You might be familiar with rhubarb as a flavoring and coloring agent in various meals and desserts. Rather unconventional use of this spring treat is juicing them for a healthy diet routine.
The sour taste of this unusual vegetable can be a point of concern for you. Worry no more, as today we’ll talk about how you can juice rhubarb and make it drinkable.
You can juice rhubarb stalks with the help of a few basic steps. Wash and cut them, then place them in a juicer and power on the machine. You can also try boiling the rhubarb stems to collect the nutritious liquid. Also, balance the juice tartness with sweet ingredients to yield a yummy pink rhubarb brew.
Rhubarb is super versatile, and when in season, people cannot resist cooking with it. This time if you buy the veggie, don’t forget to make some juice recipes with it. Wonder how? Let’s get to know more about it in detail.
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Juicing Raw Rhubarb: Is It Drink Worthy?
Rhubarb, an iconic spring vegetable, is widely known for its edible pink stalks. It offers a combination of citrusy sweet to sour, tangy flavors, which is why they are an active part of pies, desserts, and baked goods. Besides, it also complements many blank canvas meals and elevates their taste.
The usefulness of this tart-stalk doesn’t end here, as rhubarb juice mixed with other ingredients is a perfect thirst quencher on summer days. The tartness of the veggie can be intimidating for many, so pairing it with sweeter flavors can help conceal the intensity. Preparing rhubarb juice is simple and involves the use of either a juicer or you can also boil these colorful stems to extract liquid.
Whatever technique you follow, you will get a flavorful pinkish rhubarb juice. Not only does it taste different and refreshing, but this celery-like veggie is also full of nutritional benefits. It is a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals with a low cholesterol level. So, if you enjoy rhubarb in your pies, you shouldn’t miss juicing it for a new taste experience.
Can You Juice Rhubarb Leaves?
Unlike the leaves of many vegetables, such as radishes or carrots, the leafy parts of rhubarb are not edible. Their large, smooth leaves contain high levels of oxalic acid, considered poisonous to humans. So, if you plan to juice this veggie, make sure you use only the stalk part of the rhubarb plant, which is safe for consumption.
However, if, by chance, tiny leaf scrapes end up in your rhubarb juice, there is no need to worry. You would have to eat a large amount of the tart-stalk leaves to reach the toxic level. But, to be on the safer side, it is better to avoid eating the leaves whole as much as you can.
How To Correctly Juice Rhubarb: Tips And Tricks
If you plan to juice rhubarb, all you need to do is follow the below-mentioned steps, and you can never go wrong with them.
- Firstly, wash the bunch of rhubarb well to remove any traces of dirt or debris. Remove the leaves as they are highly toxic and inedible.
- Afterward, separate all the rhubarb stalks and chop them evenly into small pieces. A length of four to six inches would be enough to fit them easily inside a juicer.
- Next, feed two to three pieces of stalks into the juicing machine at one time. Once the previous ones are fully juiced, insert the new batch of rhubarb stalks into the juicer. This way, you’ll get more juice yield from the veggie.
- It is also possible that a few pieces might get stuck inside the juicer as rhubarb is highly fibrous. To combat this, unplug the machine and give the blades a good clean so they can function smoothly.
- Turn on the juicer and repeat the same steps for the remaining rhubarb stalks. Once all the pieces are juiced, you can transfer the liquid to a drinking glass.
- For best results, drink the juice as soon as possible, or you can refrigerate it in an air-tight container for later serving.
- You might have to add some sweetening agent to reduce the sour-tarty flavor of freshly prepared rhubarb brew.
- Another juicing alternative is to boil the chopped rhubarb stalks at a low temperature. Once the veggies turn mushy, filter them through a sieve lined with a cotton cloth. Finally, add some sugar to the juice, and your drink is ready.
Simple And Quick Rhubarb Juice Recipes
You might have already made marinades, jams, chutneys, and sorbets with rhubarb. Today we will look at some must-try juicing recipes with this vegetable. Continue to read!
A. Health-booster rhubarb juice
Ingredients:
- A rhubarb stick
- A small chunk of ginger
- Two oranges (small and peeled)
- One apple (sliced)
Steps:
- Fill the juicer chute with two halves of rhubarb and the remaining ingredients.
- Start juicing and keep doing the process until all the liquid gets extracted.
- The juice already contains naturally occurring sugar, so you don’t need to add extra sweeteners to it.
- Pour in the fresh juice mixture in a glass, and it’s ready for you to sip!
B. Refreshing pink rhubarb drink
Ingredients:
- Rhubarb stalks ( 500 grams)
- A cup full of sugar (250 grams)
- ½ lemon
- One-liter water
- One tablespoon of vanilla powder (or extract)
Steps:
- Take a sharp knife and chop the rhubarb stalks into small chunks.
- Transfer all the cut pieces to a pot while adding vanilla powder and water.
- Let them simmer for about ten minutes until the rhubarb breaks up and turns mushy.
- Now put the sugar in a bowl and place a strainer over it.
- Filter the juice by gently pressing the leftover pulp with a spoon.
- Lastly, squeeze the lemon on top and stir a little to dissolve the sugar.
- Pour the rhubarb juice into a glass filled with ice cubes. Enjoy!
Nutritional Benefits of Drinking Rhubarb Juice
Although there is a lot of debate over whether rhubarb is a fruit or veggie, no one can argue about plenty of health benefits it has. The plant consists of valuable components such as vitamin A, B, and K. Minerals like iron, calcium, and lutein. Also, antioxidants include lycopene and anthocyanin. So, you can easily imagine how much better you will get from a glass of rhubarb juice.
Due to its rich fiber and water content, rhubarb can help you lose some extra pounds. A hundred grams of the veggie contain just twenty-one calories which makes it a perfect weight-loss food. Furthermore, it also reduces your appetite by giving a feeling of fullness and helps eliminate toxins from the body.
The presence of vitamin K in rhubarb juice promotes bone mineralization plus regulates the distribution of calcium throughout the body. In addition, rhubarb has a role in rejuvenating the skin and reducing the harmful effects of the sun, credit to its abundance of antioxidants. Drinking rhubarb juice will protect and restore the intestinal system plus improve oral hygiene. In short, this veggie juice is the ideal day-starter for you.
Conclusion
Fresh vegetable juices are an effective way to get your daily dose of nutrition, but not everyone enjoys drinking them. However, this is not the case with rhubarb, as when you turn it into juice, it tastes amazingly well. In addition, the juicing process of this tart stalk is easy and takes only a couple of minutes.
So, if you are looking for an attractive yet delicious summer drink, rhubarb juice is the way to go. The tartness will fade when you combine it with fruits like apples, oranges, or even sweetening flavors such as vanilla extract or granulated sugar. Mix and match, and at the end, you will get your new version of the juice.
