Five Recipes with Rhubarb
Rhubarb has to be one of the top English garden staples. It unfurls in spring, displaying all its green and blush pink glory and the best bit is that its juicy stalks stay with us well into autumn.
To help you enjoy this lush vegetable in more than just a pie, here are our top five recipes for rhubarb…
- Rhubarb Gin
Probably one of the easiest things to do with Rhubarb and a great way to change-up those G&Ts ready for cocktail hour. Simply collect some fresh rhubarb – the pinker the better, some caster sugar and gin…learn what to do with these simple ingredients here
2. Rhubarb Ice Cream
Now this one may take a little bit more investment and may also take a bit more time, but the results are well worth the effort. Fresh ingredients make the most delicious ice cream and once you’ve tried homemade you’ll be reluctant to buy from the shops ever again.
To learn how to make your very own rhubarb ice cream, have a look at this easy recipe and maybe check out these ice cream makers.
3.Rhubarb and Almond cake
A lovely twist for afternoon tea, or just a comforting way to use up your rhubarb. Simple to make and using all the usual store cupboard ingredients, this cake can be enjoyed hot or cold and is a delightful treat for any rhubarb lover.
Sainsburys have a delicious recipe from Linda Tubby for you to try…ready, steady, bake!
4. Rhubarb Jam
Imagine the smell of a fresh loaf and then the joy of spreading your tart but just sweet enough rhubarb jam on your freshly baked bread…a little slice of heaven! So whether you’ve been honing your baking skills over the past few weeks or you have a rhubarb patch to harvest, jam is a tasty way to use up those stalks.
This simple recipe from the team at River Cottage also has the option to add a little ginger…an excellent flavour combination!
5. The Best Rhubarb Crumble
You could argue that anyone can make a crumble and that you don’t really need a recipe; true, but what makes a truly great crumble?
Do you strain the rhubarb before baking to reduce the water content?
Is white sugar better than demerara?
Is there a secret ingredient to make that topping extra crunchy?
All these questions and more are answered in this information-packed article by Felicity Cloake for The Guardian. Felicity has done her homework and shares tips, variations and the ultimate rhubarb crumble recipe with readers.
So, if you’re currently looking at your pile of rhubarb wondering what to make, we hope we’ve given you some ‘food for thought’.
Please remember: if you’re harvesting your own rhubarb, be sure to remove the leaves and either add them to your compost heap or garden waste bin, as they are poisonous to humans.
Another great tip and one you can get the kids to enjoy, is to test which stalks of your rhubarb are ready by pulling rather than cutting the stalks – plus your plant will thank you for it, enjoy!
Until next time…