Oh, Rubarb….

Although spring is officially here, the weather continues to be cold and wet. The vegetables are getting planted, both seeds and starts, in dribs and drabs, slowly but surely. The heat-loving tomatoes, peppers, squash and basil are still indoors, under the fluorescent lights, getting bigger and bigger, just waiting for warmer temperatures outdoors, so they can get into their permanent locations under the cloches in the vegetable garden.The fruit trees in our orchard have been slow to bloom but about a week ago I noticed that the pears were finally flowering. While I worked in the garden nearby during the sunny afternoon, the plum tree’s blossom also began to open, inviting the hungry bees to come and feast. This morning the apple blossom has begun to burst from sweet pink buds.

Apple blossom in the orchard.

There is at least one garden plant that really thrives in the cool, rain-soaked conditions that we are experiencing. That crop is Rheum rhabarbarum, commonly known as rhubarb.

Me and my rhubarb…

Rhubarb was originally brought west from China, where the roots were used for medicinal purposes. By the 14th century the plant had reached Europe where it was used for its antiseptic, antispasmodic, antitumor, astringent, diuretic, laxative, purgative, stomachic, soothing and tonic properties, as well as in the kitchen where it was cooked with plenty of sugar or honey, for dessert.

Although the pink and sometimes greenish stalks are edible, the leaves are toxic, containing large amounts of oxalic acid, and should not be eaten or left where livestock may consume them. The roots of the plant can be used to produce a very dark dye for wool and other fibers, similar to that made from walnut hulls, but more readily available, especially farther north where walnut trees do not thrive.

The plants are easy to grow from seed or, more commonly, from  divided roots. Rhubarb grows well in a temperate climate and requires little in the way of tending, although it is a heavy feeder, enjoying a good dose of compost or well-rotted manure in the early spring just before new growth begins.  A bit of occasional weeding and regular watering (not a problem here in the rain forest!) is about all rhubarb needs to produce a large quantity of healthy stalks. It takes about three years for the plants to become fully established. The roots may be divided every now and then in order to propagate new plants or to refresh one’s rhubarb plantation. Flower stalks should be cut off before they have a chance to develop.

Browsing through my tattered old recipe folder recently, I came across a National Post clipping dated May 20, 2000. It was from the weekend Food & Drink section and featured a story by food columnist Cynthia David who wrote that “Canadians consume five million tons of rhubarb a year”! This includes the earlier forced rhubarb, grown in large, dark sheds in rural parts of the country, available from about mid-February to May, at which time the outdoor harvest normally begins. After harvesting, by hand, most commercially grown rhubarb is washed, trimmed, chopped and sent off to be processed into a variety of pre-made fruit pies, crisps and pie fillings. It is also available frozen as is or dried, sweetened and flavoured with strawberry juice.

F. and her rhubarb…

At home, on the island, in our garden, I grow a dozen plants, which reliably produce many pounds of lovely pink rhubarb from mid-April to the end of June. We use quite a lot of this bounty ourselves, and still there is plenty to share with family and friends. The stalks freeze well; washed, dried and chopped into small pieces, bagged and placed in the freezer for future use in crumbles, pies, tarts, muffins, jams, or chutneys.

For dessert at home, we eat fruit crumble, or crisp, almost exclusively. I make this dessert with whatever fruit is in season or readily available, either individually or in combination. At the end of March we used up the last of our own fresh apples, overwintered in their slatted wooden boxes. I experimented with a frozen berry/dried apple combo, while waiting for the first fresh rhubarb of spring.

Over the years, I have experimented with different ways to prepare rhubarb. I have learned that a small handful of chopped sweet cicely (an anise-flavoured, fern-like garden herb) added to the prepared stalks before cooking helps to cut the acidity, allowing for a reduction in the amount of sugar required for sweetening.

In my experience, the following recipes are all vastly superior to the childhood favourite of munching on a raw stick of rhubarb dipped repeatedly into the sugar bowl. Perhaps I’ll do some baking while I wait for the weather to improve.

