Welcome to a colorful journey into the world of ube extract, a common ingredient you’ll find in many ube recipes. Whether you’re a culinary enthusiast or simply curious about new flavors, this guide to what is ube extract will tell you all about it, offer more alternatives, and inspire your purple creations!
Table of contents
What is Ube Extract
Ube extract, derived from the vibrant purple yam (Dioscorea alata) and NOT to be mistaken with purple sweet potato, is a concentrated liquid that encapsulates the essence of this beloved tuber.
It’s known for its striking deep purple hue and naturally sweet, nutty flavor.
Since ube is not freshly available in the United States, you’ll see many ube desserts and baked goods created with ube extract in order to give a deep purple color and a touch of the ube flavor.
Funny enough, real and fresh ube is more of a muted purple color and not usually a deep grimace purple.
If you cannot access fresh, frozen, or powder ube…then ube extract may be your answer.
How Ube Extract is Made
- Harvesting and Cleaning: Purple yams are harvested and thoroughly cleaned to remove any dirt and impurities.
- Cooking: The yams are then cooked, usually by boiling or steaming, until they are soft.
- Mashing or Pureeing: Once cooked, the yams are mashed or pureed to create a smooth consistency.
- Extracting: The pureed yams undergo an extraction process to separate the liquid concentrate from the solid parts. This is often done using filtration or pressing methods.
- Concentration: Extracted liquid is concentrated, either by heating to evaporate excess water or by other means to intensify the flavor.
- Additives: Add preservatives and coloring before bottling.
- Packaging: Pack in bottles for commercial sale.
Ingredients
The specific ingredients of commercially available ube extract can vary by brand, but typically include:
- Ube (Purple Yam) Extract: The primary flavoring ingredient.
- Water: Used as a base for the extract.
- Sugar: Enhances the sweetness and helps preserve the extract.
- Artificial Color: Often added to ensure a consistent, vibrant purple color.
- Preservatives: Such as potassium sorbate or sodium benzoate, to extend shelf life.
Considerations:
- Added Ingredients: May contain added sugar, artificial colors, and preservatives, which can diminish health benefits in comparison to fresh or frozen ube.
- Staining: Use the product carefully as it can cause purple stains.
- Dyes: If you are sensitive to dyes, I have never see ube extract without blue and red dye included. Therefore, I have yet to find an organic version.
Taste Profile
- Slight vanilla and nutty flavor profile, adding a delightful touch of sweetness and depth to a variety of dishes.
- Some ube extract is better as a complimenting addition to using real ube in recipes because too much if used alone (depending on the brand) may give a more artificial flavor.
- The best taste comes from real ube made into ube halaya and then adding a few drops
Incorporating into Your Recipes
Now that we’ve uncovered the essence of ube extract, let’s explore its versatile applications in the kitchen:
- Baking Brilliance: Give purple hue and subtle sweetness to a myriad of baked goods, from cakes and cookies custards and puddings, to bread and pastries. Enhance your favorite recipes with a splash of ube extract for a delightful twist on classic treats.
- Frozen Delights: Transform ordinary desserts into extraordinary delights by infusing them with the vibrant color and flavor of ube extract.
- Creative Cocktails: Elevate your libations with the addition of ube extract, creating visually stunning and deliciously unique cocktails. From tropical tipples to elegant martinis, ube extract brings a pop of color and flavor to any drink menu.
- Savory Sensations: Don’t limit the use to sweet treats – it’s equally enchanting in savory dishes. Use it to add depth and complexity to sauces, dressings, and marinades, or incorporate it into hearty stews and curries for a touch of purple magic.
Popular Brands of Ube Extract:
- McCormick Ube Flavor Extract
- Mona Lisa Ube Flavoring
Remember to READ the labels and look for ube extract products that say purple yam, and not purple sweet potato.
Ube Halaya
Ube extract is sometimes found in the beloved Filipino dessert known as ube halaya, or purple yam jam.
Simmer grated ube with coconut milk, condensed milk, and butter until thick and luscious.
I use frozen ube so the recipe is all natural. If you wish for more purple color, a dash of ube extract can intensify the vibrant purple hue of this indulgent treat.
Alternatives to Ube Extract
If ube extract is unavailable or if you prefer natural alternatives, consider the following options:
Ube Powder:
- Description: Dehydrated and powdered form of purple yam.
- Use: Rehydrate. I use it in many ube recipes.
Frozen Ube:
- Description: Natural and frozen form of grated purple yam.
- Use: Thaw and use in many ube recipes.
Purple Sweet Potato (Okinawan Sweet Potato):
- Description: Cook and puree.
- Use: Create a purple color profile in dishes, BUT it is NOT ube and also has a different and sweeter taste. Call your dish “purple sweet potato recipe” if you do use this.
- Beware: Items may say “ube” BUT it is made with purple sweet potato. This is 100% NOT ube. It is strictly purple sweet potato.
Food Coloring:
- Description: If the goal is just to have the color, I use beet juice or purple sweet potato and this makes purple coloring.
As you embark on your purple paved journey, remember to embrace creativity and experimentation.
Try fresh or frozen ube as well and have fun trying the many ways to create ube flavored and purple colored recipes. Enjoy being ube-refic!
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