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Ube Turon (Filipino Purple Yam Spring Rolls)

Ube Turon (Filipino Purple Yam Spring Rolls)

Ube Turon is a contemporary Filipino dessert that transforms traditional banana turon by featuring sweet purple yam (ube halaya) wrapped in delicate spring roll wrappers and deep-fried until golden and crispy, creating a delightful contrast between the shattering exterior and creamy, violet-hued filling. This innovative street food-inspired treat combines the beloved flavors of ube with the satisfying crunch of turon, often enhanced with additional Filipino ingredients like macapuno (coconut strings) or langka (jackfruit) and served hot with vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of condensed milk.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine Filipino
Servings 20 pieces
Calories 180 kcal
Difficulty Medium

Equipment

  • Medium saucepan for cooking the ube mixture
  • Fine mesh strainer (pangsala) for achieving smoother ube texture
  • Deep frying pan or wok (kawali) for achieving even frying
  • Candy/oil thermometer for maintaining proper oil temperature
  • Paper towels for draining excess oil
  • Small bowl of water for sealing wrappers
  • Wooden spoon (sandok na kahoy) for stirring without damaging the ube
  • Spider strainer or slotted spoon (sandok na may butas) for removing turon from oil

Ingredients
 

For the Filling:

  • 2 cups cooked/mashed ube purple yam / ube
  • ¼ cup sugar asukal
  • ¼ cup condensed milk kondensadang gatas
  • ¼ cup butter mantikilya

For Assembly and Frying:

  • 10 pieces spring roll wrappers lumpia wrapper, cut in half
  • Vegetable oil for frying mantika
  • 2-3 tablespoons sugar for caramelization asukal

Optional Add-ins:

  • Macapuno strings preserved young coconut
  • Langka jackfruit strips
  • Quick-melt cheese keso

Instructions
 

  • Begin by melting butter in a medium saucepan over low heat (140°F/60°C). Add your condensed milk, sugar, and mashed ube, then stir continuously until everything is well combined. Cook this mixture for 5-10 minutes until it thickens nicely. For an extra smooth texture, you can press it through a fine-mesh strainer. Let this mixture cool completely before moving forward.
  • While waiting for your ube mixture to cool, cut your spring roll wrappers in half diagonally. Once the filling has cooled, place about 1½ tablespoons of the ube mixture in the center of each wrapper. If you're using any add-ins like macapuno or langka, place them on top of the ube filling now.
  • To wrap your turon, fold the bottom corner over the filling, then fold in both side corners. Roll everything upward tightly, making sure to keep the filling secure. When you reach the top corner, dab it with a little water to seal it closed. Repeat this process with all your wrappers.
  • Now heat your vegetable oil in a deep frying pan or wok until it reaches 350°F (175°C). You can test if the oil is ready by dipping the handle of a wooden spoon in it – if small bubbles form around the handle, your oil is ready. Sprinkle 2-3 tablespoons of sugar over the surface of the oil.
  • Carefully place your turon in the hot oil, working in batches to avoid overcrowding. Fry them for about 3-4 minutes per side until they turn a beautiful golden brown color. Keep the heat at medium to prevent the sugar from burning.
  • Remove your turon with a slotted spoon or spider strainer and place them on paper towels to drain any excess oil. Let them cool for just a minute or two – they should still be warm when served.
  • Serve your ube turon right away while they're still hot and crispy. You can enjoy them plain, drizzled with condensed milk, or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side. For the best experience, eat them within a few hours of frying while the wrapper is still crispy.

Tips from Lola's Kitchen

Ube Turon (Filipino Purple Yam Spring Rolls)
  • Allow ube mixture to cool completely before wrapping to prevent wrapper tears
  • Don't overfill the wrappers - less is more!
  • Keep wrappers covered with damp cloth while working to prevent drying
  • Roll as tightly as possible to prevent oil from seeping in
  • Maintain oil temperature between 350-375°F (175-190°C) for optimal crispiness
  • Add sugar to oil in small batches to prevent burning
 

Traditional Serving Suggestions

  • Serve hot with vanilla ice cream
  • Drizzle with condensed milk
  • Pair with hot tsokolate (Filipino hot chocolate)
  • Dust with powdered sugar
  • Serve as merienda (afternoon snack) with hot coffee or tea
 

Troubleshooting

  1. Wrapper Breaking During Rolling
    • Solution: Ensure filling is completely cool
    • Don't overfill wrappers
    • Handle wrappers gently and keep them covered
  2. Oil Too Hot/Sugar Burning
    • Solution: Maintain medium heat
    • Use candy thermometer
    • Add sugar in small batches
  3. Filling Leaking
    • Solution: Seal edges well with water
    • Don't overfill
    • Roll tightly
 

Ingredient Alternatives

  • Ube halaya can be substituted with mashed purple sweet potato
  • Condensed milk can be replaced with coconut cream and sugar
  • Spring roll wrappers can be substituted with thin crepe wrapper
  • For vegan version: Use plant-based butter and coconut condensed milk
 

Storage & Reheating

  • Store unfried turon in airtight container, separated by wax paper (up to 24 hours)
  • Freeze unfried turon up to 1 month
  • Store fried turon at room temperature up to 6 hours
  • Reheat in oven at 350°F (175°C) for 5-7 minutes or air fryer at 375°F (190°C) for 2-3 minutes
 

Variations

  1. Ube-Cheese: Add quick-melt cheese strips
  2. Ube-Macapuno: Include macapuno strings
  3. Ube-Langka: Add jackfruit strips
  4. Triple Treat: Combine ube, cheese, and macapuno
  5. Ube-Coconut: Roll in desiccated coconut after frying

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I make this ahead of time? A: Yes! You can prepare and wrap the turon up to 24 hours in advance. Store unfried turon in the refrigerator, separated by wax paper.
Q: Why is my turon not crispy? A: Oil temperature might be too low. Maintain 350-375°F (175-190°C) for optimal crispiness.
Q: Can I use store-bought ube halaya? A: Yes, store-bought ube halaya works well. Adjust sugar according to halaya sweetness.
Q: How do I prevent the wrapper from getting soggy? A: Serve immediately after frying. For storage, keep at room temperature in a paper-lined container.
Q: Can I air fry these? A: Yes! Air fry at 375°F (190°C) for 8-10 minutes, brushing with oil before cooking.
 
Ube Turon (Filipino Purple Yam Spring Rolls)
Ube Turon (Filipino Purple Yam Spring Rolls)

Nutrition

Calories: 180kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 2gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 150mgPotassium: 15mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 81IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 12mgIron: 0.03mg
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