36 Rhubarb Recipes That Will Inspire You to Use This Springtime Vegetable (2024)

Wondering what to do with all that rhubarb popping up in your garden or at the farmers market? Fans of the spring vegetable eagerly await the arrival of rhubarb season each year. Lucky for you, we're rhubarb connoisseurs, which means we have a collection of recipes that'll help you make the most of this tasty, colorful spring crop.

Here's what you need to know to make the most of rhubarb: Look for thin, red-pink crisp stalks, as these will have the best texture. If the stalks are floppy, this is a good indication that they were picked too long ago. When you get home, wrap the rhubarb stalks in plastic and refrigerate for up to one week. You can also freeze rhubarb and enjoy it for months to come. To use rhubarb, rinse it well, then trim the bottoms and tops of the stalks. If there are any leaves, slice them off and discard them (the leaves are toxic). If the stalks are stringy, remove them with a small paring knife, as you would for celery.

Now the fun part: From sweet Rhubarb Muffins to savory Pork Chops with Rhubarb-Cherry Sauce, read on for our favorite ways to enjoy rhubarb.

Our Complete Seasonal Produce Guide: Here's When Every Fruit and Vegetable Is Ripe (and Tastes the Best)

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Rhubarb Custard Tart

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The secret to success with this stunning tart is blind-baking the crust. Pop it in the oven before making the filling—this helps it get firm and crunchy, which means you won't end up with a soggy bottom as the simple custard and scored rhubarb stalks get baked in.

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Rhubarb-Apple-Almond Cobbler

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Looking for an easy rhubarb dessert? Try this cobbler, which has a biscuit topping made from an all-purpose flour and almond flour dough over a filling of greenmarket-fresh rhubarb and hardy Granny Smith apples. The filling is sweetened with sugar plus a tiny bit of ginger and lemon for bite.

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Roasted Rhubarb-and-Sour-Cherry Compote

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This intensely sweet-tart condiment is as versatile as it is vivacious. Sour cherries (fresh or frozen) pack a punch, and they keep their color when roasted with rhubarb and a splash of orange juice. Use it on top of your morning yogurt, serve it on a cheese plate, or purée it to use in a vibrant spring co*cktail.

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Roasted Rhubarb-and-Cherry Gimlet

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This super spring drink starts with a purée of our Roasted Rhubarb-and-Sour-Cherry Compote, then come the classic gimlet ingredients: gin, fresh lime juice, and seltzer. Shake them together, and say cheers to the season.

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Strawberry-Rhubarb Rolled Pavlova

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Have you heard about the ace pairing that is strawberries with rhubarb? This might just be their best outing yet. A tubular take on the usual mounded pavlova, it's at once easy and elegant. Meringue is spread thinly then baked. The filling is Rhubarb-Raspberry Jam, sliced strawberries, and whipped cream, all rolled up in the chewy meringue.

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Pan Roasted Chicken with Rhubarb

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Remember that rhubarb is, botanically speaking, a vegetable—so it's not surprising that it plays so well in this easy sauce spiced with an aromatic blend of turmeric, cumin, garlic, onion, and ginger. Simmer chicken breasts in the sauce, then serve everything with white rice or flatbreads.

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Rhubarb Crumb Cake

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Vibrant stalks of rhubarb and an irresistible streusel topping crown this moist sour-cream cake.

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Pickled Rhubarb

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It's time to get familiar with this super-versatile condiment: We love it on cheese plates or mixed with savory ingredients like chopped parsley, olive oil, and red-pepper flakes to make a relish for grilled steak or pork chops.

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Green Salad with Roasted Beets and Pickled Rhubarb

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It's usually coaxed in a sweeter direction, but rhubarb brightens savory recipes. One example is pickles: Our brine of white vinegar, sugar, and star anise gives Pickled Rhubarb a bread-and-butter-pickle flavor made for slaws, sandwiches, and this salad of roasted beets and tender lettuces.

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Rhubarb-Strawberry Lattice Pie

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Here we have the classic rhubarb pairing, made with a top crust that shows off the glorious fruit filling. This pie can also be made with a mix of rhubarb and raspberries.

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Rhubarb-Strawberry Tart

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Rhubarb and strawberries are enhanced with sugar and fresh lemon juice and thickened with cornstarch for the filling in this showstopping tart.

