Rhubarb season is brief, and that solely makes us recognize this tart vegetable much more. Each spring, we look ahead to cooking and baking with rhubarb as a result of it’s fleeting and particular! Should you suppose the one issues you can also make with rhubarb are jam and pie, we’ve many extra methods to make use of rhubarb that you would be able to get pleasure from!
Culinary Diet Advantages of Rhubarb
Nutritionally talking, rhubarb is:
Rhubarb could be very tart – some could even describe it as bitter – and tastes significantly better if you happen to add sweetness to it (we like utilizing pure sweeteners), although not a lot that you simply masks its beautiful acidity. When you can eat rhubarb stalks uncooked, as they’re extraordinarily fibrous, we favor to prepare dinner them in order that they soften (this additionally releases a few of its juice). Don’t eat the leaves – they’re toxic!
Take a look at a few of our favorite methods to make use of rhubarb under and tell us yours too!
15 Methods to Use Rhubarb
Picture: Monika Grabkowska on UnSplash
Jam
Sure, rhubarb jam is a basic and that’s why it’s first on our checklist! With minimal substances, jam provides rhubarb the prospect to shine. Should you don’t have canning expertise, you may simply make freezer jam. To assist your jam thicken, add a little bit of apple for its pure pectin or attempt a couple of spoonfuls of omega 3-rich chia seeds.
Pie
You possibly can have apple pie at nearly any time of the yr – make your springtime particular by baking up a scrumptious rhubarb pie.
Tarts or Galettes
A easy rhubarb filling or chopped rhubarb can take your gluten-free desserts to the following stage. If tart crusts are too fussy for you, attempt making a galette – it’s free-form and rustic, and exhibits off rhubarb properly.
Chutney
Rhubarb chutney presents a tart complement to many dishes. We like to make use of it as a savory sandwich unfold, dollop it over meat or tofu, serve it with gluten-free crackers and dairy-free cheese, roll it up in dumplings with greens, and dip chickpea flatbread in it.
Muffins or Scones
As an alternative of dried fruit or chocolate chips, fold in finely chopped rhubarb into your muffin and scone recipes. Should you’re puzzled by gluten-free baking, this Gluten-Free Flour Information and Substitution Reference has you lined.
Fruit Compote
Rhubarb compote is very simple – you simply stew rhubarb and a sweetener on the stovetop till it breaks down and turns into smooth and gooey. It’s considered one of our favorite methods to make use of rhubarb! You may make this with rhubarb solely, toss in further fruits like apples, strawberries or raspberries, or improve it with pantry spices like ginger or cinnamon. It’s superb to eat by itself, and we love dolloping it on oatmeal, ice cream, dairy-free yogurt, dairy-free cheesecake, or brownies.
Popsicles
Mix rhubarb into your favorite popsicle recipes for a fast and straightforward frozen deal with. This selection could be very kid-friendly!
Dairy-Free Ice Cream
We’ll by no means get uninterested in new ice cream flavours! Mix cooked or contemporary rhubarb into your dairy-free ice cream recipes, or swirl some rhubarb compote all through.
Smoothies
Add some tartness to your dairy-free smoothie recipes or smoothie bowls by mixing in some rhubarb or drizzling some compote over prime.
Kombucha
Flavour up your kombucha with some chopped rhubarb. Study precisely how to do that in our Information to Brewing and Flavouring Kombucha.
Crumble
There aren’t too many greens that go effectively in crumbles, however rhubarb is certainly an exception. Preserve your crumble rhubarb-only or attempt it with a mixture of totally different seasonal fruits.
Soda or Elixir Syrup
Simmer up some rhubarb and a pure sweetener of your alternative, then pressure the solids. Add splashes of the ensuing liquid to soda water, mocktails, iced elixirs, iced teas, or sip a shot glass by itself.
Savory Sauce
Not all methods to make use of rhubarb are candy treats! Add aromatics like onions, garlic, and ginger, in addition to spices corresponding to cumin, coriander, and allspice, together with apple cider vinegar and also you’ve received an incredible savory sauce to enrich fish, poultry, pork, meat or tofu. You might additionally amp up the creaminess with coconut milk or nut or seed milk, if you happen to’d like.
You too can add rhubarb to your BBQ sauce or do-it-yourself ketchup for a little bit of tang.
Get your information to do-it-yourself sauces right here.
Soups and Stews
Should you’ve ever tried apple and butternut squash soup, paired grilled stone fruits or berries with a salad, or dotted your gluten-free pizza with contemporary figs, you’ll know that fruit enhances a variety of savory dishes! Attempt chopping up some rhubarb for some zing in your subsequent pot of soup or one-pot stew meal.
Should you’re on the lookout for an thought to begin with, attempt including a cup of chopped rhubarb to the pot the following time you make tomato soup. Mix up the combination with some cashews or thick coconut milk for additional luxuriousness.
Oven Roasted
We like the caramelization that occurs once we roast rhubarb within the oven with the only of adornments corresponding to coconut oil, honey, and cinnamon.
Should you get pleasure from experimenting within the kitchen and attempting new recipes, considered one of these rhubarb beauties would be the subsequent factor you make!
Header Picture: iStock.com/Anna_Shepulova
