16 Easy Recipes for Rhubarb

updated May 1, 2019
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(Image credit: Maria Siriano)

It’s that time again! Those ultra-tart red and green stalks of rhubarb have returned for their springtime stint at the market. Expect them to stick around through June (maybe longer if you’re really lucky), so grab them while you can.

Rhubarb is a natural partner to berries, irresistible when it’s baked or poached until tender, and an unexpected delight at the dinner table. No matter your favorite way to enjoy rhubarb, here are 16 easy recipes to get you there.

Cakes, Pies, and Other Baked Treats with Rhubarb

As soon as I’m able to score some rhubarb, my first instinct is always to bake with it. On its own it has a super-tart flavor that will make your mouth pucker, but it mellows and sweetens in the heat of the oven (along with some sugar and sometimes other sweeter fruits). It’s a natural fit for cakes, pies, crisps, crumbles, bars, and more.

Other Sweet Rhubarb Favorites

Raw rhubarb can actually be really delicious when done right. Mix it into a seasonal berry fruit salad drizzled with vanilla syrup and you will not be sorry. Make other sweet treats even better by poaching rhubarb or turning it into a sweet-tart curd.

Savory Rhubarb Dishes

Chop a stalk or two of rhubarb into a fruit salsa and I promise you will want to eat it with everything. Its tart bite really perks up fish, chicken, and pork.

Drinks and Syrups Made with Rhubarb

If you really want to get a lot of bang for your buck, make a batch of rhubarb simple syrup, and stash it in the fridge for cocktails and mocktails, or just jazzing up a glass of seltzer. It will keep for a while in the fridge.