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

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    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

    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

    Do you have to peel rhubarb before you cook it? ›

    Peeling rhubarb is rarely necessary. Most recipes require the rhubarb to be cut into batons. Using a paring knife, top and tail the stem, slice at an angle into the size that the recipe requires – this could vary from 1 inch chunks for quick-stewed rhubarb to longer batons for roasting or poaching.

    What is the best thing to do with rhubarb? ›

    Rhubarb is a truly special ingredient. With its vivid pink colour and distinctively tangy taste, it can be stewed, poached, roasted and puréed in a range of dishes as well as drinks. Use it in a comforting crumble, a classic syllabub, a fruity chutney or a zingy kebab sauce – the possibilities are endless.

    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 can I do with old 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.

    Can you eat the red skin on rhubarb? ›

    So, in conclusion: You don't have to peel rhubarb before eating it. Of course, you can if you want to. But doing it means that some of the lovely red flavor is going to disappear. I usually just prepare rhubarb by rinsing it and then cutting it into thin slices!

    Can I freeze fresh rhubarb for later use? ›

    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 does rhubarb do to your body? ›

    Rhubarb contains a group of compounds called sennosides (also found in senna), which can act as natural laxative, helping to prevent constipation. It's also a useful source of dietary fibre which helps keep the digestive system healthy.

    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.

    How to cook rhubarb without it going mushy? ›

    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.

    What makes rhubarb a laxative? ›

    Sennoside A and other dianthrone derivatives are reported to be the active ingredients causing rhubarb's laxative effect (6). They are metabolized by β-glucosidase of enterobacterial origin and are converted into rhein anthrone, which produces the purgative activity.

    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.

    What is not compatible with rhubarb? ›

    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. The reason remains a subject of debate among gardeners, but some speculate it's due to competition for nutrients or potential soil pH clashes.

    Can dogs eat rhubarb? ›

    Dogs cannot eat rhubarb. While they have health benefits for humans as a source of potassium, vitamin C, and magnesium, rhubarb is a toxic plant for dogs to ingest. Learn about the health risks of different parts of the rhubarb plant.

    Is floppy rhubarb still good? ›

    Also, rhubarb should not be consumed if it was harvested after a severe frost as the oxalic acid levels in the stem can increase to dangerous levels. With that in mind, never purchase rhubarb that has soft, limp stalks or shows any signs of black, shriveled leaves.

    Can you eat raw rhubarb? ›

    Its stalks are deeper red and tinged with green, while its leaves are bright green. It has a more intense flavour and robust texture than the forced variety. 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.

    What happens if you don't peel rhubarb? ›

    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.

    How do you prepare rhubarb for cooking? ›

    To prepare: Wash the stems and cut off the leaves and the ends. Cut into 2cm lengths, removing any strings if necessary. Stew or poach in some water and a little sugar. When making a crumble or a pie, the rhubarb does not need to be cooked first.

    What's the best way to cook 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.

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