Puto Ube

Filipino Style Recipe: Puto Ube is another variety of popular Filipino steamed mini rice cake. It is often eaten for breakfast served with hot coffee or sometimes during meryenda (mid-afternoon snack). Some like to eat it with dinuguan “a pork blood stew”.

Ingredients:
340g plain flour
250g white sugar
2 tablespoons baking powder

125ml evaporated milk
250ml water
2 raw eggs
250g butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon ube flavour
1/8 teaspoon violet food powder(optional)
cheddar cheese for toppings, cut into thin slices

Procedures:
Part 1
1. Preheat oven to 190 degrees C.

Part 2
2. In a bowl, mix together dry ingredients then sift.
3. Pour in the water and evaporated milk and stir well. Mix in the eggs, ube flavour, violet food powder and butter. Do not over mix.

Part 3
1. In a steamer, boil water then wrap the over with a towel.
2. Grease mini muffin pans then pour the mixture into molds 3/4 full. Top with cheese.
3. Steam over medium heat for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the centre of a muffin comes out clean.
4. Let it cool slightly before removing from the muffin pans.

Kalamay Ube

Filipino Style Recipe: Kalamay ube is another Filipino dessert and meryenda(mid-afternoon snack) that is commonly sold along the streets. Kalamay ube is a chewy rice purple cake made of purple yum(ube). Purple yum comes boiled, peeled and grated then cook with coconut milk, rice flour and sugar until thick. Sprinkle with coconut curd(latik) then serve warm.

Ingredients:
1 kilo purple yam(ube)
3 cups glutinous rice flour
4 cans(400ml each) coconut milk
2 cans coconut milk for curd(latik)
3 cups brown sugar
1 tablespoon pandan or vanilla extract

Procedures:
Part 1
1. On a pot, boil water then cook purple yam for 30 minutes or until soft. Drain and let cool.
2. Peel the purple yam and grate. Set aside.

Part 2
1. In a pan, pour coconut milk then cook in a low heat. Keep stirring until curdles. Set aside.

Part 3
1. In a large pan, combine the grated purple yam, sweet rice flour, coconut milk, sugar and vanilla then cook in a low heat. Keep stirring until well combined and thickened.
2. In a shallow pan or woven basket, lined a wilted banana leaves then grease with the coconut oil.
3. Transfer the mixture and spread evenly then sprinkle with coconut curd. Slice and serve warm.

Ube Halaya

Filipino Style Recipe: Ube Halaya is a Filipino dessert made from purple yam. The purple yam comes boiled, peeled and grated. Cook with condensed milk and evaporated milk until thick.

Ingredients:
1 kilo purple yam(ube)
2 cans(12 ounces) condensed milk
1 can(14 ounces) evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup butter

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a pot, arrange purple yam and pour water. Bring to boil for 30 minutes or until tender.
2. Drain and let it cool. Peel and grate the purple yam.

Part 2
1. In a pan, melt butter in a low heat and add condensed milk, evaporated milk and vanilla extract. Mix well.
2. Add grated purple yam and cook for 30 minutes or until becomes really thick.
3. Transfer to shallow pan and let it cool.
4. Refrigerate for 2 hours then serve.

Notes:
1. You may also used powdered purple yam, available in grocery stores.