How on Earth do you cook rhubarb?!

[Tinkjon]

Bought some rhubarb for DS this morning and suddenly realised that at almost 40 years old I have never cooked rhubarb! Internet says stewing is the best method, but am I supposed to peel it?! I can't see anything about peeling but the outer part of it is very stringy - will that go away once it's cooked?

I have recently made rhubarb and peach crumble and rhubarb and coconut cake.

Get rid of the leaves as they are poisonous.

Just wash the sticks and slice into 1cm pieces. Easy to roast in the oven with a bit of suagr chaken on top. Yummy with yogurt or ice cream.

Peel off the strings if you want.

I don't peel, but cut into 1" lengths, then any 'strings' are so short you odn't notice
put in saucepan with spoonful of water
cook slowly - you can eitehr stop when it is tender but the bits are still whole, or stew i right down till it's much (whihc I prefer)

I make rhubarb fool - stew till mulch, then swirl it into some yogurt, creme fraiche or double cream & sugar to taste. My exh claimed to hate rhubarb, but liked it this way. Or bake it in a pastry case with a baked custard topping.

Just tasted it and oh, for the love of all that is holy, that stuff is VILE I literally had to spit it out!!! Not sure if I can inflict that on DS! Maybe it wasn't ripe - or is it supposed to be really acidic like that? It was like sucking on a vinegar lolly

Thanks very much anyway everyone

um, ahve you added any sugar?\

if not then do so

Can remember sitting as a child with abowl of sugar and dipping rubbarb

Also recommend rubarb yorrkshire style pud

MrsBadger, no I didn't put any sugar in 'cos it's for 8mo baby. I foolishly assumed it would be ok without it - I see now that I was very, very wrong

you need a fair amount of sugar to make rhubarb tasty as it's very acidic... but if sweetened it's divine. add a bit of orange juice / or grated ginger too if you have any.

you could prob sweeten with honey instead... do 8 month olds eat honey? .

Nigella has a recipe for Rhubarb Meringue pie. It's smashing.

No honey til 1 year old. I reckon rhubarb is a bit too acidic for a baby...

Mix it with cooked apple.

You need a ton of sugar in rhubarb - it's delicious! But I don't think it's good baby food- eat it yourself with yoghurt or custard> Or send it to me - yum!

If you live anywhere countryish, adding a head or two of elderflowers means you can add less sugar - have no idea why. Same goes for goosberries.

it's not just the sourness - I suspect it might produce some extremely explosive nappies in a baby!

it's not just the sourness - I suspect it might produce some extremely explosive nappies in a baby!

I stick it in custard, tis lovely. Yoghurt would work too - just mix it in, you don't need to add sugar.

I agree. Lovely when cooked right but not for an 8 month baby.

with ginger is nice.

I adore rhubarb but agree it is very bitter and prob not ideal for a baby.

Rhubarb crumble is delicious.

Rhubarb with no sugar ...

LOL!

And rhubarb goes lovely with custard!!!!!