Rhubarb Best Substitutes

Rhubarb is a quintessential spring vegetable that brings a burst of vibrant flavor and a delightful textural element to a variety of sweet treats, such as pies, cakes, and crumbles. However, there might come a time when your rhubarb patch runs dry, or perhaps you’re just not a fan of this fibrous plant. Fear not, for we’ve got a lineup of five fruity alternatives that will not only rescue your favorite recipes but also surprise your taste buds.

Uses for Rhubarb:

Before we get into these surprising rhubarb substitutes, let’s appreciate what rhubarb brings to the table. This vibrantly-colored vegetable, which emerges during the spring, is mainly prized for its bright-pink edible stems. It’s a cherished ingredient in various culinary creations, including pies, cakes, crumbles, and jams, thanks to its unique sourness and toothsome texture.

What Rhubarb Adds to Baked Goods:

Rhubarb is known for imparting a pronounced tart and sour flavor to any dish it graces, making it a fantastic addition to numerous sweet treats. It also boasts high levels of potassium and contributes valuable vegetable protein to your culinary endeavors.

How Rhubarb Substitutes can Mimic Real Rhubarb:

The substitutes for rhubarb we’ll introduce below all offer distinct health and flavor benefits to dishes when used as rhubarb stand-ins. These alternatives aim to replicate the taste, texture, and nutritional value of real rhubarb, ensuring your recipes maintain that delectable springy feel.

How to Choose a Rhubarb Substitute:

The key to selecting the right substitute for rhubarb lies in considering the intended dish. Since rhubarb brings various characteristics to different recipes, it’s crucial to match the general flavor profile of your creation with the best-suited alternative.

The 5 Best Rhubarb Substitutes:

1. Cranberries: Cranberries are a top-notch choice for imitating both the flavor and color of rhubarb. Their vibrant red skin not only mimics the hue but also evokes the same sourness found in rhubarb stalks. The texture of cranberries closely resembles that of rhubarb, maintaining its crisp, solid form as they cook. Despite their high water content, cranberries pack vitamins C, E, and K.
2. Tart Apples: Tart apples offer a versatile alternative to rhubarb, with options like Granny Smith, Pink Lady, Cortland, and Braeburn providing various flavors. These apples are rich in dietary fiber and essential vitamins, making them a healthy choice. To retain the rhubarb-like texture, opt for hard-fleshed apples like Granny Smith or Cortland. Keep in mind that using apples in jams may not achieve the same vibrant red hue as rhubarb.
3. Raspberries: Raspberries bring a vibrant pink shade to your baked goods, perfect for replicating rhubarb’s appearance. However, raspberries can vary in flavor, ranging from sweet to sour. They do have seeds, which can be removed for jams but remain in pies, cakes, and crumbles. While their texture softens when cooked, raspberries offer substantial levels of vitamin C, manganese, and potassium.
4. Strawberries and Lemons: Strawberries and lemons combine to mimic the bright hue and rhubarb-like tartness. Strawberries offer the perfect appearance, while lemons add the zing necessary for replicating rhubarb’s flavor. Their sweet and sour combination works wonders in pies, jams, and cakes. These fruits maintain their sturdy texture when baked, making them excellent substitutes, although achieving the ideal flavor balance in cakes and crumbles may require some adjustments.
5. Sour Cherries: Sour cherries, also known as Montmorency cherries, bring a mouth-puckering tartness similar to rhubarb. They are available year-round, making seasonality a non-issue. Sour cherries have the ideal texture for replacing rhubarb in pies, cakes, and crumbles, and they also excel in jams. Additionally, they provide potassium, vitamins A, and C.

The Best Overall Rhubarb Substitute:

It’s a close tie between cranberries and sour cherries as the best overall rhubarb substitutes. Both bring rhubarb-like qualities to your baked goods, maintain their vibrant colors, and are available throughout the year. They also offer excellent health benefits. Whether you choose cranberries or sour cherries, you can confidently rescue your rhubarb-less recipes and delight in their delicious results.

Rhubarb Substitute for pie

If you’re looking for a rhubarb substitute in a pie, there are several alternatives that can provide a similar tartness and texture to your pie filling. Here are a few options:

1. Cranberries: Cranberries are a fantastic rhubarb substitute for pies. They offer a similar tartness and can be used in a one-to-one ratio with rhubarb. You can make a delicious cranberry pie by combining them with sugar and other fruits like apples or oranges.
2. Tart Apples: Choose tart apple varieties like Granny Smith, which can provide the desired tartness in your pie. Slice them thinly and mix them with sugar and a touch of lemon juice to mimic the rhubarb’s flavor profile.
3. Raspberries: Raspberries can be used in pies, especially in combination with other berries like blackberries or strawberries. They may be slightly sweeter than rhubarb, so adjust the sugar to your taste.
4. Strawberries and Lemons: A combination of strawberries and lemon juice can create a delightful pie filling. The sweetness of strawberries complements the tartness of lemons, resulting in a flavor profile reminiscent of rhubarb.
5. Sour Cherries: Sour cherries, also known as Montmorency cherries, offer a tangy and tart flavor similar to rhubarb. Use them in your pie filling, adjusting the sugar to balance the flavors.

These substitutes should work well in pies, and you can experiment with different combinations to achieve the desired flavor and texture for your specific pie recipe.

Strawberry Rhubarb Substitute

When substituting for strawberry rhubarb in a recipe, you can try the following alternatives to achieve a similar flavor profile and texture:

1. Strawberries and Cranberries: A combination of strawberries and cranberries can replicate the sweet-tart dynamic of strawberry rhubarb. Use sliced strawberries and whole or chopped cranberries in a 1:1 ratio to replace the original mixture.
2. Raspberries and Apples: Mixing raspberries and tart apples, such as Granny Smith, can create a balanced flavor akin to that of strawberry rhubarb. Slice the apples thinly and combine them with fresh or frozen raspberries in the same proportion as the original recipe.
3. Red Currants and Peaches: Blend red currants and diced peaches for a unique twist. The tartness of red currants combined with the natural sweetness of peaches can provide a delightful substitute for the strawberry rhubarb combination.
4. Blackberries and Pears: Combining blackberries and ripe pears can offer a rich, deep flavor profile reminiscent of strawberry rhubarb. Use blackberries and diced pears in an equal ratio, adjusting the sweetness to match the original recipe.
5. Cherries and Plums: Mix tart cherries and plums for a complex, fruity alternative. Use pitted cherries and diced plums in a 1:1 ratio to replace the strawberry rhubarb, adjusting the sugar according to the sweetness of the fruits.

These substitutions will help you recreate the essence of the classic strawberry rhubarb blend while introducing exciting new flavor combinations to your recipe. Adjust the sugar levels as needed to balance the flavors to your liking.

Conclusion: Rhubarb Substitute

While rhubarb is a beloved ingredient in both sweet and savory dishes, it can be tricky to work with due to its inherent tartness. With these surprising rhubarb substitutes in your arsenal, you can confidently create delightful recipes even when rhubarb is not on hand. Explore the vibrant flavors, textures, and health benefits these alternatives offer, and let your taste buds savor the delightful surprises they bring to your favorite recipes.

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Print Recipe

10 Surprising Rhubarb Substitutes to Use in Your Favorite Recipes

Author: balancedhealthymeals Recipe Keys: R Rhubarb Substitute

Difficulty: Beginner Prep Time 5 min Total Time 5 mins

Ingredients

Servings

• cranberries
• tart apples
• raspberries

Instructions

1. Substitute

Keywords: Rhubarb Substitute