Rhubarb is a garden vegetable, and in this article, we will discuss everything about it.
We will go through different aspects of the delicious vegetable, such as what it tastes like and its health benefits, and discuss different cooking methods that you can use to cook Rhubarb.
Table of Contents
What Is Rhubarb?
Rhubarb is the edible and fleshy stalk of hybrids and species of Rheum in the Polygonaceae family.
Rhubarb is cooked and used as food Rhubarb is a herbaceous perennial plant which grows from thick, short rhizomes.
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What Does Rhubarb Taste Like?
Raw Rhubarb has a crunchy taste, and while the vegetable has a sour flavor, the better term to describe its flavor is tart.
The tangy and sour taste of Rhubarb is a combo of citrusy sweet fruit sources of lemons and lime.
The tart taste of Rhubarb is similar to grapes, prunes and unripe apples.
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How Is Rhubarb Made?
Before cutting the ripe Rhubarb, you will need to clean it under cold water and then dry it with a paper towel.
Take a knife, cut the leaves of Rhubarb, and trim the roots till the end.
Eliminate the Rhubarb leaves, as they are inedible.
On the outer edge of the vegetable’s skin, make a small cut, grab the slit by the edge and pull it downwards.
Once you do this, you peel a stringy fiber strip off the Rhubarb.
Do this same process with all the Rhubarbs, and eliminate the removed fibers.
Slice the Rhubarb stalks into one-inch chunks.
Mix a sweetener and water equally in a pan, combine approximately ¼ cup of your desired sweetener, ¼ cup of water and 3 cups of Rhubarb (Chopped.
You can use fruit juice, maple syrup, brown sugar, white sugar, honey or a combination of different sweeteners.
Stir the Rhubarbs in the saucepan, let the vegetables boil, and then lower the heat and simmer.
You should simmer the vegetables for approximately 15 minutes.
To test the tenderness of the Rhubarb, use a fork and press the skin.
Remove a small quantity of the stewed Rhubarb from the saucepan, let it cool down and then taste it.
If you want, you can add up to 2 tbsps. Of the sweetener.
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How Do You Cook Rhubarb?
Here is how you can cook Rhubarb:
Stewed Rhubarb
Ingredients
- Water: 2 tbsps. (30 ml)
- Chopped Rhubarb: 6 Cups (600 grams)
- Sugar: 1 cup (200 grams)
- Cinnamon: A Pinch (Optional)
Chop approximately 6 cups of Rhubarb, and place clean stalks on a cutting board.
Chop the rhubarb stalks into 1.9 to 2.5 cm (0.75 to 1 inch).
Measure the raw Rhubarb stalks of the vegetable and put them into a large-sized bowl.
Add about 2 tbsps of water and sugar.
After adding the 2 ingredients, stir the mix with a spoon.
You can also add a pinch of seasoning during this stage.
Over medium-low heat, heat the mixture for about 15 minutes or until the Rhubarb cooks.
To help the Rhubarb cook, stir the mixture with a spoon occasionally.
Before serving the stewed Rhubarb, let the vegetable cool down for a bit.
You can also serve the stewed Rhubarb with desserts, cakes or ice cream.
Roasted Rhubarb
Ingredients
- Rhubarb (Chopped): 450 grams (1 Pound)
- White Sugar: 1 Cup (200 grams)
Method
Cut around 450 grams (1 Pound) pieces of Rhubarb after trimming and washing the stalks.
Cut the Rhubarbs into 1.3 cm (0.5 inches) chunks.
Place the rhubarb pieces in a large-sized bowl.
For thinner Rhubarb pieces, try chopping the vegetable diagonally.
Coat the Rhubarb with white sugar (200 grams) with the help of a spatula or a large spoon.
Rub the Rhubarb pieces thoroughly to coat them with sugar.
Ensure the white sugar is evenly distributed on the vegetable.
To make the sugar coating easier, sprinkle water on the vegetables before coating the white sugar.
Once the Rhubarb is coated with white sugar, refrigerate it for 2 hours in a baking dish.
The Rhubarb will turn out better if you let the sugar dissolve.
Then, once the refrigeration is done, transfer the Rhubarb to a baking dish.
If, after a few hours, the sugar is not dissolved, leave it in the refrigerator overnight.
Before refrigerating the Rhubarb, cover the baking dish with plastic wrap.
In the next step, cover the Rhubarb and bake it at a temperature of 400 Degrees Fahrenheit (149 Degrees Celsius).
First, preheat the oven, take the Rhubarbs out of the refrigerator and cover it with parchment paper.
Bake the vegetable in the oven for approximately 20 minutes.
Check if the vegetable is cooked by checking its tenderness with a fork.
If the fork cannot pierce through the skin of the Rhubarb, bake the vegetable in the oven for 4 more minutes.
Then, before serving the Rhubarb, cool it on a wired rack.
You can serve the roasted Rhubarbs with a delicious side dish, vegetables, fish and meat.
What Do You Eat Rhubarb With?
Here is how you can eat Rhubarb:
Classic Crumble
While sweet strawberries are commonly used for tart Rhubarb, a topping of hazelnuts will give the fruit sweetness and a springy crumble.
A few spoons of this crunchy and warm dessert are all you need.
Chutney
This spicy condiment has a bold flavor; it is tart and sweet.
You can serve this delicious chutney with crusty wholegrain bread, cheese, shrimp, chicken or pork.
Brownies
Rhubarb and chocolate are an unexpected but great pair.
Make delicious brownies with chocolate and Rhubarb and cut them into small pieces.
Milkshake
This Rhubarb cocktail combines ice cream, cognac, vodka and sugar.
Wild Raspberry Syrup And Baked Rhubarb
This easy recipe features a double-layered shortcake stacked with fixings such as ruby-red filling and fluffy whipped cream.
Rhubarb And Strawberry Tart
Prebake the dough, then top it with Rhubarb and pureed strawberries, and add berries on top of the tart.
Is Rhubarb Good For You?
Here are some health benefits of Rhubarb:
Rhubarb Can Improve Bone Health
Rhubarb has a high Vitamin K content, essential for blood clotting and maintaining bone health.
Vitamin K is also necessary for the body as it can prevent osteoporosis and is essential for bone formation.
Rhubarb also has Vitamin A, which can fight free radicals in the body and cause premature ageing and skin damage.
Rhubarb can keep your skin youthful and healthy.
Can Protect Heart Health
Rhubarb has a high dietary fiber content, which can lower cholesterol levels.
Studies indicate that Rhubarb reduces bad cholesterol levels and total cholesterol levels.
Lowering the cholesterol levels in the body can reduce the risk of heart attack and heart disease.
The Vitamin K content in Rhubarbs can prevent the calcification of the blood vessels, while the powerful antioxidant properties of the vegetable can protect your heart health.
Can Reduce The Risk Of Cancer
The antioxidants found in Rhubarb can fight free radicals and protect against cell damage and oxidative stress.
These antioxidants can also reduce the risk of cancer.
Related Questions About Rhubarb?
Is It Safe To Eat Rhubarb Daily?
Rhubarb is a unique vegetable, and people use it in baking and cooking.
Since Rhubarb has a high Oxalate content, you should not eat it daily.
If you have kidney stones, it would be wise to avoid Rhubarb.
Is Rhubarb A Superfood?
Yes! Since Rhubarb has antioxidant properties, it is considered a superfood.
Conclusion
This article thoroughly discusses all the aspects of Rhubarb and will help you understand how you can cook and eat the vegetables.
We have also addressed a few queries related to Rhubarb, which will give you some much-needed clarity.
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