15 Surprising Savory Rhubarb Recipes (2024)

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15 Surprising Savory Rhubarb Recipes (1)Grace MannonUpdated: Feb. 25, 2022

    Practically everyone is familiar with strawberry-rhubarb pie and rhubarb muffins, but how often do you see that rosy red vegetable in savory recipes? Surprise—it's just as good on the dinner plate as it is for dessert!

    1/15

    Pork Chops with Rhubarb

    A surprising rhubarb sauce makes these tender chops extra special. I like this fruity sauce on the tangy side, but you can always add more honey to sweeten it up a bit if it’s too puckery for your family. —Bonnie Bufford, Nicholson, Pennsylvania

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    2/15

    Taste of Home

    Rhubarb Beef

    My daughter made a trip around the world and brought home this recipe from Iran. I've served it often to many of my friends, and they always seem to savor its different, zingy taste. —Bertha Davis, Springfield, Missouri

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    3/15

    Rhubarb and Honey Chicken

    The sauce on this honey chicken is like a sweet-tart spin on teriyaki. Everyone who has tried it raves about it—even my husband, who’s not usually a rhubarb lover. —Rachel Beach, Whitley City, Kentucky

    4/15

    Pork Loin with Strawberry-Rhubarb Chutney

    I love strawberry-rhubarb pie, so I thought the same flavor combination could work as a chutney—and it does! This makes a delicious and festive accompaniment to a succulent pork roast. The chutney can be made a day ahead and kept in the refrigerator. —Deborah Biggs, Omaha, Nebraska

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    5/15

    Rhubarb-Apricot Barbecued Chicken

    Springtime brings back memories of the rhubarb that grew beside my childhood home. When I found ruby red stalks in the store, I created this recipe for them. My family gives this a big thumbs up. —Laurie Hudson, Westville, Florida

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    6/15

    Spinach Salad with Rhubarb Dressing

    Spinach salad is excellent with this tangy topping, which really perks it up. A friend shared a similar salad dressing recipe with me and I modified it a bit. The rhubarb adds rosy color and mouthwatering flavor.—Twila Mitchell, Lindsborg, Kansas

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    7/15

    Spring Essence Soup with Pistou

    During the last part of April one year, I picked what I had available in the garden. I found oregano, leeks, asparagus and rhubarb. This became the base for an essence-of-spring recipe. The rhubarb adds a citrus element, which is balanced by the nutty, earthy pistou. It is truly a layering of flavors. —Laurie Bock, Lynden, Washington

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    8/15

    Taste of Home

    Dijon-Rubbed Pork with Rhubarb Sauce

    This tender pork loin roast served with a rhubarb-orange sauce is simply delicious! Here's an excellent choice for company—it makes a memorable meal. —Marilyn Rodriguez, Sparks, Nevada

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    9/15

    Rhubarbecue

    This simmered sauce is a roller-coaster ride for your tongue. It's a wonderful blend of complex flavors that goes with any meat. — Rd Stendel-Freels, Albuquerque, New Mexico

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    10/15

    Taste of Home

    Rhubarb Ketchup

    I received this recipe from a friend about 15 years ago. It's a nice surprise for ketchup lovers, and so easy to prepare. The spicy flavor makes this one of the tastiest ketchups I've ever had! —Faith McLillian, Rawdon, Quebec

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    11/15

    Rhubarb Pork Chop Casserole

    The usual reaction to this casserole is that it’s a nice mix of sweet and tart—and an unusual use of rhubarb! I like rhubarb, but I’m not a dessert person. I always thought pies and cobblers shouldn’t be the only ways to enjoy it. —Jeanie Castor, Decatur, Illinois

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    12/15

    15 Surprising Savory Rhubarb Recipes (13)

    Courtesy of Food Faith Fitness

    Strawberry Rhubarb Chicken Stir-Fry

    The next time you make a stir-fry, take a cue from Food Faith Fitness and add some rhubarb to the mix to give your dish a delicious complexity that only the piquant stalks can provide.

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    13/15

    15 Surprising Savory Rhubarb Recipes (14)

    Courtesy of Where Is My Spoon

    Rhubarb and Tomato Soup

    Have you ever considered adding rhubarb to soup? This recipe from Where Is My Spoon adds the fruit to a tomato soup and creates a delicious Romanian-inspired meal.

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    14/15

    15 Surprising Savory Rhubarb Recipes (15)

    Courtesy of Cotter Crunch

    Crispy Rhubarb Lemon Chicken Bake

    This beautiful one-pan meal from Cotter Crunch uses rhubarb two ways—it flavors the chicken as a component of the marinade and the often-overlooked shavings create a crispy topping on the finished dish.

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    15/15

    15 Surprising Savory Rhubarb Recipes (16)

    Courtesy of Kitchen Konfidence

    Cornmeal-Crusted Fish Tacos with Rhubarb Salsa

    Fish tacos are nothing new, but a salsa revolving around rhubarb is definitely something unique and exciting! This recipe from Kitchen Konfidence adds pickled onions and jalapeno to a colorful salsa for an extra punch.

    Get the Recipe from Kitchen Konfidence

    Originally Published: March 07, 2019

    15 Surprising Savory Rhubarb Recipes (17)

    Grace Mannon

    Grace learned a ton about the nitty-gritty of food and nutrition while earning her master’s degree in food science. She worked for a well-known baby food company and a company responsible for many favorite snack foods before transitioning to being a stay-at-home mom. She loves writing about complicated food science concepts in an understandable way and as a Taste of Home contributor, Grace covers a little bit of everything, from vintage recipes to must-have holiday foods and treats.

