We are celebrating National Rhubarb Day on January 23rd, a day to celebrate the deliciously tart, tangy, and sometimes poisonous plant.
Despite not knowing about this obscure but delicious holiday, we are here to answer all your questions – what is rhubarb? Using rhubarb in cooking? What should you consider when preparing rhubarb dishes? All of these and more will be covered in this article!
What is Rhubarb Day?
Rhubarb day is celebrated on the January 23rd every year. It is a day to enjoy the tangy, sweet, and sour taste of rhubarb. This day is also a time to appreciate the many ways that this versatile plant can be used in cooking and baking.
There are many ways to enjoy rhubarb on this special day. One popular way is to make a rhubarb pie. This classic dessert is made with a mix of fresh or frozen rhubarb, sugar, and flour. Another delicious way to enjoyrhubarb is in a crisp. This type of dessert is similar to a pie, but it has a crumbly topping made with oats, butter, and brown sugar.
If you are looking for something a little different, you can also use rhubarb to make savory dishes. Rhubarb pairs well with meats such as pork and chicken. It can also be used in sauces and chutneys. Whatever way you choose to celebrate Rhubarb Day, be sure to enjoy this tasty plant!
History of National Rhubarb Day
Rhubarb has been celebrated in the United States since the 1950s. National Rhubarb Day is a relatively new holiday, however, and was first created in 2001 by the Rhubarb Compendium. The Compendium is a website dedicated to all things rhubarb, and they declared June 9th to be National Rhubarb Day in order to spread awareness of this unique fruit.
Rhubarb is thought to have originated in Siberia, and it has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries. The earliest known recipe for rhubarb pie dates back to 1796, and the first recorded mention of rhubarb in America was in 1817. By the mid-19th century, rhubarb was being grown commercially in the United States, and it quickly became a popular kitchen staple.
Today, National Rhubarb Day is celebrated by home cooks and professional chefs alike. Many restaurants offer special menus featuring dishes made with fresh rhubarb, and bakeries sell delicious rhubarb pies and other sweets. Whether you enjoy eating it or simply admire its pretty pink stalks, there’s no better time than National Rhubarb Day to enjoy this unique fruit!
Health Benefits of Eating Rhubarb
When it comes to health benefits, there are few plants that can match the nutritional powerhouse that is rhubarb. This underappreciated vegetable is an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K, as well as magnesium, potassium, and calcium. Rhubarb also contains powerful antioxidants that can help protect against cancer and other chronic diseases.
There are many ways to enjoy rhubarb, but one of the best is simply to eat it raw. This allows you to get the maximum benefit from its nutrients. Slice up some fresh rhubarb and add it to your next salad for a delicious and healthy treat. You can also cook rhubarb down into a jam or compote and enjoy it on top of yogurt or oatmeal. However you choose to eat it, make sure to take advantage of all the great health benefits thatrhubarb has to offer!
Recipes Featuring Rhubarb
Here are some delicious recipes featuring rhubarb that are sure to please your taste buds.
Rhubarb Pie: This classic recipe is a must-try for any rhubarb lover. The sweet and tart flavors of the rhubarb are perfectly balanced in this dish.
Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp: This scrumptious dessert combines two summer favorites – strawberries and rhubarb. The crisp topping makes it extra special.
Rhubarb Upside Down Cake: For something a little different, try this upside down cake with a tangy rhubarb sauce. It’s sure to be a hit at your next party!
These are just a few of the many recipes you can make with rhubarb. So get creative in the kitchen and enjoy this seasonal ingredient while it’s fresh.
Differences Between Rhubarbs and Other Fruit
Rhubarb is a vegetable, not a fruit. It is often mistaken for a fruit because it is used in many sweet desserts, such as pies and crumbles. However, botanically speaking, it is a vegetable.
So what exactly distinguishes a fruit from a vegetable? Fruits are the ripened ovaries of flowering plants. They contain seeds that will grow new plants. Vegetables, on the other hand, are the edible parts of plants that do not contain seeds. This includes leaves, stems, and roots.
Now that we’ve cleared that up, let’s take a closer look at rhubarb. Unlike most fruits and vegetables, rhubarb grows best in cold climates. In fact, it is one of the first crops to be harvested in spring in many parts of the world.
The stalks of rhubarb plants are thick and fleshy. They can range in color from green to red to purple. The leaves of rhubarb plants are large and heart-shaped. They are poisonous and should not be eaten under any circumstances!
Rhubarb stalks have a tart, slightly sweet flavor that is delicious in pies and crumbles. They can also be used to make jam or wine. If you’d like to try something different, you can even pickle them!
Preparation Tips When Using Rhubarb
Assuming you’re referring to tips for cooking with rhubarb, here are a few things to keep in mind:
-Rhubarb is incredibly tart, so it’s often paired with sweeter ingredients. This can be done by adding sugar or honey to the recipe, or by serving rhubarb with something sweet on the side.
-When cutting up fresh rhubarb, be sure to use gloves! The sap in the plant can cause skin irritation.
-Rhubarb can be cooked in a variety of ways – boiled, baked, or even grilled! Get creative and experiment until you find a method you like best.
Fun Facts About Rhubarb
Although rhubarb is often thought of as a fruit, it is actually a vegetable. A member of the buckwheat family, it is related to sorrel and dock.
The terms “pie plant” and “pie cherry” are also used to refer to rhubarb. This is because rhubarb is most commonly used in pies and other desserts.
Rhubarb can be traced back to 2700 BC in China, where it was used for medicinal purposes. It wasn’t until the 18th century that it made its way to Europe, and eventually the United States.
The redder the stalk, the higher the levels of anthocyanins – these are powerful antioxidants that can have various health benefits, including reducing inflammation and boosting brain health.
As you can see, Rhubarb Day is a great way to celebrate the delicious rhubarb and all the wonderful dishes it can be used in. Whether you want to whip up some pies or muffins, use it as a topping for ice cream or yoghurt or enjoy its tangy taste with cottage cheese – there are so many possibilities that you cannot go wrong. The hard part is picking which one of these recipes to make first! We hope that this article has inspired you to give rhubarb some love on its very own special day. Happy Rhubarb Day everyone!
