Ube Kalamay with purple yam and coconut flavors for the perfect dessert or snack! This sticky rice cake is soft, sweet, and gluten-free, too!
Ube kalamay is a delicious spin-off of our kalamay hati recipe. Other than swapping the brown sugar for purple yam, the ingredients and procedure for these sticky rice cakes are the same.
If you love kakanin, kalamay ube is for you! It's easy to make, and most of the work is more of stirring religiously until it comes together in a delicious, sticky mass.
Ingredient notes
- Glutinous rice flour- also known as sweet or sticky rice flour. The package is usually with green lettering. Do NOT use regular rice flour, which is made from Japonica long-grain and will not yield the same results.
- Purple yam- the recipe uses frozen grated ube. If using fresh ube, boil or steam until tender and then mash until smooth.
- Coconut milk- is used as the liquid in the rice cake to provide flavor and moisture.
- Water- adds moisture
- Coconut cream- kakang gata or first extraction; for making latik and coconut oil
- Ube extract- adds color and enhances the flavor.
Helpful tips
- Use a non-stick pan and a sturdy wooden spoon to make stirring easier.
- The kalamay mixture will be pale initially, but the color will deepen as it cooks and thickens.
- While cooking the rice cake, make the latik, as you need the rendered coconut oil to grease the baking dish and keep the rice cake from sticking. You can swap it with butter, but coconut oil adds an unbeatable aroma!
- The cooked mixture will be very thick and hard to spread with a spoon when transferred into the serving pan. Gently tap the pan on the counter to flat out the rice cake. To smooth the top, use a lightly-oil knife or spatula.
Serving suggestions
Kalamay ube is delicious as a midday snack or after-meal dessert. Enjoy a slice with coffee or an ice-cold drink for a filling, sweet treat.
Storage instructions
- Store leftovers in a container with a lid and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
- I like to brush the kalamay with coconut oil liberally, but I usually skip this step during cold winter or when I am storing the rice cake in the fridge overnight as the coconut oil tends to harden into an unappetizing film of fat at low temperature.
- The sticky rice cake texture changes when cold. Let stand at room temperature for a few minutes or warm in the microwave for a few seconds before serving to soften slightly.
Ingredients
- 2 cans (19 ounces each) coconut milk
- 2 cups glutinous rice flour
- 1 package (16 ounces) frozen grated purple yam, thawed and drained well
- 2 cups sugar
- ยผ cup water
- 2 teaspoons ube extract
For the Latik
- 2 cups coconut cream
Instructions
- In a wide non-stick skillet, combine coconut milk, purple yam, glutinous rice flour, sugar, water, and ube extract. Whisk together until well blended.
- Over medium heat, cook, stirring frequently, for about 10 to 15 minutes or until mixture thickens and forms a smooth dough.
- Continue to cook for about 50 minutes to 1 hour or until mixture is very thick, sticky and can hardly lift from the pan.
- Brush the bottom and sides of a 9 x 13 pan with coconut oil.ย
- Transfer the kalamay mixture into the prepared pan. Gently tap the pan on the counter to spread mixture. Use a lightly-oiled knife to smooth top.ย
- Brush surface with coconut oil and top with latik.
For the Latik
- In a pan over medium heat, add coconut cream and bring to a boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid starts to thicken.
- Lower heat and continue to cook.ย As the oil starts to separate and solids begin to form, regularly stir and scrape the sides and bottom of the pan to prevent from burning.ย
- Continue to cook and stir until curds turn golden brown.
- Drain latik from the oil and store in a container until ready to use.
Notes
- Use a non-stick pan and a sturdy wooden spoon to make stirring easier.
- The kalamay mixture will be pale initially, but the color will deepen as it cooks and thickens.
- While cooking the rice cake, make the latik, as you need the rendered coconut oil to grease the baking dish and keep the rice cake from sticking. You can swap it with butter, but coconut oil adds an unbeatable aroma!
- The cooked mixture will be very thick and hard to spread with a spoon when transferred into the serving pan. Gently tap the pan on the counter to flat out the rice cake. To smooth the top, use a lightly-oil knife or spatula.
Nutrition Information
โThis website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.โ
Imeh says
Can i use purple yam jam from jar?as as sibstitute if i dont have a grated purple yam?and skip ube extract?struggling to get them in the market thnks
Benilda Barsatan says
Thanks for your recipe, I thought it would be difficult to make but to my surprise it was very easy and everyone loves it
Sdita says
I don't know what is the name of that calamay that I always like to cook,,its made of glutinous rice,,,d color at the bottom is white but the top is like orange in color.
Lisa Davise says
Thank you for sharing, ms Lalain. Always watching your video with lots of yummy recipes. I. love the kalamay recipe..
Jenny says
Hi ,can I use รผbe purple powder if I donโt have the frozen or from the jar .thank you
Teressa almendras says
Hi learned a lots of your recipe im. Here in spain it's help much your you tube I don't need to buy pinoy recipe everytime I have family ovation in my house I do it by my self folliw your recipe thanks a lot more powerful. l teressa
Jean Donaire says
Mahilig ako sa kakanin yet ndi naman ako marunong magluto.๐ maybe this time mag try akong magluto sa tulong ng mga vedio's mo.
Thank you Ma'am Lalaine for sharing your receipe to us...
God bless
Karen says
What did you do to make the frozen ube smooth and fine?? I tried your recipe pero meron parin siya buo buo from the grated frozen ube huhu... not smooth same sa ginawa mo thank you
rojely says
I'll try this kalamay
Joyce says
Ms. Lalaine how can I use powdered purple yam on this recipe or on any purple yam recipe?
Cristy L says
I buy Suman malagkit from a Filipino store. How do you know a. Suman malagkit is newly cook or fresh. Their products donโt have expiration date.
Lalaine says
I think the best indicator of freshness is the texture of the rice. It should look moist and pliable instead of dry.
annie says
i want to learn how to cook from u thanx
john patrick says
mam,goodday may i ask you something?
how to preserve calamay? up to 1week..
tnx
Lalaine Manalo says
Hindi ko pa nasubukan na store ang kalamay for up to 1 week. Usually up to 3 days lang. Para patagalin, balutin nang mabuti nang plastic film para hindi siya magdry and refrigerate.
Diana says
Ms. Lalaine can I use the jarred ube halaya and just omit the sugar? Thank you
Lalaine says
Yes, you can! ๐
Diana says
Thank you so much, Ms. Lalaine! Iโm excited to try this.
Lalaine says
Enjoy!:)
Virgilio Fornias says
Dito sa amin as bakeshop one week ang exploration niya dito ko sa Las Vegas
Gonzalo says
Purple dessert looks so yummy
Suzanne says
Have a fun vacation, Lalaine!
Lalaine says
Thank you, Suzanne!