Yummy! This is the first thing comes in mind when you experience this dessert made out of love and effort (literally!), you would thought that I’m just babbling or I’m in the mood to pretend to be poetic when writing this, but no! I’m not saying that you’ll go through a mouth-watering imagination (more than that!) as I walk you through how to prepare and how to eat this (hey, there’s an etiquette when it comes to desserts...kidding), alright, as much as possible I’m trying to prevent excessive introduction.
Ube Halaya or Ube Jam
In some areas they call this halayang Ube, halea, haleya, originally jalea or jam in Spanish. This desert is famous in Tagalog area but I’m very sure this is renowned all over Philippines, made from boiled and mashed purple/violet yam (Dioscorea Alata, locally knows as UBE), a root crop, like what I’ve told you guys this is your literal work-out, (you need to have a skillful eyes to see where is the plant, as most of the time it blends with normal grass), It tastes one to know one..(haha! :D)..You need to figure out which of those similarly looking vine grasses to dig (care to know my experiences, I’ve got a lot, facing snakes while pulling the vines! Or a frog will jump on you... hahah :D!, skills!)But you know, you can buy this in the local wet/dry market we call “palengke”. Haha! (just because I know we have wilds at the backyard, so why buy? :D), looks like this
(google pic)
(what a savage beauty, right? I’m seeing you guys nodding…:D), this dessert is special and bring you back to basic that hard labor pays off, (really)this is not easy to prepare and it’ll take a toll from you, named it strength, agility, stamina and sweaty shirts. As I’m not into muscle building, I’ll let other person who seems/feels stronger to do the other jobs, hands-off.
You’ll need:
1. 1 kilo of Purple Yam (ube) this is a difficult start-up guys! Okay, boil it until you think well enough, get a fork, and prick it, when you think the softness is what you desires, cool it down. Peel it then let’s start to burn some calories, (curve that biceps) shred and mash it with all your might (this is the vital point that will determine the firmness of your arms, no I mean the Ube), and ensure that there’s no hard pieces, all should be firm and mashed.
2. Condensed sweetened milk (the quantity depend on your taste buds and quantity of the Ube), 1-2 cans
3. 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
4. ¼ cup Butter (you can adjust this, if you want)
5. Cheese (cheddar cheese, salty)
How to cook this:
1. Heat a cooking pot, we call that “kawali” or bigger (like a witch cookingware), put the butter and let it melt
2. Add the condensed milk then stir well
3. Put the purple yam/ube the continue stirring (this is the hardest part! really, somebody needs a rescue to fulfill this, Dad! give me a hand, please…)
4. Add the vanilla extract and stir continuously (told you, if you stop stirring the mixture it will become as hard as my head, so keep on going… the perfect texture depends on how consistent your stirring. :D) until the texture of the mixture becomes really thick (google said about 15 to 20 mins..lol! It took me an hour or so to achieve my desire mixture, this must be done under low fire.)... You can add some cheese here, so there’s a bit salty to mix up with sweet, makes it appetizing and balance.
5. Transfer the mixture to mold or any container (usually llanera/lyanera container, like what we use for leche flan) and let the temperature cool down.
6. Refrigerate this toothsome for at least 2 hours then serve. Put shredded cheese again on top.
For me, this is a very sapid and saccharine and you know guys the proof is in the pudding really, real talk. The usual sightings of this dessert if there is a big celebration like wedding, fiestas, Noche Buena-Christmas and Media Noche –New Year. But wait, yeah you can taste this also in our delectable Halu-halo (cold-mixed fruits). I like this because if somebody cooked this for you, you must be very special (knowing how difficult to cook this), additional I love violet/purple colored food (not to mention how sweet it is).
That’s it guys (if I could only show the “stirring part”…hahaha!) hope you enjoy reading this (please, please…don’t be discourage how hard the cooking method tries to insinuate, technology will make a good job for you, it’s just we’re doing it in a more primitive way.)… Try this, and have some fun, this is a bonding moment really, ‘cause you’ll be in need of assistance all throughout the process.
About how to eat this, well... don't eat this alone, or else, you'll forget your figure that you wish to maintain all these years. :D
Made out of love and effort. Literally!
Comments
A yes, τιθημι, is ancient greek word. In modern greek is τιθεμαι (titheme). I thought it but I said, nah it is impossible to use such difficult word :D
Ok, happy that I hear that, it is nice to know new things :)
Elen, yes very close to sweet potato, they are cousins I think.
about the greek word, it's like this τιθημι (tithemi), it's our posture when praying. Kawrah is the translation of it in Hebrew, yes we're using Greek because the Bible was originally written in Greek and Hebrew.
I don't know if there is an other version of it, Risty. The most close to it that I can think now is the sweet potato. There are white and red sweet potatos as I know. We have never tasted it in home. I don't know what other families do but I think is not something that people eat usually here.
Wow, you already know some greek words! Good for you! Theos=God, agape=love, pistos=faithful. I am sorry I don't understand the word tethime, can you say it in english? :) I didn't have idea that your church in your country uses this greek words. I am surprised :)
Dear Elen, do you have a version of it there? Actually I have some favorite words from Greek language, these are Theos, agape, tethime, and pistos… as we are using them in my church. :)
Yes, it is Ούμπε, haha! Looks funny? :D I didn't expect you to search it. Nice that you did it. You just learned some greek letters, hehe :)
Dear Elen, I translated Ube in greek, it goes like this Ούμπε, I think this is very rare, haha! almost all of you have the same comments about this, only Robbie got acquainted with it.The recipe isn't difficult, I assure you. Haha, very difficult to prepare it...but all worth it. :)
Thanks Elen, for dropping by. Hugs!
Risty, I haven't seen this plant before. It looks weird and with savage beauty as you said. The recipe doesn't seem difficult and I don't doubt about the result. I will not ever have the chance to try it as there is no yam here but this writing challenge is for sharing and learning traditinal foods of different countries.
Thanks for sharing your a traditional dessert of your country!
Luci, my dear! It's not exotic, (hmm, maybe because Robbie showed his ube..haha) haven't you seen a potato? This is its cousin, would like you to meet UBE..:D. It tastes sweet, but can sweeter depends on the quantity of your condensed milk, the texture is soft (if stirred rightfully), a bit salty because of the cheese. (just a bit), and yes purple is cooLLLLL. you can eat it straight or make it a spread to your normal plain bread, or like Robbie's cake, or topping of your cold halu halo..this dessert is very versatile. Hope you like to try it. :)
Dearest Vangie, it’s not beet… a different root crop, (now, I’m thinking if I could possibly make a “CHUQANDAR HALAYA/BEETROOT HALAYA”..:D)…”purple all over”… not that much Vangie, if it’s really beetroot, expect stained shirts and face from me..hahaha. This is potato’s cousin, but sure is luscious.
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