UBE HALAYA

UBE HALAYA -- is a traditional Filipino dessert made from sweetened purple yam. The name 'ube' comes from an ancient Indonesian word 'ubi' and the name 'halaya' comes from the Spanish word 'jalea' meaning jam or jelly.

It is believed that ube comes from the enchanting paradise islands of Indonesia such as Bali, Bangka-Belitung, Java, Kelimantan and Derawan islands. When our sea-faring Indonesian ancestors came some 5,000 years ago, they brought ubi tubers with them. They planted them in our islands.

They were tall (5'9" to 6'2"), fair skinned high nose and thin lips. They were muscular in built. The women were such exotic beauties. They were the first immigrants from across the seas. The second wave of Indonesians (2,000 years ago) were short, dark-skinned, flat nose, thick lips.

The ancient Indonesians believed 'ubi' was reverred by the gods. It was their staple food together with rice. They ate boiled ubi with coconut,sweetened with sugar cane juice. For the royal blood, it was a pride to be named after ubi, a symbol of strength and power , such as the name 'Abdul Allah-Ubi', (servant of Allah and ubi).

Here is my recipe of ube halaya:

1 kilo ube

1 1/2 cans condensed milk

1 big can evap milk

1/4 c sugar

2 tsp vanilla

1/2 block butter

1. Boil and grate ube.

2. In a cast-iron pot or pan, put all ingredients. Cook over low fire stirring constantly until thick.Remove from heat.Serve.
(the ube halaya in this photo is the natural color of purple yam, no coloring)

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