I'm going to let you in on a little secret. That lovely purple ice cream you see just above isn't black raspberry flavored. It's made of a vegetable called ube (pronounced "ooh-bae"). And no, this isn't, a black bean brownie situation where someone just decided to try to make dessert "healthy." Ube has been used for desserts in Filipino culture for a long time–it's very time tested and taste approved.
Thanks to the plant-based diet movement (and increasing access to fruits and vegetables from other parts of the world), the unique eat has made its way onto many a plate (and newsfeed since its so photogenic). And I, for one, am so excited about that.
There's only so much broccoli you can eat and tbh, sometimes I'd rather not eat the same old thing again. But, adding new vegetables, like ube, to your diet makes getting your daily dose of the good stuff so much easier and wayyy more fun.
Once you've got your hands on some ube, its sweet flavor and creamy texture make it a natural choice for treats like baked goods. (It’s often used in Filipino desserts, including muffins, cakes, cheesecakes, cookies, ice cream, and bubble tea.) I'm in love with this veggie already!
Cabrero recommends adding pureed ube to pancake or waffle batters and quick bread recipes. It also works well in pretty much any recipe that calls for pumpkin puree. (Baby food, too!)