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Rhubarb and Beets

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Toss rhubarb and baby beets with olive oil, salt, and pepper and roast until tender. Scatter some toasted walnuts on top for crunch before serving.

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Pavlova with Rhubarb and Pistachios

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Here's a recipe that's as delicious as it is beautiful! The sweet-tart baked rhubarb contrasts with crunchy pistachios and the crispy yet soft and sugary meringue.

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Pistachio-Rhubarb Yogurt Cake

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Sweet and moist, with just the right amounts of roasted rhubarb and ground pistachios throughout, this cake makes a spectacular spring dessert. Serve with more roasted rhubarb swirled into yogurt.

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Rhubarb-Raspberry Cheesecake Squares

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A ruby-red gelée of rhubarb and raspberries tops the creamy filling and graham-cracker crust in this easy cheesecake.

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Rhubarb Buckle

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You can make these cake squares dotted with rhubarb and topped with a crunchy crumb topping up to a day in advance.

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Rhubarb Fizz

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Homemade rhubarb syrup, gin, prosecco, and lemons are all you need to make this pretty-in-pink beverage. Try it at your next brunch.

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Rhubarb Muffins

We love the eye-catching chunks of tart rhubarb in these sweet, moist buttermilk muffins. They'll be the first to go at your spring brunch.

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Rosé-Poached Rhubarb

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Simmer rhubarb with rosé wine and a trio of spices—vanilla bean, cinnamon, and star anise—then serve with vanilla ice cream or Greek yogurt for an elegant spring dessert.

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Rosy Rhubarb-Meringue Cake

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Seeking an over-the-top Easter or spring dessert? Look no further than this sky-high meringue cake topped with fresh whipped cream and homemade rhubarb compote.

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Rhubarb Upside-Down Cake

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Whether you put it on a pedestal or not, this pretty cake with a delicate crumb base is a winner—and it's one of Martha's favorite recipes.

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Pork Chops with Rhubarb-Cherry Sauce

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One for the savory side, this lively sauce pairs rhubarb with dried cherries, onion, and a splash of balsamic. It goes well with pork chops or chicken; also try it spread on a slice of goat-cheese-topped bread for a genius crostini.

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Strawberry-Rhubarb Sangria

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Bubbly, fruity, and altogether festive, this fresh take on sangria is made with sparkling wine, orange juice, cooked rhubarb, and strawberries.

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Rhubarb Meringue Pie

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Better than lemon? We think so; the classic meringue pie is certainly prettier when made with a rhubarb curd.

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Baked Thick-Cut Bacon with Rhubarb Chutney

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Chutney is a versatile fruity condiment that adds another dimension to all kinds of dishes, like cheese, cured meats, and roast chicken or pork. When paired with bacon, it takes brunch to the next level.

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Rhubarb Pie

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Some fruit fillings might be a tad sweet for the crumble topping, but not this one that's all rhubarb.

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Rhubarb Salad with Goat Cheese

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Fast, delicious, and different, this simple salad combines roasted rhubarb with arugula, fennel, and walnuts in a light balsamic dressing.

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Strawberry-Rhubarb Crisp

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Easier than pie and just as tasty (even tastier?) is this crisp. Our recipe calls for rhubarb and strawberries under a crunchy oat topping. Finish with fresh basil leaves.

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Poached Rhubarb with Elderflower Sabayon

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Simmer rhubarb with water, sugar, vanilla bean, and lemon zest until tender, then finish with a warm, frothy St-Germain-spiked sabayon.

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Vanilla-Rhubarb Tart

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This gorgeous tart calls for arranging short pieces of rhubarb in a herringbone pattern, but it would be just as delicious without the careful arrangement. The combination of tart rhubarb with fragrant vanilla bean is one we're going to try again and again.

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Chilled Rhubarb and Raspberry Soup

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So refreshing, this sweet-tart dessert soup takes rhubarb far from its usual pie-cake-crisp territory.

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Rhubarb Crumb Bars

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Going to the sweet—and buttery—side, these streusel bars are an irresistible teatime treat.

