Rhubarb - The Versatile Vegetable

Rhubarb is classified as a vegetable but is mainly traditionally used in cooking in the same way as fruit. However, it is very versatile and can be used in drinks, as an accompaniment to roast meat, in chutneys, roasted and used in a salad, or even eaten raw by dipping into sugar.

"Recipe of the Month"

Rhubarb Rosemary and Orange Muffins

• 2 1/4 cups wholemeal flour
• 2tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp finely chopped rosemary
• 1 tbs orange juice
• Zest of 1 orange
• 1 cup castor sugar
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup Greek yoghurt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups finely chopped rhubarb

Method:

Preheat oven to 180 degrees C and grease muffin trays. Combine flour, baking powder and soda, salt and rosemary in bowl.

In mixmaster, add all other ingredients except rhubarb and whisk until sugar dissolves. Combine wet and dry ingredients and rhubarb and fold until just combined.

Bake for 18 to 22 minutes (fan forced oven). Cool in tray for 10 mins

Cooking Videos

Glazed Ham - Video

Pork Belly - Video

Stewed Rhubarb - Video

Rhubarb and Orange Jam - Video

Recipes

Warm Winter Favorites

It's winter time and there's nothing more perfect to warm you up than a Rhubarb Crumble with custard! Here is a selection of warm treats for you to try.

Rhubarb Crumble

Rhubarb Crisp

Rhubarb Sponge Pudding

Pork Belly and Rhubarb

Rhubarb for Breakfast

There are many ways you can enjoy your rhubarb for breakfast every morning. Simply add stewed rhubarb to your favourite cereal for a tasty variation to your normal day.

Another idea is to mix stewed rhubarb into plain yoghurt, or greek yoghurt, and if you like rolled oats, just add a handful of them as well. You could also add coconut, sultanas or cranberries, or your favorite muesli mix.

If you prefer toast to cereal, then you can have your favorite rhubarb jam (see the strawberry or orange recipes on this website) on your toast.

Muffins are also a great idea for breakfast (refer to rosemary, maple or custard on this website).

Rhubarb Ripple Icecream

• 4 eggs separated
• 1 cup icing sugar
• 1 cup thickened cream
• half a cup of stewed rhubarb

Method:

Beat egg whites in mixmaster on high until soft peaks form. Gradually add icing sugar until disolved and mixture is still peaked. In another bowl, beat cream until really thick. In another bowl, beat egg yolks with rotary beater until creamy and smooth. Add egg yolks to cream, mix gently until combined. Add this to the egg whites and fold gently until combined. Add stewed rhubarb and mix through gently to form a ripple effect. Freeze until set.

Celebrate Summer with Tasty Rhubarb Treats

It's summer time and many people are under the misconception that you can't buy Rhubarb in summer. In fact in most elevated areas with well drained soil, Rhubarb will grow and produce quite well in summer.

Rhubarb should be readlily available at supermarkets and fruit and vegetable retailers all year round.

Here are some great ideas for cool treats made from Rhubarb that you can enjoy in the summer months.

Rhubarb and Yoghurt Pops

Rhubarb and Ginger Fools

Rhubarb Cheesecake

Rhubarb Sparkle

Roasted Rhubarb and Beet Salad

Rhubarb and Gingernut Icecream

The Versatility of Jam!

Rhubarb and Orange Jam - Video

A wonderful way of using or preserving fruit is to make jam. Rhubarb is quite an easy fruit to use to make jam with, but depending on your tastebuds you may like to team it with other fruit flavours.

Two flavours in season now – strawberry and orange, both blend very well with rhubarb as neither flavour overpowers the rhubarb or is overpowered by the rhubarb and each ingredient retains it’s own individual flavour. Please see our Rhubarb and Strawberry Jam recipe and our Rhubarb and Orange Jam recipe.

An exciting way to use either jam is to serve it with Camembert Cheese instead of paste as it really compliments the flavour of the cheese, and is especially nice with a glass of Shiraz.

Jazz up your scones and pikelets with rhubarb and strawberry jam and a dash of whipped cream.

You may like to try either jam as a filling in a layer cake that may feature the flavours of coconut, maple syrup, cinnamon, honey and even chocolate (white or dark), all of which are complimentary to the rhubarb flavour,

Use it in our Rhubarb Jam Drops recipe or even swirl it into icing in melting moments.

Finding new ways to use rhubarb jam is only limited by your imagination!

Do Christmas with Rhubarb!

Rhubarb is a great addition to any meal but it can really make your day at Christmas!

Rhubarb Orange and Maple Glazed Ham

Rhubarb Trifle

Stewed Rhubarb

This Christmas why don't you try stewed rhubarb instead of cranberry sauce with your Roast Turkey.

It is a great accompaniment to pork and lamb as well.

If you want a different taste you can use the ham glaze recipe instead.

Use your imagination to try other additions like honey and spices to your stewed rhubarb to find your own unique taste!

