Rhubarbade – An Easy Drink That You Can Sweeten with Sugar or Stevia

Do you have an abundance of fresh rhubarb, or maybe some leftover rhubarb in the freezer?  Here’s a quick and easy way to use some up and get in some of those rhubarb health benefits.  Yes – rhubarb is good for you!  Read on. 

This recipe is adapted from the book From Asparagus to Zucchini:  A Guide to Cooking Farm-Fresh Seasonal Produce.  It’s one of my “go to” recipe books when fresh produce is in abundance, along with The Garden Fresh Vegetable Cookbook and Too Many Tomatoes.  From Asparagus to Zucchini also gives storage and cooking tips, as well as background information on the produce.  It was created by the Madison Area Community Supported Agriculture Coalition.

Rhubarbade Recipe

Ingredients

• Rhubarb, fresh or frozen
• Sugar or liquid stevia
• water

Directions

Puree rhubarb in food processor, blender or electric juicer.  (I used my Vitamix.) Strain through cheesecloth-lined strainer or fine mesh strainer, pressing solids. I used my nylon kefir grain strainer.  A jelly bag would work well, too.

Let stand several minutes, then skim froth from surface.  Strain again.  Note:  When I used frozen rhubarb, I didn’t get any froth.  It’s up to you how much you strain.

For every two cups rhubarb liquid add 3/4-1 cup sugar or 3/4 to 1 teaspoon liquid stevia extract and 6 cups water.  You may also use lemon flavored stevia extract.  Serve chilled.  For every two cups rhubarb liquid, yield is 2 quarts.  I’m sure honey would work well, too.  I’d recommend 2/3 – 3/4 cup per two cups rhubarb liquid.

The boys said they would drink it, even though they don’t normally like rhubarb.  Husband said he thought it was good and tasted like apples.  I think it’s pretty tasty, and it’s a great way to use up freezer rhubarb, which tends to be a little stringy in recipes.

Why eat Rhubarb?

Rhubarb has vitamin C, vitamin K, B-complex vitamins such as folates, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), thiamin, and pantothenic acid (source), and small amounts of poly-phenolic flavonoid compounds like ß-carotene, zeaxanthin, and lutein.  It may help prevent cancer, improve circulation, build bones and act as an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant.  (Read the details here.)

More rhubarb recipes to come as long as the neighbor’s rhubarb patch holds out. 

Featured at Domestically Divine and Rhubarb Seasonal Recipe round Up.