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! In the event you suppose the one issues you can also make with rhubarb are jam and pie, we have now many extra methods to make use of rhubarb which you can get pleasure from!
Culinary Vitamin Advantages of Rhubarb
Nutritionally talking, rhubarb is:
Rhubarb may be very tart – some might even describe it as bitter – and tastes a lot better in the event you add sweetness to it (we like utilizing pure sweeteners), although not a lot that you simply masks its pretty acidity. Whilst you can eat rhubarb stalks uncooked, as they’re extraordinarily fibrous, we want to cook dinner them so that they soften (this additionally releases a few of its juice). Don’t eat the leaves – they’re toxic!
Try a few of our favorite methods to make use of rhubarb beneath and tell us yours too!
15 Methods to Use Rhubarb
Photograph: Monika Grabkowska on UnSplash
Jam
Sure, rhubarb jam is a traditional and that’s why it’s first on our listing! With minimal elements, jam provides rhubarb the prospect to shine. In the event you don’t have canning expertise, you’ll be able to simply make freezer jam. To assist your jam thicken, add a little bit of apple for its pure pectin or attempt a number of spoonfuls of omega 3-rich chia seeds.
Pie
You may have apple pie at virtually any time of the 12 months – 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 reveals 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. In the event you’re puzzled by gluten-free baking, this Gluten-Free Flour Information and Substitution Reference has you coated.
Fruit Compote
Rhubarb compote is very simple – you simply stew rhubarb and a sweetener on the stovetop till it breaks down and turns into tender and gooey. It’s one in every of our favorite methods to make use of rhubarb! You can also 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 simple frozen deal with. This feature may be very kid-friendly!
Dairy-Free Ice Cream
We’ll by no means get bored with 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 nicely in crumbles, however rhubarb is certainly an exception. Hold your crumble rhubarb-only or attempt it with a mixture of completely 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 reminiscent of cumin, coriander, and allspice, together with apple cider vinegar and also you’ve bought a tremendous savory sauce to enhance fish, poultry, pork, meat or tofu. You could possibly additionally amp up the creaminess with coconut milk or nut or seed milk, in the event you’d like.
You too can add rhubarb to your BBQ sauce or selfmade ketchup for a little bit of tang.
Get your information to selfmade sauces right here.
Soups and Stews
In the event 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! Strive chopping up some rhubarb for some zing in your subsequent pot of soup or one-pot stew meal.
In the event you’re in search of an concept 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 further luxuriousness.
Oven Roasted
We love the caramelization that occurs once we roast rhubarb within the oven with the best of adornments reminiscent of coconut oil, honey, and cinnamon.
In the event you get pleasure from experimenting within the kitchen and attempting new recipes, one in every of these rhubarb beauties will be the subsequent factor you make!
Header Picture: iStock.com/Anna_Shepulova
