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Thursday, May 23, 2013

Rhubarb: The Garden's Shy, Sour Superstar

Fruit or Vegetable?
Botanically a vegetable, the courts ruled in 1947 that rhubarb was a fruit.  Personally I think it is fun to be eating a vegetable for dessert in that rhubarb crumble.
Anything that beautiful has to be good for you . . . and it is!
Health benefits of rhubarb include:
  • digestive aid
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin K (great for building bones - but beware Coumadin users)
  • High in fiber
  • Full of antioxidants - one of which is lycopene
  • Magnesium and Potassium
So how does one enjoy this vegetable-disguised-as-a-fruit?
Sorbet: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/citrusy-rhubarb-sorbet-10000001734283/
Fruit Soup: http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/strawberry_rhubarb_soup.html
Muffins: http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=545591
Jam: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/rhubarb-jam/
Crumble: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/rhubarb-crumble-recipe/index.html

Since most rhubarb recipes involve cooking the rhubarb - frozen rhubarb is a perfect way to preserve a bountiful harvest.  Wash, slice and freeze (you can blanch briefly, but I rarely do).  Then you can pull it out any time of the year to add some bright flavor to any menu.  And truly, eating vegetables for dessert never tasted so good!

2 comments:

  1. Awesome! You just reminded me that I was going to plant some rhubard this year for the first time. I thought about it last week, but it slipped my mind, so thanks for the reminder! I'm excited to grow it and try some of your yummy recipes. Thanks!

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