Glazed Ham - Video

How to Stew Rhubarb - Video

Pulled Pork and Rhubarb Wraps

• Pork roast
• Salt
• Half cup of water
• 400 grams of rhubarb chopped to 5mm pieces
• 1 third of a cup of sugar
• 1 tablespoon of water
• Savory crepes or pancakes (choose your own recipe) or wraps
• Complimentary salad of your choice

Method:

Salt the pork roast and place in slow cooker with a half cup of salted water. Cook on low for 8 hours.

Place the rhubarb, sugar and water in a saucepan and mix sugar through. Cover and cook on half heat until soft, stir until rhubarb loses its form.

Pull small sections of pork apart and place into crepe or wrap and drizzle with stewed rhubarb. Roll crepe and serve with salad.

Printable recipe

Warm Winter Favorites

It's winter time and there's nothing more perfect to warm you up than a Rhubarb Crumble with custard! Here is a selection of warm treats for you to try.

Rhubarb Crumble

Rhubarb Crisp

Rhubarb Sponge Pudding

Pork Belly and Rhubarb

Fudgy Rhubarb Brownies

• 125g margarine
• 3 quarter cup castor sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 large eggs
• 3 quarter cup of plain flour
• 3 quarter cup of cocoa
• 1 cup rhubarb chopped to 5mm pieces
• 1 cup choc chips (white or dark) or nuts (macadamia or pistachios)
• icing sugar for dusting

Method:

Melt margarine in microwave for 30 seconds and stir to mix in unmelted margarine.

Add sugar and stir for 30 seconds. Test that mixture is cooled. Add vanilla.

When cool add beaten eggs (with fork) individually and mix well.

Add flour and mix well with spoon. Add cocoa and mix well with spoon. Add rhubarb and mix well with spoon. Add choc chips or nuts and mix well with spoon.

Bake in moderate oven for 25 minutes. Cool on rack then cut and dust with icing sugar.

Rhubarb Baklava

• Half to 1 cup butter or margarine, melted
• 20 sheets phyllo dough
• 2 - 3 cups finely chopped nuts of your choice
• Half to 1 cup finely chopped fresh or frozen rhubarb
• 1 cup sugar
• Half to 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon or vanilla
• Half to 1 cup maple syrup (or golden syrup or honey)

Method:

Brush a lamington tin with some of the butter or line with baking paper. Unroll phyllo dough; trim to fit into pan.

In a large bowl, combine the nuts, rhubarb, sugar and cinnamon/vanilla.

Layer four or five sheets of phyllo dough in prepared pan, brushing each with butter. Sprinkle with a third of the nut mixture. Repeat layers twice. Top with remaining phyllo dough, brushing each sheet with butter.

Using a sharp knife, cut baklava into 1 inch diamond or square shapes. Bake at 180° Celsius for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown.

Heat syrup/honey over low heat in saucepan until thinned or use microwave but don’t allow to boil. Pour over warm baklava. Cool completely on a wire rack. Cover and let stand for several hours or overnight.

Rhubarb and Apple Tisane (Tea)!

• 1 quarter of a red apple
• 1 40 – 50 mmm stalk of rhubarb
• 1 teaspoon of coconut flakes

Method:

Cut 1/4 red apple into 1mm slices, cut 1 40-50cm stalk rhubarb into 1mm slices. Lay on baking papered tray so none are sitting on top of each other.

Put in oven for 6-8hrs at 80 degrees or until rhubarb is hard to the touch.

Put in little mixing bowl, rip the apple slices into smaller pieces. Add in 1 teaspoon coconut flakes, again ripping into smaller pieces. Mix roughly. Store in cool dry place. Makes approximately a litre.

To make tea, steep 1 teaspoon of tisane for 5-10 mins in boiled water. It is delicious served hot or iced!

Printable recipe

Rhubarb Rollups

Eating a rhubarb rollup is like eating a sour lolly. The drying process intensifies the flavour to create a tartness that is refreshing and a sweetness that is unexpected. All you need is your favourite recipe for stewed rhubarb and a dehydrator.

The recommended drying temperature is 57 degrees and the time is around 18 hours. Simply spread the stewed rhubarb onto prepared dehydrator trays about 5mm thick.

Once the drying process is finished, roll the sheets of rhubarb while they are still warm so that they retain the rollup shape.

Rhubarb rollups are a great snack anywhere and anytime of the day! Printable recipe

Orange and Rhubarb Jam

• 750g rhubarb cut in 1 cm lengths
• 750g orange flesh cut into 2cm pieces
• 1.25kg sugar
• 1.5 cups water
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Method:

Wash fruit and cut and place in large saucepan with water and 375g sugar. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Cook gently until fruit in tender stirring occasionally.

Add remaining sugar, stir over low heat until sugar disolves, add lemon juice. Boil rapidly until jam jells when tested on a cold saucer. Test after 25 minutes and every five minutes after that until it jells when tested. Remove from heat when testing.

Pour into hot sterilised jars and seal. Makes approximately 2 litres. Printable recipe

Maple and Rhubarb Crumble Muffins

• 2 1/2 cups self raising flour
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg beaten
• 1/4 cup oil
• 1 cup milk

Crumble

• 1/4 cup coconut
• 1/4 cup plain flour
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tablespoon rolled oats
• 1/4 cup brown sugar

Rhubarb

• 300g rhubarb cut into 5mm lengths
• 3 tablespoon maple syrup
• 3 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla

Method:

Cook rhubarb in microwave for 1 minute on high.

