Stewed Rhubarb ~ fresh from the Garden. For some rhubarb is an acquired taste, for others not a favourite. Its worth trying a few recipes as they are nutritious, delicious and there are so many ways to use this versatile fruit. This is another one of my all time old time favourites and, again, so easy.
Rhubarb is Simple to Cook
- Pick a few outside stalks of rhubarb
- Remove leaf and bottom stem
- Leaves can go into the compost but note leaves are toxic if injested but safe to decompose in the compost.
- Wash and cut the stems into 1” lengths. (No need to peel as skin should not be tough)
- Measure rhubarb – eg. Two cups and put into pan with one cup organic sugar (half the amount of the fruit or less if desired) add a tablespoon fresh lemon juice per cup and minimum water (Note: if you add too much water initially the end result may be too runny as there is lots of “water” in the rhubarb)
- Bring to boil, stirring occasionally.
- Simmer until rhubarb is cooked ( approximately 5 – 8 minutes).
- Let cool
When cool try stewed rhubarb
- On top of breakfast cereal with nuts, and a pinch of cinnamon (or your favourite topping)
- As an incredible dessert – with Greek / Balkan Yoghurt – and a few fresh wild blackberries – and a few flakes of dark chocolate! Yum!
Simple to Grow
Its really a very versatile and simple to grow vegetable and usually the first one up in the garden early in the Spring. A welcome sight. It will also grow well in a large container.
Every garden should have a Rhubarb plant or two (different varieties) and is a great gift for the “gardener” in your life. Rhubarb is a hardy perennial and it really is a plant which looks after itself and thrives.
Happy gardening days!
Other Rhubarb Uses
- Rhubarb is a good “filler” if you are making jam and are short a cup of your choice of fruit – it adds a little zing.
- Its also great for making Rhubarb Platz by itself or mixed with a berry or apple
- Rhubarb and strawberry jam or raspberry jam
- And a big favourite – rhubarb pie
- Believe it or not – our adult children (when they were little kids) used to eat freshly picked rhubarb “sticks” dipped in white sugar in a saucer. Yikes!
- The “best” homemade fruit wine I ever tasted was a little vintage of Rhubarb and Raspberry (combined) Wine, circa 1984. The wine was a crisp and clear “Rose” and if I can find the recipe will post as both these fruits can be grown from the US borders at either end of British Columbia (and other parts of Canada!)
Notes
- A bit of Organic Gardening (Rodale Press) trivia from the 1980’s – if you have a squirrel problem in your vegetable garden – plant rhubarb around the outside (perimeter) of the garden as the squirrels evidently don’t like to go “underneath” it. A safe and easy remedy.
- Flowers should be cut from rhubarb to enable nourishment to go to the roots and stalks
- No chemicals required but rich compost soil a benefit
- Leaves may get eaten by some insects but stalks (the edible part) rarely
Rhubarb Nutrition Data
- High in fiber and Vitamins A & K
