What does rhubarb taste like? For the answer, continue reading this article.
So you thought of rhubarb as a fruit, right? But, is it really a fruit? Have you ever tried tasting one? What does rhubarb taste like? Perhaps, you have many questions about rhubarb. Here, I will not just help you discover the taste of a rhubarb, but I will also provide you essential information relevant to rhubarb.
Rhubarb isn’t that popular, but it is underrated by some. With that, we will discuss things to know more about rhubarb.
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A Little Background about Rhubarb
Rhubarb offers a bit of complicated history. Why? Technically, rhubarb was a vegetable, but it was legally made as a fruit in the 1940s as for saving import taxes and also because it was treated as a fruit.
It looks like a rosy-colored celery but typically it is pink, and it could also be pale green. However, the color doesn’t determine the level of ripeness of this fruit. It has a stalk that is, of course, edible, this plant has very dangerous leaves.
The poisonous leaves have oxalic acid as well as anthraquinone glycosides that could lead to many different symptoms. And these symptoms include stomach pain, seizure, eye pain, diarrhea, kidney failure and worse, coma. Death might as well be possible but rare.
What Does Rhubarb Taste Like?
So what do you know about the taste of a rhubarb? Of course, rhubarb would taste like a rhubarb! But I know, this isn’t precisely the answer you want to know. So, on a serious note, once eaten raw, rhubarb tastes sour. There will be no sweetness in a fresh rhubarb.
But really, what does rhubarb taste like? Well, it could be eaten raw only that you need to be mindful of the roots and leaves. Why? They are indeed off limits!
Rhubarb offers a distinct tart flavor that makes it excellent in pies and pastries.If you bite a stalk of rhubarb along with a dash of salt, you will be provided with tangy, sour and a little sweet taste. It is sour, but it is not the citrusy one. You might also dunk the said fruit in a sugar jar making it as a tasty snack.
How to Eat Rhubarb: Try These Delicious Ways
For you to enjoy more the taste of a rhubarb, you might consider different ways of eating this fruit. Some of these delicious ways are as follow:
Raw
Indeed, the easiest way to eat and taste rhubarb is to eat it raw. Simply dip the stalk in sugar and enjoy. Or you might try dipping it into other sweeteners such as maple syrup, honey or agave nectar. In order to mitigate the tart taste of rhubarb, eating it raw and dipped in sweeteners is a great choice. And you might as well sprinkle diced rhubarb over cereal or yogurt.
Dried
Though a time-consuming process to consider, still it is a nice choice to eat the rhubarb dried. To dry rhubarb, you have to boil it in water. Then, add cinnamon stick as well as sugar while boiling. There is a need for the consistency to be the same as the applesauce.
Now, pour the mixture on the dehydrator trays being lined along with parchment paper. And finally, dry the rhubarb mixture at 135 degrees around nine hours.
Roasted
The process of roasting rhubarb might as well be easy, and so you will really enjoy the taste of the said fruit. First, wash the stalks of the rhubarb and pat them dry. You have to cut them into half-inch pieces. Then, turn on the oven to 375 degrees and grease the pan with the cooking spray.
Now, spread the rhubarb in the single layer on the pan then sprinkle a tablespoon or two of sugar. Finally, roast the rhubarb for about 20 to 25 minutes.
Pureed
You might also consider a pureed rhubarb. This one could be an ingredient which is added to margaritas. It will provide a tart taste once added to banana or berry smoothies. You might also make a rhubarb jam by slicing and cooking it in a few tablespoons of water.
You only need to blend the rhubarb, allow it to cool and simply add the champagne. You can try adding a rhubarb syrup into a freshly-steeped iced tea or simply eat it with strawberries as your dip.
Condiment
Indeed, rhubarb makes a great sauce. Once used in salsas and chutney, it could make your dish taste a lot better. This chutney could go well with salmon, turkey, roast chicken, duck, trout and pork chops.
You might as well cook rhubarb in the orange juice and add vinegar, cinnamon, ginger, brown sugar and dates to it. Rhubarb salsa could also be considered using strawberries, jalapeno, cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, and rhubarb, of course.
Those are the best ways you might consider to enjoy the delicious taste of a rhubarb.
How to Prepare Rhubarb?
In most cases, rhubarbs in the grocery already have the roots and leaves trimmed off. But some still have leaves with them, so the first thing to do is to cut them off and probably throw them away. You shouldn’t feed it to animals.
After removing the dangerous part, wash the stake thoroughly. You have to rinse off the stalk and remove all the attached dirt into it.
There are some who want them peeled, but some don’t. Unpeeled rhubarb means you preserve the fiber adding to its nutritional value. But, if you want to peel it then you have the freedom to do it.
You only need to gently nick the edge of the stalk with a use of a knife and pull it to the bottom. It is a bit easy to peel the rhubarb since the skin comes off once you pull it down.
You should do this up until you have already taken the entire skin off.
After being washed and peeled, if you prefer to do so, you could cut it to around a quarter of an inch to half inch pieces. And now, you are ready to cook the rhubarb.
Indeed, proper preparation is needed when it comes to rhubarb.
So, Where Can You Use Rhubarb?
Of course, aside from using rhubarb in pies, jams, and cobblers, there is a lot more options wherein this fruit could be used. Some of the best recipes out of rhubarb are the following:
Bear in mind these options if you are in doubt whether where to use rhubarb the best.
Health Benefits of Rhubarb
Aside from its taste, we should also learn the health benefits out of consuming rhubarb. In fact, it contains different minerals and vitamins which make it as a great addition to one’s diet.
Rhubarb has vitamins K and C along with B-complex vitamins. Other nutrients present in rhubarb are protein, dietary fiber, magnesium, manganese, calcium, potassium, beta-carotene, and lutein.
It also offers fewer calories and low both in cholesterol and fat.
Besides, rhubarb could also help many people to lose weight, get better circulation and increase skin health. It might as well improve digestion, boost metabolism and fuel bone growth.
And of course, rhubarb has this ability to help in preventing Alzheimer’s disease as well as cancer and other different cardiovascular problems.
Don’t you want that? You just don’t enjoy the taste of the rhubarb, rather, you will also reap these health benefits from eating rhubarb.
Final Words
Now, the question “what does rhubarb taste like” is not just answered with a simple response but it is well explained along with essential facts about rhubarb. At this point, you have now discovered the taste of rhubarb, so why not try it yourself and enjoy more of it in your recipes? And definitely, reap the health benefits that rhubarb could offer!
I hope you enjoyed this article! For your questions or suggestions, please leave your comments below. Don’t forget to hit like and share this article too!
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