Fruit or Vegetable ?

RHUBARB - is it a vegetable or a fruit?  Nicknamed "the pie plant" and therefore thought of as a fruit, rhubarb is actually a vegetable.  It's stalks are much like those of celery - except for their pink to red color and their tart "pucker up" flavor.

This mysterious and oft times misunderstood plant has a rich history - as I discovered while doing some research for this post.  Rhubarb was used for medicinal purposes as far back as ancient Chinese times.  Chinese herbalists have utilized rhubarb rhizomes and roots for thousands of years. The rhizomes and roots contain powerful anthraquinones and tannins that act as stimulant laxatives and astringents, respectively. In traditional Chinese medicine, rhubarb is also used to treat gastric ulcers, chronic renal (kidney) failure, and pregnancy-induced hypertension (high blood pressure), pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. European herbalists have recommended rhubarb as a laxative, diuretic, and to treat kidney stones, gout (foot inflammation), and liver diseases. Externally, it is recommended to heal skin sores and scabs.  Who knew? !!!

It has also been used to treat certain pests in gardens - aphids for one.  But, care must be used since the leaves are poisonous and therefore the insecticide prepared from rhubarb must not be used on edible plants.


May 20 & 21 are "Rhubarb Days" which is fitting since this is the time of year when fresh, local rhubarb is beginning to show up in the local farmer's markets. 

As a child, I remember my Gramm always making rhubarb pies and a stewed rhubarb compote - neither of which I liked back then.  But, what do childhood taste buds know?  Now, I love rhubarb concoctions!  I've made more than a few rhubarb or rhubarb/strawberry pies.  Additionally, I've indulged in rhubarb crisp, rhubarb muffins and rhubarb jams.

As the temperatures begin to climb, here's a yummy rhubarb recipe you might like to try:

Rhubarb Strawberry Daiquairi

First, prepare a Rhubarb Strawberry Sauce(Makes about 2 cups)

1/2 pound rhubarb, diced
3/4 cup sugar
2 cups sliced fresh strawberries
1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice or to taste

In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, cook the rhubarb with the sugar until it’s very tender, about 5 to 8 minutes. Turn into a blender and puree with the strawberries and lime juice to taste. 

**This sauce can be used for a variety of desserts including over ice cream and can be stored in the refrigerator for a week.

To make a Rhubarb Strawberry Daiquiri: Leave the puree in the blender and add 1 ounce of white rum about 1 cup crushed ice. Puree and serve right away. This frosty savory/sweet drink is refreshing and unique!

**Make it virgin by omitting the rum.  Either way it's m-m-m good!