Classic Rhubarb Crisp Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why is my rhubarb crisp runny? ›

You need to incorporate a thickener in rhubarb fillings in order to thicken the juices and gel them so that the filling is jammy and set, not watery and overly loose. Flour is an easy choice, but flour creates a filling that is more opaque and white-ish.

Rhubarb Crumble is a classic British dessert, made with a vegetable-slash-fruit originally from Siberia. It's associated with springtime, but I only just this week managed to get my hands on some. It's both hothouse-grown and field-grown in the US and has been cultivated in the UK since the 1600s.

Rhubarb is a truly special ingredient. With its vivid pink colour and distinctively tangy taste, it can be stewed, poached, roasted and puréed in a range of dishes as well as drinks. Use it in a comforting crumble, a classic syllabub, a fruity chutney or a zingy kebab sauce – the possibilities are endless.

You can add cornstarch or flour. I do this when making an apple pie and the filling is not watery.

The rhubarb plant is a "heavy feeder." The plant must take in large amounts of nutrients from the soil to produce its large stalks and leaves. Make it an annual practice to supplement the soil with either a balanced commercial fertilizer or rich compost, or both.

Rhubarb is great for diabetics Rhubarb contains various compounds called anthraquinones. Two of these compounds have been found to improve the transport of glucose into our cells, so it's not hanging out in the bloodstream but is instead being used as fuel.

To keep it sugar free you could use a little stevia, for a low fructose option you could use either rice syrup or coconut nectar, or if you're a honey fan, a little raw honey would combine beautifully with the ginger and vanilla.

Folklore credits Benjamin Franklin with bringing rhubarb to America in the late 1700s. However, it wasn't until the late 18th or early 19th century that Great Britain and the United States started using it for culinary purposes.

The use of rhubarb as a medicine dates back to ancient China around 2700 B.C. An early Chinese rhubarb variety was used as a potent herbal medication, especially for digestive issues and for a wide range of ailments. Other rhubarb varieties began to be used as food in Europe by the late 1700s.

Rhubarb (also named Rhei or Dahuang), one of the most ancient and important herbs in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), belongs to the Rheum L. genus from the Polygonaceae family, and its application can be traced back to 270 BC in “Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing”.

When should you not pick rhubarb? ›

The best time to harvest rhubarb is during the months of May, June and early July. After this, it's best to let the plant be, so it can regrow and recharge to survive the winter. You can cut the flower stalk away before it blooms to help extend the harvesting season.

Incorporating coffee grounds into the soil around rhubarb plants can improve soil structure, promote microbial activity, and enhance overall plant health. Also, coffee grounds can help deter certain pests, such as slugs and snails, which may damage rhubarb foliage.

Earlier harvests of sweeter, tender, pale stalks can be produced by covering rhubarb plants with a forcing jar, tall bucket or dustbin in mid-winter, so the stems form in the dark. Choose an early variety, such as 'Timperley Early', and only use a strong, healthy plant.

Just take the liquid you strained out and simmer it over medium-low heat with a thickener like cornstarch until it's less runny. Then add the thickened juice back to your rhubarb and cornstarch mixture before cooking your recipe like normal.

The ingredient list for a crumble or crisp is relatively short, but don't be tempted to leave out the cornstarch. As fruit cooks, it releases its juices, becoming saucy and soupy.

Not adding a thickener

Fruit is naturally watery, and when it bakes, that liquid cooks out and mixes with your sugar and spices to create a delicious sauce. However, you don't want your apple crisp weeping everywhere. Just toss in a little cornstarch or tapioca starch with your fruit before baking.

Why is my berry crisp watery? If the berries you used are particularly juicy, you might end up with a watery looking filling to your blueberry crisp. If you notice the berries are very juicy when you prep them, add another teaspoon of cornstarch to the filling to thicken the juices as the crisp bakes.