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Rhubarb Custards

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Another classic pairing for rhubarb: Here, the plant's sweet-tart flavor shines through in a creamy custard. Our recipe simplifies the technique—no water bath required—but doesn't compromise on taste.

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Rhubarb Compote

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Just three ingredients—rhubarb, sugar, and a little fresh ginger—create this compote that goes so well with yogurt, ice cream, pound cake, and lots more.

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Rhubarb-Buckwheat Scones

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For breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon snack, these glorious rhubarb scones are just the thing. A smidge of buckwheat flour added to the all-purpose flour makes them super flavorful. They're especially delicious when served with our pretty Strawberry Butter.

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Classic Rhubarb Fool with Farm-Fresh Cream

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This classic warm-weather English dessert is light and sweet with the contrasting tartness of rhubarb. And with only three ingredients—rhubarb, cream, and sugar—it is simplicity itself.

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36 Rhubarb Recipes That Will Inspire You to Use This Springtime Vegetable (2024)

FAQs

What is the best thing to do with rhubarb? ›

Use it in a comforting crumble, a classic syllabub, a fruity chutney or a zingy kebab sauce – the possibilities are endless. For more inspiration, see our collection of rhubarb recipes.

What fruit pairs well with rhubarb? ›

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

How do you eat rhubarb as a vegetable? ›

Cut a thin stalk of raw rhubarb from the bush and just eat it. If its too tart dip the bit end into a small cup of white sugar and take another bite. Crunchy (and nutritious) sweet tart.

Why do people cook with rhubarb? ›

Because of its inherent tang, rhubarb shines when cooked with sugar. You'll find the fruit stewed into rhubarb compote, diced and tossed into a pie, or sliced into thin strips and layered on tarts or upside-down cake (swap it for lemons in this recipe).

What does rhubarb do to your body? ›

Studies show that rhubarb helps lower your bad cholesterol levels as well as your total cholesterol. Lower cholesterol levels reduce your risk for heart disease and heart attack. The vitamin K in rhubarb may also aid in preventing the calcification of blood vessels.

What's the healthiest way to eat rhubarb? ›

Healthy Rhubarb Recipes
  1. Rhubarb Oat Muffins. 45 mins.
  2. Strawberry-Rhubarb Icebox Cake. 8 hrs 30 mins.
  3. Roasted Rhubarb Salad. 40 mins.

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.

Can I freeze rhubarb? ›

For loose pieces of rhubarb, spread the pieces in a single layer on lined trays and open freeze them. Once frozen, tip the pieces into containers or bags. Otherwise, if you are not worried about them sticking together, freeze them straight into the container or bags. Use within three months.

What is rhubarb best paired with? ›

Stewed gently with orange or ginger, it makes a delicious healthy breakfast, when served with porridge, pancakes or yogurt. It can also be pickled, roasted or baked into cakes, puddings and crumbles. The best combination of all is rhubarb and custard – whether in the form of a pavlova, panna cotta or tart.

When not to use rhubarb? ›

If you already have kidney disease, avoid rhubarb. Kidney stones: Rhubarb contains a chemical that the body can convert into kidney stones. If you have ever had kidney stones, don't take rhubarb.

Should you peel rhubarb? ›

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.

Is rhubarb a laxative? ›

Rhubarb has numerous health benefits. It can remove toxins from the body and is a natural laxative. Its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties protect the body from many health issues, including the risk of developing cancer, heart diseases, and others.

What was rhubarb originally used for? ›

The ancient Chinese used it as a medicinal herb over 5,000 years ago. Native to southern Siberia, it got its name from the Russians who grew it along the Rha river (now the Volga). For centuries it was traded alongside tea as a cure for stomach aches and fevers.

What month is rhubarb in season? ›

Rhubarb can generally be found in the spring months, April through June, at the farmers market. In cooler climates, like Alaska, rhubarb can be found at the farmers market throughout the summer, which is pretty cool. Sometimes there is a fall harvest as well, but this is not very common.

What's the best way to prepare rhubarb? ›

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.

Is it better to eat rhubarb raw or cooked? ›

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.

When should you not pick rhubarb? ›

The harvest season for rhubarb lasts until the end of June. Until then, pick as many stalks as you wish. After harvest, allow the plant to keep all of its leaves, to build its reserves of energy for the next year.

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