Ube Halaya - Purple Yam (Filipino Recipe)

Ube halaya also known as ube jam is a popular filipino dessert made from boiled grated ube/purple yam.

There are many ways to prepare this dish. Some use coconut milk while other prefer to use condensed milk. In this recipe I'll be sharing the latter.

The making of ube halaya is pretty simple but it requires a lot of time and mixing as it's cooked in slow flame to prevent it from burning.

My mom recently came back from the Philippines and she brought me a lot of purple yam. I have fond memories of my lola (aka grandmom) making ube halaya in one of those huge pan during many fiestas and family gatherings. I remember watching my lola stirring the ube and milk until it thickens to a point where she can hardly lift the spoon from the mixture.

If you try recreating this recipe you will end up with a large mass of purple, smooth shiny and heavenly jam. The taste is quite unique which you won't find in other spreads. It has a dairy-like creamy light sweetness to it. You can use it as a filling for hopia, eat it with leche flan or as it is.

For the step by step recipe check below.

UBE HAYALA RECIPE

serves: 4 people
cooking time: 45 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

• 700g ube/purple yam (boiled and grated)
• 397g sweetened condensed milk
• 250ml (1 cup) milk
• 25g butter
• 2 tbsp sugar (+/- adjust to taste)
• 1 tsp vanilla essence

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large food processor blend together boiled and grated ube, condensed milk and milk until smooth.
2. In a big deep pan sift the ube mixture to separate and retain the coarse part of the ube.
3. Once sifted all place the pan on the stove.
4. Add in straight away the butter, sugar and vanilla essence.
5. Stir well and cook on high heat for a couple of minutes until it starts boiling.
6. Taste to check the sweetness, if needs more add more sugar. Mix well.
7. Now turn the heat to medium low and keep mix regularly until the texture gets thick. This process will take around 40-45 minutes.
8. Grease a small baking dish with butter. Spoon the ube halaya into the prepared dish.
9. Take a piece of plastic wrap and wrap it around your hands. Spread some butter on the wrapped hand and use it to flatten the ube. Allow to cool
10. Serve with leche flan, halo halo or as it is. Enjoy!

STEP BY STEP RECIPE