Filipinos get to enjoy ube-flavored ice cream all year round. When in the Philippines, you might come across a purple-colored ice cream, that’s it! That’s ube ice cream.

Ube is not often sold in the market so haleyang ube is usually served on special occasions. This Christmas, my sister receive ube powder developed by the University of the Philippines at Los Baños (UPLB), my alma mater. So I wasted no time in making haleyang ube for the holiday cooking. Typically, haleyang ube is made from mashed ube, so you have to boil the ube tuber till soft then mash it which could take some time and is really tiring. You mix the mashed ube with milk, sugar and a bit of butter and cook slowly till the mixture is thickened. That’s why I was happy to receive the ube powder – no more boiling and mashing ube till my arms ache!

With the ube powder, think of all the possibilities! Not just the haleya, but I have some rice desserts I would like to try out with ube flavor. Or perhaps homemade ice cream! Yummy!

Haleyang Ube

50 grams ube powder
3/4 cup milk
condense milk (add according to your preferred sweetness)
2 tbsp butter

Here’s how to it:

1. Mix ube powder and milk. Add condense milk according to your preferred sweetness. Let stand for at least 10 minutes.

2. Melt butter in a pan. Add the ube-milk mixture and stir constantly. Use low heat. Continue stirring until mixture has thickened.

3. Place in a molder that has been lined with butter. Cool down and refrigerate a few hours before serving.

Never to early for Weekend Herb Blogging! Cheers to Kalyn for making this event possible and for hosting this week’s edition!

filipino dessert ube ice cream ube powder

Lalaine December 31, 2007 at 5:35 AM -

Gay,
It’s so interesting that back in the Philippines, it is a treat ( relief) to make halayang ube from powder. Here in the US, because powder is mostly all there is, I miss having the fresh, real kind!
A scientist in the kitchen December 31, 2007 at 2:16 PM -

The problem with fresh ube is that it is not always available in the market. At least the ube powder is really made from pure ube.

Happy New Year, Lalaine! Am just taking a breather then back to the kitchen for our media noche preparations.
Michelle January 2, 2008 at 4:38 PM -

hi can i add you? I also have a passion for cooking. i got your blog from connie of pinoycook

Thanks
A scientist in the kitchen January 3, 2008 at 3:26 AM -

Hi Michelle, that would be great. I’m adding your site as well to my blog. Thanks!
Kalyn January 3, 2008 at 3:53 AM -

Wow, very interesting! I love the color. I never heard of this type of purple yam before. In the U.S. a lot of the stores mistakenly called orange sweet potatoes by the name “yams” but from food blogging I have learned that they aren’t true yams. I doubt if I’ve ever eaten a true yam, would love to taste it.
Jeena January 5, 2008 at 9:03 PM -

Hi there you have such a lovely blog. Great recipes they really do look so delicious, purple yams look amazing. I have a blog also here is my link Food Recipes

Let me know if you would like to exchange links. Thanks Jeena x
Anna January 10, 2008 at 6:28 AM -

this is really intriguing! and the colour is lovely. will have to try and hunt down that ube powder.
Manang January 31, 2009 at 11:05 AM -

Siguro mas masarap yang powder na yan kesa yung nabili ko dito…
I ended up preferring to cook the grated ube rather than prepare haleya using powder.
Narin May 3, 2009 at 2:39 PM -

You can buy these purple yams in the U.S. They sell them at Asian stores. In the city of Santa Ana, or Westminster, California.
ria July 7, 2009 at 4:32 PM -

hi there!

i love ube and the only thing i can buy here in sweden is in powder form. however, i asked my sister to buy me some in manila to send me pero wala daw siyang makita sa mga groceries or palengke.

try ko lang po i ask kung saan po sa u.p. los banos makakabili ng ube powder…ill ask my sister to go there sana, just to be able to buy some….
Gay July 8, 2009 at 4:27 AM -

Hi Ria, thanks for reading. You can buy them at the Food Science Bldg.
zhynn-dee September 4, 2009 at 9:46 AM -

hmm,, i love ube.. and at ur new haleya,,
i just want to ask you,, where i can buy that ube powder so that i can make haleyang ube… i from also in laguna.. lb in near in our town.. hope your response on my email.. tnx..
zhynn-dee September 4, 2009 at 9:49 AM -

ahmm did you think that as of now it is available in ur scul?? ang how much that ube powder…?? pls, answer as soon as possible.. thank u again…