What To Do With Rhubarb

Rhubarb season is upon us. This vegetable looks delightfully red and robust on grocery store shelves. But most of us don't have any idea what to do with it. If you'll take a chance and pick some rhubarb up during it's short season, I'll show you what to do with it.

The Flavor

What does rhubarb taste like? Plain, it's a little bit like biting into a green apple: sour and acidic. Before I cook with any new vegetable, I give it a taste test. Wash a raw stalk, sprinkle a bit of salt (to bring out the sweet flavor) and take a bite. You'll be pleasantly surprised.

Strawberry/Rhubarb Pie

Nature put strawberry and rhubarb season together for a reason. The tart taste of rhubarb and the sweet taste of strawberry go together perfectly. Pie isn't the healthiest recipe around but sometimes it's OK to introduce yourself to a new food with a high-calorie treat.

Pillsbury had a decadent rhubarb/strawberry pie that's delicious and around 500 calories per pie. Eating Well has a slightly healthier recipe made with whole wheat flower. Care 2's vegan strawberry and rhubarb pie recipe is the tastiest healthy recipe that I've found.

Rhubarb Salad

My favorite way to have rhubarb is in a salad. Fresh rhubarb is tart, crisp and great when paired with cheese and the right dressing. Plus it offers you a great break from the usual salad fare.

Martha Stewart's rhubarb and goat cheese salad is delicious and easy to make. This beet, rhubarb and orange salad from Bon Appetit is full of vitamins and filling enough to take to work for lunch. Want to make a big impression at a dinner party? Try Williams-Sonoma's shaved rhubarb salad with almonds and cheese.

Main Courses

Rhubarb is best featured in a side. However, there are plenty of main courses that come alive with a touch of rhubarb flavor. Cooking Light has a great recipe for grilled pork chops with rhubarb chutney. This seared duck breast with ginger-rhubarb sauce from Health is healthy yet decadent. Or try The Food Network's recipe for delicious rhubarb-lentil soup that takes just an hour to make.

Expanding your personal food library is an important part of sticking to any healthy diet. Circulate the same few vegetables everyday and you're bound to get bored. Try expanding your palate one food at a time. Devote a week to trying recipes before you decide against any food. If you've got any other delicious rhubarb recipes, share them with us in the comments section.