As rhubarb makes its sweet, sour, hot pink and sassy way into our farmer's market baskets, here's one easy recipe to transform the odd vegetable into a silky compote. I dare you not to put a blob of this delightful mess all over everything! My mouth is still puckered from eating so much of this glorious dish.
Rhubarb is one of my favorite seasonal ingredients. During its short window, I utilize it in as many desserts as possible, as well as ladling up a few jars of jam for my winter toast consumption. Its simultaneously tart and sweet flavor is addictive! As a kid, I ate sour candies like it was my job, so it's no surprise that I crave this distinct taste. Thankfully, rhubarb provides that tickle to the palate naturally.
This easy rhubarb compote gets its surname from the addition of my favorite liqueur, Creme De Cassis. It makes perhaps its most famous appearance in the iconic French wine cocktail, the Kir Royale. This lovely liqueur, flavored with black currant, is a wonderful item to have around when preparing cooked fruit (or in this case, vegetable) desserts. Its bright, rich flavor and alcoholic properties make a nuanced addition to any poaching liquid. Its deep red color gives fruits like strawberries and blackberries wonderful darkness and a terrific layer of flavor. No one can quite put their finger on the taste, but they know something fancy is going on in your dessert! The rest of the ingredients, dates, cherry jam and rhubarb are not hard to find and make for a naturally-sweetened, sublime rhubarb dish. It's great for breakfast, mixed into a bowl of plain yogurt or oatmeal and for dessert atop a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It may even be a nice compliment for a pork or chicken dish, although I haven't tried that. I've eaten it straight from the roasting pan and I can attest to it being utterly perfect in it's purest form!
serves 4-6
1 pound rhubarb, cut into 1/2 inch slices, about 3 inches long
1/4 cup cherry jam
1/4 cup Creme de Cassis
1 tablespoon sugar
2 dates, pitted and chopped into thin slivers
1 tablespoon butter, chopped into small pieces
sprinkle of salt
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together jam, Creme de Cassis, sugar and dates. Toss mixture with rhubarb, evenly coating each piece as best you can.
Pour the rhubarb into a 9 x 13" casserole dish, dot with butter, sprinkle with a dash of salt. Cover with tin foil and bake for 20-25 minutes, testing for doneness.
The rhubarb will create a lot of liquid, which is lovely served with the compote. Any extras you can reduce in a sauce pan and create a syrup, delicious for cocktails or pancakes.
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(Images: Leela Cyd Ross)
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This looks delicious! Been looking for a new way to eat more rhubarb!
this hasn't gotten enough attention. i tried it. i'm smitten. this may be the best rhubarb dessert i've ever had.
If you're lucky enough to have your own rhubarb (my great-great-grandmother's is finally producing in my yard where I heeled some in two falls ago), the season keeps going till fall. And you're dead right, that syrup is glorious mixed with vermouth and seltzer while you're making a lovely spring dinner. A kind of home-grown aperitif likened to Aperol ro Campari. City folks, try growing some in a big pot on the fire escape. May take a while to bear but the leaves are gorgeous. Just don't eat 'em!