For such a tart vegetable, it sure has a lot of love in the kitchen. There's no shortage of rhurbarb recipes for everything from a classic strawberry rhubarb pie to bbq sauce for summer grilling.
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Selecting & storage
Pick sturdy stalks with no bruises (similar to selecting celery). Store in the fridge in a plastic bag, where you can expect it to last for 1-2 weeks.
Never eat the leaves - they are poisonous. See the full seasonal rhubarb guide.
Light breakfasts
Rhubarb are very tart, which is often balanced with sugar. But I found a few recipes that keep the sugar low for a healthier breakfast option.
Indulgent breakfasts & brunch
A seasonal take on weekend brunch recipes - use rhubarb to perk up baked goods that can sometimes be sweet & filling without much other flavors.
Salads, apps, or tea time
Rhubarb is very tart when raw, so you rarely see it in salads and appetizers without having first been cooked. That said, when shaved or sliced really thin, raw rhubarb can work in the right recipe (like the tostadas below that have a rhubarb-radish slaw).
Pairing with meat
After eating so many rich meat type dishes throughout winter, spring is a great time to brighten up some flavors. Rhubarb will add a bright, tangy flavor to any dinner.
Beverages & cocktails
Rhubarb cocktails have a tangy-sour flavor, similar in idea to a sour beer. This is usually done by making a rhubarb syrup, which will also sweeten the drink.
Frozen desserts
Rhubarb is first cooked, usually into a syrup, before being added to frozen desserts. Without that step, the rhubarb would be too crunchy (like celery) for this type of dessert, as well as being very tangy (which mellows when cooked).
Bars & pastries
Rhubarb works especially well in bars and pastries, which typically have a lot of butter and sugar. The rhubarb cuts through all of that fat and sugar to bring a bright & tangy flavor to the front.
Tarts, pies, & cobblers
The classic strawberry rhubarb pie is delicious in its own right. But try mixing rhubarb with cherries, blueberries, or raspberries for a fresh take on this seasonal favorite.
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