    15 Surprising Savory Rhubarb Recipes (2024)

    FAQs

    How do you get the most Flavour out of rhubarb? ›

    "Once you let it simmer, and it's soft, let it sit overnight. Now you have these tender ribbons that you can jar up, or you can put them on anything." Removing the first layer of skin will take away its "rubbery taste" and bring out the stalk's most appealing flavors, and the brown sugar will temper the tartness.

    What can I do with 3 stalks of rhubarb? ›

    Wash the stalks, trim off the top and bottom, then slice into your preferred shape. To stew or poach your rhubarb to serve simply with ice cream or custard, cook for 8-10 minutes, or roast it for 15 minutes (forced) or 20 minutes (maincrop).

    What can I do with all my rhubarb? ›

    4 Ways To Use Leftover Rhubarb
    1. Candied. Simply bake rhubarb pieces with sugar and lemon in the oven to obtain a candied version that you can spread on toast or pour over a scoop of ice cream.
    2. In co*cktails. Rhubarb and summer drinks go hand in hand. ...
    3. Homemade syrup. You don't even need a recipe to make rhubarb syrup. ...
    4. Compote.

    What does rhubarb pair well with? ›

    Rhubarb flavor pairings:
    • any type of berries, but especially strawberries.
    • vanilla.
    • almond.
    • cardamom.
    • lemon.
    • apples.
    • mint.
    • ginger.
    Jun 6, 2023

    What takes the tartness out of rhubarb? ›

    Although it can be eaten raw, rhubarb tends to be too tart this way, and it's usually best when cooked with plenty of sugar. It goes well with both ginger and strawberries.

    What is the best sweetener for rhubarb? ›

    To keep it sugar free you could use a little stevia, for a low fructose option you could use either rice syrup or coconut nectar, or if you're a honey fan, a little raw honey would combine beautifully with the ginger and vanilla.

    How many stalks of rhubarb does it take to make 4 cups? ›

    One pound of rhubarb makes about 4 cups, or 1 quart, of cut-up rhubarb. Four stalks of rhubarb equals approximately 2 cups of diced rhubarb.

    Can you freeze whole stalks of rhubarb? ›

    If you have a go-to recipe you'd like to make later, slice the rhubarb according to the directions. If not, slice it about 1-inch-thick for easy storage and flexibility in what you're cooking later. We don't recommend freezing full stalks, as they won't hold their shape well when they thaw.

    Why shouldn't you pick rhubarb after July? ›

    Rhubarb is good to eat in spring or early summer months, so before late July, to be exact. However, during the late summer months, rhubarb stalks tend to become more fibrous and start to lose their characteristic natural flavor. So, it's better not to eat rhubarb in the late summer.

    How many cups is two pounds of rhubarb? ›

    A cup is a measure of volume while pounds is a measure of weight so a direct calculation is difficult. If we only take liquid weight into account, one cup is eight ounces and two pounds would be 32 ounces so two pounds of rhubarb would equate to 4 cups.

    Can you freeze rhubarb straight from the garden? ›

    You can freeze rhubarb raw, blanched or fully cooked. Regardless of which stage you choose to freeze at, the rhubarb will break down more as it defrosts, so it's best used in dishes where you don't need neat sticks of it.

    What animal likes rhubarb? ›

    Slugs eat rhubarb leaves but the mesh would obviously not stop them, so it is something bigger. Possums will also eat the leaves and seem to survive the Oxalic Acid they contain. Birds such as Pukekos will also eat the leaves.

    When should you not pick rhubarb? ›

    The best time to harvest rhubarb is during the months of May, June and early July. After this, it's best to let the plant be, so it can regrow and recharge to survive the winter. You can cut the flower stalk away before it blooms to help extend the harvesting season.

    What should not be planted near rhubarb? ›

    Plants to Avoid Near Rhubarb
    • Brassica Family. While members of the Brassica family, like broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage, are staples in many gardens, they don't typically make good neighbors for rhubarb. ...
    • Potatoes. ...
    • Black Walnut. ...
    • Tomatoes.
    Aug 11, 2023

    How do you reduce the acidity of rhubarb? ›

    Tips for cooking with rhubarb

    In recipes, keep cooking liquids to a minimum quantity because it will dilute the colour of the rhubarb. Adding a bit of baking soda to a recipe can help reduce the acidity of your baked rhubarb dish.

    What's the best way to prepare rhubarb? ›

    Cut into sticks. Scatter with sugar, add a splash of water and simmer gently for 8 minutes until soft and longer to cook it to a puree or compote.

    What is the best way to cook rhubarb? ›

    Method. Put the rhubarb into a saucepan with the orange zest, juice, sugar and 2 tbsp water. Bring to the boil then simmer for 8 mins until the rhubarb is cooked but still holds its shape.

    Should you peel rhubarb before cooking? ›

    Cut away and discard any tough, woody, or bruised parts of the stalks. Wash the stalks thoroughly and scrub with a vegetable brush. You don't need to peel peak-season rhubarb, but by midsummer, the stalks tend to be tough and fibrous. You might need to peel them to make them tastier.

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