Veggie of the Week: Rhubarb
Find recipes in our Kitchen Director, Joel’s recipe guide here!
Rhubarb is officially in season! It is a native plant of China and traditionally used for medicinal purposes. One thing to note about rhubarb is the redder the stalk, the sweeter the flavor. It has a bitter taste, making it good for pairings with sweeter fruit like strawberries. It is typically served in deserts, but this week’s recipe is a different approach to rhubarb. The Rhubarb Spinach Salad is a sweet, tangy salad, something quick and easy but with great results!
Rhubarb Spinach Salad
Ingredients:
- 1/2 pound fresh spinach — cleaned, stemmed, and dried
- 2 large stalks of rhubarb, cut diagonally into thin slices
- water to cover
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 2 tablespoons sweet red wine vinegar
- 6 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions:
- Arrange the spinach leaves on a platter.
- Place the rhubarb in a skillet with enough water to cover by 1 inch; add the sugar. Bring the rhubarb to a gentle boil over medium-low heat and simmer until the sugar has dissolved and the rhubarb is lightly cooked, about 2 minutes. Remove the rhubarb with a slotted spoon and distribute over the spinach.
- Stir the vinegar into the liquid left in the skillet, raise heat to medium, and bring to a boil. Return heat to medium-low and cook until the liquid has reduced to about 3/4 cup, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat, whisk in the olive oil, and pour the hot dressing over the spinach and rhubarb to wilt the lettuce. Divide salad between 2 plates; serve warm.
