Saturday, 25 June 2016

A seasonal thought for the day …

roast your rhubarb

If you're lucky enough to grow rhubarb in your garden then you'll know that this year's crop is beyond good.

I don't grow it but I have a friend who does and last week he gave me over a kilo picked from his garden that morning.

Such a present deserves with respect and because I knew I'd never use that quantity freezing sounded like a plan – I needed to consider how best to treat my present.

Some of you out there may remember the traditional “stewed rhubarb” when it's thrown into a saucepan with sugar and water and cooked within an inch of its life. “Stewed” is such an unpleasant word and evokes for me, nightmare visions like sprouts cooked in October for eating on Christmas Day – I know that's extreme but hey, if you are of a certain age you'll know exactly what I'm saying.

Roast Rhubarb

550g rhubarb
85g demerara sugar

Pre-heat oven 200c/180fan/Gas 6

Top and tail the rhubarb and wash, wipe with kitchen roll. You can cut the rhubarb how you like either lengthways, as a guide if you have slim stalks you can cut to the length of your index finger - approximately 5-6 cms. If you have thicker stalks then chop into pieces of 3cms – try to make sure they are of a similar size so they cook evenly.

Cover with foil and roast for 15 minutes. Remove the foil shake and roast for another 5 minutes – you should finish up with tender fruit and syrupy juices. Test with a sharp knife – it should be tender and keep its shape. Cool.

Freeze in the “pour and store” bags – with the usual proviso - always freeze in small portions – you won't waste any precious treasure.

Serve with or without a crumble topping and the home-made no-churn vanilla ice cream mentioned on the blog.

You're ready to rumble – or should I say crumble. I'm so sorry.

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