Recipes with Rhubarb

June is the month that a traditional British favourite is ripe and ready and in season – rhubarb

If you are fortunate enough to grow your own, it should be just about ripe and ready to use.  Rhubarb is one of those quirky fruits, that for some reason doesn’t appeal to all palates, especially younger ones. If you have run out of inspiration but not your crop, here are a few ideas on how to use rhubarb, as an alternative to a traditional crumble …

Rhubarb and custard cake

Ingredients

3 eggs
100g self-raising flour
100g ground almonds
½ tsp almond essence
60g custard powder
25g flaked almonds
1 tbsp icing sugar, sifted
50g demerara sugar
150g sunflower spread
150g caster sugar
200g wonky rhubarb, trimmed and cut into small pieces

Method

Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas 4. Line the base of a 20cm loose-bottom round cake tin with non-stick baking parchment.

Place the rhubarb in a pan with a tight-fitting lid, add the demerara sugar. Cover and cook over a medium-to-low heat for 10 minutes until just softened. Remove from the heat.

Cream together the sunflower spread and caster sugar until pale and fluffy, add the eggs one at a time, adding 1 tbsp of the flour with each egg.

Fold in the remaining flour with the ground almonds, almond essence and custard powder.

Loosely fold in the cooked rhubarb then spoon into the prepared tin. Scatter the flaked almonds over the top and bake for 45-50 minutes.

Allow to cool in the tin then carefully remove and place on a serving plate or rack, dust with the icing sugar and cut into wedges to serve.

Rhubarb Crumble Muffins

Ingredients:

For the muffin mix

175g caster sugar
175g rhubarb, halved lengthways then diced
2 tbsp sunflower oil
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
125ml buttermilk
200g plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

For the crumble topping

50g light muscovado sugar
50g plain flour
25g porridge oats
1 tsp ground cinnamon
50g butter

Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper muffin cases. Stir the sugar and rhubarb together and set aside while you make the crumble topping. Mix together the muscovado sugar with the flour, oats and cinnamon, then rub in the butter until clumpy with your fingertips.

Stir the oil and egg, vanilla and buttermilk into the sugary rhubarb (don’t worry if it’s a little bit juicy). Now, add the flour, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda and stir well.

Quickly spoon into the cases, then scatter each with a thick layer of the crumble mixture. Bake for 15-18 mins until golden and a cocktail stick poked into the centre of a muffin comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.

Rhubarb Crumble & Custard Pie

Rhubarb Crumble Pie

Ingredients:

350g rhubarb
100g golden caster sugar
350g sweet shortcrust pastry
1 large egg and 1 egg yolk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp plain flour
284ml carton single cream

For the topping:

50g butter , melted
50g demerara sugar
50g porridge oats
½ tsp ground ginger

Method:

Cut the rhubarb into bite-size pieces, then put them in a frying pan with half the sugar and warm through just until the sugar dissolves. Immediately tip the rhubarb into a bowl with the juices and leave to cool. Preheat the oven to 180C/gas 4/fan 160C.

Roll out the pastry quite thinly and use to line a deep, loose-based 24cm fluted flan tin. Line with greaseproof paper and baking beans and bake for about 20 minutes until the pastry is pale golden and no longer raw.

Beat together the egg and egg yolk, vanilla extract, remaining caster sugar and the flour. Gradually whisk in the cream with any juice from the rhubarb (you should have a tablespoonful or two). Now spoon the rhubarb into the prepared pastry case and pour the cream mixture over.

Turn the oven temperature up to 200C/gas 6/ fan 180C and bake for about 20 minutes, or until the custard is very lightly set and there is a thin skin on the top.

Mix together all the topping ingredients and spoon evenly over the pie. Return it to the oven for a further 15 minutes or until the crumble is golden and the custard set with just a little wobble. The top of the pie may have risen and cracked when you take it from the oven but don’t worry as it will settle back again on cooling. Serve warm.

Rhubarb and Custard Blondies

Rhubarb and Custard Blondies

These rhubarb and custard blondies make a change from the chocolate brownie.

• Find the recipe here

Rhubarb Crumble and Paysan Breton Cream Cheese Muffins

Rhubarb Crumble and Paysan Breton Cream Cheese Muffins

If you like rhubarb then you’re sure to love these muffins! A twist on the classic crumble these portable muffins with cream cheese and raspberries are certain to be a hit with family and friends.

• Find the recipe here

Rhubarb & Vanilla Jam

Rhubarb and Vanilla Jam

Ingredients:

1kg rhubarb, weighed after trimming, cut into 3cm chunks
1kg jam sugar
2 vanilla pods, halved lengthways
juice 1 lemon

Method:

Put a small plate in the freezer. Put the rhubarb into a preserving pan or your largest saucepan with the sugar and halved vanilla pods. Heat gently, stirring, until all the sugar has dissolved, then squeeze in the lemon juice and increase the heat.

Boil for about 10 mins, skimming off the scum as you go (the fruit should be soft). Test for setting point by spooning a little onto your chilled plate. After 1-2 mins, push your finger through the jam – if the surface wrinkles it is ready, if not, keep cooking for 2-min intervals, testing in between. (Or if you have a sugar thermometer it should reach 105C)

Once the jam is ready, let it cool for about 15 mins before ladling into warm sterilised jars and sealing. Will keep for 6 months in a cool, dark place.

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