Rhubarb Crumble

6 cups rhubarb, cut into 1-inch cubes (fresh or frozen)

¾ cup granulated sugar                                                                                          

2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour

½ tsp. cinnamon, ginger, lemon or orange rind (optional)

Topping:

½ cup all-purpose flour

½ cup brown sugar

1 cup porridge oats (I use slow cooking ones)

A pinch of grated nutmeg

1/3 cup cold butter, cut into chunks

Preheat oven to 375 F. (190 C). Using a large bowl toss together rhubarb, sugar, flour and flavouring, if desired. Place in a 2 litre non-reactive (glass, ceramic or stainless steel) baking dish.

Using the same large bowl, mix the dry ingredients for topping. Add the butter and rub into dry ingredients using clean fingertips until mixture is crumbly.

Sprinkle topping over rhubarb and bake until topping is golden brown and filling is bubbly and tender, about 35 minutes. Serve warm or cool with vanilla ice-cream, whipped cream or yogurt.

Rhubarb Dessert Cake

2/3 cup oil (canola, sunflower or other cooking oil)

¾ cup brown sugar                                                                               

1 beaten egg

½ cup sour milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

1 ½ tsp. baking soda

3 cups chopped fresh (or frozen) rhubarb

Topping:

2 Tbsp. granulated sugar

1-2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 F. In a large mixing bowl, cream together oil and brown sugar. Beat in egg and vanilla extract. In a separate bowl, whisk or sift together flour and baking soda and add to the creamed mixture, alternating with the sour milk. Mix well after each addition. Stir in chopped rhubarb and spoon into a greased 9 inch square cake pan, scraping out the bowl with a rubber spatula. Mix the sugar and cinnamon for topping and sprinkle over the cake batter. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in centre of cake comes out clean. Serve warm or cool with or without ice-cream, whipped cream or yogurt.

Rhubarb Dream Bars                                                                                                

1½ cups all-purpose flour

¾ cup powdered confectioner’s sugar

¼ tsp. salt

1 tsp. grated lemon zest

2/3 cup cold butter, cut into chunks

1 tsp. lemon juice

Filling:

4 eggs

¼ tsp. salt

1 cup sugar

½ cup all-purpose flour

4 cups packed diced rhubarb

Small handful chopped sweet cicely leaves (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 F. Whisk dry ingredients for crust. Cut in butter as for pastry. Add lemon zest and juice. Press into bottom of a 9 x 13 inch pan. Bake 10-15 minutes.

For filling, beat eggs and salt until foamy. Add sugar gradually beating until thick and light yellow in colour. Blend in flour and fold in rhubarb. Pour over warm crust in pan. Return to oven and bake for 40-45 minutes or until lightly browned. Cut into bars to serve, warm or at room temperature.

Cold Rhubarb Tea

4 cups diced rhubarb (do not peel)                                                                                   

4 cups water

Grated rind of 1 lemon or orange

¾ to 1 cup granulated sugar

Plain or sparkling water (optional, to taste)

Simmer rhubarb in water until very tender, about 20-25 minutes. Strain, add grated lemon or orange rind and sugar. Stir until sugar has dissolved. Cool well and serve over ice in a tall glass, as is or diluted to taste with plain or sparkling water.

This beverage may also be preserved by pouring hot into a hot, sterilized canning jar then sealing by processing in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes. In this case do not add grated citrus rind until ready to use.

Rhubarb Chutney

2 pounds rhubarb (7 cups chopped)

1 large onion

1 cup vinegar

1 ¼ cups granulated sugar

¾ tsp. salt

1 tsp. ground ginger

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

¼ tsp. ground cloves

¼ tsp. ground allspice

Small pinch of cayenne pepper

1 tsp. whole pickling spice (tied in a cheesecloth bag)

Wash and cut rhubarb into ½ inch pieces. Peel and slice onion. Combine rhubarb, onion and vinegar and cook, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and cook, uncovered, until the chutney is of a jam-like consistency, about 40 minutes, stirring to prevent scorching. Pour into hot, sterilized jars and seal by processing in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes. Yield: about 3 ½ cups. Serve with curries, cold meats, cheeses, etc.

©ClaudiaLake,claudlakeblog,IslandTime,2017