You may have noticed a celery look-a-like popping up at your farmers’ market and grocery stores lately. But it happens to be more pink and tart than celery, and you’d probably rather have this in a dessert than a soup. What’s this mysterious fruit/vegetable, you ask? Rhubarb! Traditionally, rhubarb was mainly found in pies and other desserts, but now these pink and green stalks are showing up in breakfast meals, meat sauces, pasta dishes, you name it. We know you’ve looked at it, hesitated and didn’t buy it, but now is the time. We have 20 recipes just waiting for you to be brave and add rhubarb to your basket.
1. Rhubarb Macarons: Along with an excellent recipe for rhubarb macarons, you will get the ten commandments to not botch your next batch. These cookies are fickle, so we suggest reading all ten of them before starting in. (via Brave Tart)
2. Rhubarb Ginger Bars: We can all eat jam straight out of the jar, but wouldn’t it be even better on top of sugary whole wheat crust? Yeah, we think so, too. (via Pastry Affair)
3. Rhubarb Flan and Pistachio Crumble Tart: This tart is made with vanilla bean sugar dough, poached rhubarb, vanilla bean flan and pistachio crumble. A combination we wouldn’t have thought of, but we’re glad that someone did! (via Canelle et Vanille)
4. Rhubarb Ginger Scones: Rhubarb makes a great addition to your breakfast routine. A batch of these scones can be made in advance to allow for one more snooze-button sesh each weekday. (via Lynsey Loves Food)
5. Cornmeal Crusted Fish Tacos With Rhubarb Salsa: It’s time to infuse your tacos with a little bit of seasonal produce. Rhubarb salsa will kick the texture up a notch. (via Kitchen Konfidence)
6. Cinnamon Rhubarb Applesauce: Tart rhubarb combined with sweet apples make for one tasty applesauce. Kid tested, mother approved. (via Kitchen Treaty)
7. Strawberry Rhubarb Panna Cotta: Any Italian dessert involving rich cream has our mouths watering. Combine it with some spiced fruits and call it day. (via Brit + Co.)
8. Noodles With Kale and Spicy Rhubarb Sauce: If you’ve only had rhubarb covered in sugar, it’s time to expand your horizons. The tartness of rhubarb combined with a sweetness of honey and spice is worth a try. (via Naturally Ella)
9. Rhubarb Basil co*cktail: Make a rhubarb simple syrup that can be used in any co*cktail this summer! Partnering it with basil, vodka and club soda might be the best way to drink it. (via Pixels + Crumbs)
10. Rhubarb Ice Cream With Pistachio Chunks: There is a solution for dairy-free ice cream lovers! And it comes in the form of rhubarb ice cream with a hint of coconut and non-processed sugar. (via What’s Cooking, Good Looking?)
11. Rhubarb Custard Tea Cake: Your afternoon tea is pretty in pink with the addition of rhubarb stalks. The neatly arranged rhubarb perfectly portions your cake for cutting! (via Eat, Little Bird)
12. Rhubarb Tart: Well this might be the prettiest rhubarb dessert to date. And all you have to do is thinly slice it! (via Food and Cook)
13. Lemon Rhubarb Mini Bundt Cakes: If you don’t already have one, you might need to splurge on a mini bundt cake pan. These are practically too cute to eat. (via Girl Vs. Dough)
14. Strawberry Rhubarb Ice Cream Sandwiches: Ice cream stuffed between two cookies is a winner in everyone’s book. Brown butter cookies with strawberry rhubarb ice cream filling is no different. (via Buttercream Blondie)
15. Cardamom Crepes With Rhubarb Compote: Break out the compote. We have a tasty crepe in need of delicious toppings. (via Sips + Spoonfuls)
16. Rhubarb Cream Cheese Hand Pies: These look like homemade Pop Tarts for grown-ups. And we want some now. (via Smitten Kitchen)
17. Strawberry Rhubarb Pavlova: If you can master the pavlova, you should probably add some rhubarb on top. It is a beautiful mess of a dessert. (via Sophistamom)
18. Rhubarb Greek Yogurt Popsicles: You’re going to need some popsicles soon (if not already) to cool you down from the summer heat. Might as well make ‘em healthy with some Greek yogurt and rhubarb. (via The View From Great Island)
19. Rhubarb Ketchup: Rhubarb has even made its way into an American favorite condiment — ketchup. Make your own and spare yourself the high sugar content of store-bought variety. (via Savory Simple)
20. Rhubarb Pie: Rhubarb’s first home was in pie. And that first home is still as amazing as it once was. (via The Meaning of Pie)
How do you sneak rhubarb into your recipes? Let us know in the comments below!
Caitlin Ball
Caitlin is a San Francisco native currently living abroad in Zurich, Switzerland. You will most likely find her in the kitchen, the yoga studio, working on her latest craft project, eating Swiss chocolate, or writing all about it on her blog, teaspoon.
