Ube Ice Cream

Ube (pronounced ooh-beh) is a purple yam from the Philippines with a mild, sweet flavor. The taste has been described as slightly nutty, or as a cross between vanilla and pistachio. It is frequently incorporated into desserts in Filipino cuisine with ube ice cream being one of the most popular preparations.

Purple yams and taro look similar from the outside, so they can certainly be confused. However, when the skin is peeled back, the difference in color is clear. Taro root grows from the taro plant, and unlike purple yams, they are not a species of yam. Purple yams are nutritious root vegetables filled with antioxidants that may help reduce your blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

The vibrant purple yam is typically boiled and mashed before being incorporated into jams, puddings, sweet breads, and other desserts. If you can't find fresh ube in your local grocery store, it is also available grated and frozen, dried into a powder form, or as ube extract.

Ube has been incorporated into everything from brownies, macarons, cupcakes, and donuts to waffles and pancakes, even lattes and milkshakes. The eye-catching purple color is natural, which can be seen as soon as you slice into one of the raw yams. Depending on the brand of powdered ube and ube extract used in this recipe, the color of the ice cream may vary slightly. If desired, you can augment the color with purple or violet food coloring.