Like the early-blooming tulips that harbour the hope of warm sunny days, rhubarb is a promise of summer pleasures. Learn about growing, storing and cooking nature’s original sweet-and-sour delight and test your knowledge of rhubarb in this week’s feature. Think pink!

Think Pink!
Buying, Storing and Growing RhubarbBuying, Storing and Growing Rhubarb
Stay in the Pink!

Think Pink!

Question 1: Is rhubarb a vegetable?

As a matter of fact, yes. Rhubarb is a vegetable, not a fruit. Also known as pie plant, it has traditionally been used in cakes, custards and preserves as well as pies but nowadays is often served as a vegetable dish:
. with pork, chicken, fish or foie gras.
. as a first course with grated carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes and cheese

Question 2: Are rhubarb leaves edible?

Rhubarb leaves might not look dangerous, but they are very poisonous, even deadly. Consider that they are used to make an effective organic insecticide against aphids.

Buying, Storing and Growing RhubarbBuying, Storing and Growing Rhubarb

When it’s in season, you’ll find fresh rhubarb at your Metro store. Choose firm crisp stalks with fresh-cut ends. You should see juice when you break a stalk.

Rhubarb freezes beautifully cooked or raw and cut into sections. Freeze in a plastic bag. Don’t use aluminum.

If you prefer to grow your own rhubarb, plant it in the spring when the trees begin to bud. Rhubarb is ready to harvest in early summer and fall, but do not harvest stalks from new plants for the first two years.

Stay in the Pink!

Rich in potassium, calcium and vitamin C, rhubarb, a natural laxative, will help keep you in the pink. With its high iron content, rhubarb is also an antianemic, as well as an anti-inflammatory that is good against canker sores.

Rhubarb combines beautifully with strawberries, raspberries, apples, lemon, asparagus, thyme, tarragon, cinnamon and ginger. Has this cold soggy spring soured your disposition? The following recipes will brighten your mood!

Rhubarb Jam
Strawberry Rhubarb Compote
Pork Tenderloin Stuffed with Maple Pears (or Rhubarb)
Fruit Sherbet
Rhubarb Moon Cake

Explore the many flavourful possibilities of this versatile vegetable. Your taste buds will be tickled pink!