Combine all muffin ingredients in bowl. Mix until just combined. Add rhubarb mixture, and spoon into muffin pan.

Make crumble by rubbing butter into other crumble ingredients until it resembles crumbs. Sprinkle on top of muffin mixture in muffin pan.

Bake for 15 - 20 minutes at 180 degrees celcius (fan forced oven). Printable recipe

Rhubarb Jam Drops

• 250g butter, softened
• 1 cup caster sugar
• 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon rind
• 2 eggs
• 2 cup self-raising flour
• 1/2 cup custard powder
• 1/2 cup quick cooking oats
• 1/4 cup rhubarb and strawberry jam

Method:

Preheat oven to 180C. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper. Use an electric mixer to beat butter, sugar and lemon rind in a bowl until creamy. Add eggs and beat until well combined. Stir in flour, custard powder and oats.

Roll tablespoonfuls of mixture into balls. Place on lined trays, allowing room for spreading. Use finger to make an indent in the centre of each ball. Spoon half a teaspoon of jam into the holes.

Bake, turning trays halfway through cooking, for 15 mins or until lightly golden. Allow the biscuits to cool on the trays completely before storing. Printable recipe

Rhubarb and Yoghurt Pops

• Yoghurt - plain vanilla
• Stewed rhubarb or rhubarb jam

Method:

Place teaspoons of yoghurt into the iceblock moulds, then add a layer of rhubarb and repeat the process until the molds are full

Using a skewer, swirl the rhubarb through the yoghurt.

Put the sticks in the molds and then freeze for at least 5 hours.

You can experiment with greek yoghurt or other flavoured yoghurts as well.

Pork Belly and Rhubarb

• 1.5 kg Pork Belly
• Salt
• 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 350g Rhubarb
• 1/4 cup Sugar

Watch Video

Method

Rub Pork Belly with salt on skin and meat. Rub oil and lemon juice into rind. Pat dry. Cook for 1 1/2 hours on 220 degrees Celsius.

Cut the rhubarb into 1 cm pieces and put into saucepan. Add sugar and stir through rhubarb. Place on medium heat, and cook for 5 to 7 minutes. Stir until pieces are broken down and mixture is smooth.

Serve the pork belly with the rhubarb and you will be surprised at how well matched these two diverse flavours are. It tastes absolutely devine! Printable recipe

Rhubarb Orange and Maple Glazed Ham

Watch Video

• Ham
• water

Glaze:

• 1 cup brown sugar firmly packed
• 3 1/2 cups diced fresh rhubarb
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Method:

In a saucepan, combine the glaze ingredients, and bring to a low boil. Turn the heat down, and let mixture simmer for approximately 20 minutes. Stir frequently so as not to burn or stick.

Preheat oven to 150°c. Carefully remove rind from ham, leaving as much fat as possible on the joint. Using a sharp knife, score a diamond pattern into the fat, taking care that you don’t cut all the way through to the meat. Place ham in a roasting dish and pour 1cm of water into the base of the pan.

Brush syrup over ham to coat well. Bake ham for 1.5 hours, re-brushing with rhubarb glaze every 15 minutes, until glossy. Serve ham with any remaining glaze.

This Christmas instead of serving cranberry sauce with your turkey, try stewed rhubarb or this glaze sauce instead. Printable recipe

Rhubarb and Chocolate Trifle

• Chocolate Cake
• Chocolate Mousse
• Glace Cherries
• Rhubarb Jelly
• Optional Custard
• Whipped Cream

Jelly:

• 500g stewed rhubarb
• 1/3 cup boiling water
• 2 teaspoons gelatin

Add gelatine to boiling water and when completely mixed add it to the rhubarb. Place in refrigerator until set

Method:

Place all ingredients into a large bowl in layers. Top with whipped cream and your choice of topping Printable recipe

Stewed Rhubarb

How to Stew Rhubarb - Video

Chop 350g rhubarb into 1cm lengths, place in saucepan with 1/4 cup sugar, and 1 to 2 tablespoons of water. Stir until sugar starts to melt. Cook on low heat for 7 to 10 minutes.

The ways in which stewed rhubarb can be used are quite varied and versatile. Here are some ideas just to name a few:

• Use in rhubarb crumble
• As a sauce in a pudding and desserts (see Rhubarb and Ginger Fools)
• An accompaniment to roast meat: Pork - Watch Video, Beef, Lamb and Turkey
• Add Gelatin to make a topping for slices and cheesecakes and to add to a trifle
• Add a teaspoon of stewed rhubarb to a glass of sweet sparkling white wine to create a refreshing different taste
• Serve stewed rhubarb with icecream or custard
• As a glaze on ham
• To dry on trays to make rollups
• Add to yoghurt to make iceblocks
• For breakfast with cereal

Or simply just eat it on it's own! Printable recipe

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