Did you know that Rhubarb is in fact a vegetable & not a fruit? It was originally cultivated for medicinal purposes in China & Tibet. Rhubarb is mostly used in desserts as crumbles, compote & pies. It is equally delicious eaten as a savoury accompaniment in relishes served with chicken or meat.

It is best to pull off the stringy parts carefully by peeling with a small sharp knife from to tip to tip. Gently run the knife down the stems & turning the stem as you do so.

Health benefits of Rhubarb

Rhubarb contains 95% of water. It also has a good amount of potassium, Vit C & fibre.

Selection & Storage of Rhubarb

When selecting rhubarb choose stalks that are fresh, crisp & bright pink. The young, dark, pink thinner stems are sweeter & also more tender than the thicker stems.

The stalks can be kept in the fridge for 2-4 weeks covered in an airtight container. I wrap either damp paper towel or a damp tea towel around them to keep them fresh & crisp.

Spicy Rhubarb & Plum Chutney

Serves: 12

Cooking Time: approx 40mins

• 500g fresh Rhubarb, trimmed & cut into 1cm lengths
• 1 onion, chopped finely
• 1 dessertsp Olive Oil
• 4 fresh plums, diced (any variety)
• 2/3 cup castor sugar
• ½ cup white wine vinegar
• 2tsp grated ginger
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 clove
• Salt & pepper to taste

Method

Heat oil & lightly sweat the chopped onion for 5mins over a medium heat. Try not to allow it to colour. Add the rest of the ingredients a & simmer for a further 30mins or until thick. Season to taste.

NB. If it is a little too thick for you just add a small amount of water until it reaches the required consistency.

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Autumn is now settling into the Southern Hemisphere it is lovely to start thinking about warming foods that are full of nutrients keeping your immune system strong.Cabbages are in season now & are absolutely delicious to eat. There are 3 main cabbages in Australia you can use which are green, red & savoy. They are all packed full of Vitamin C which is perfect for keeping colds at bay. They also contain fibre & phyto-chemicals. Phytochemicals have been shown to prevent cancers. Cabbages are very low in fat, also contains manganese, calcium & potassium.

Varieties of Cabbages

The 2 green types of cabbages available in Australia vary from pale to dark green. Because their outer leaves are protected from the sun they are a lot lighter on the inside. Red cabbage has a more defined taste & crunchy texture than the Savoy Cabbage. The Savoy Cabbage has ruffled leaves & are much lighter in colour.

Selecting & Storing Cabbages

Choose slightly firm cabbages that are dense, shiny, have colourful leaves & are free of cracks & blemishes. Try to avoid buying pre-cut cabbages because when they are cut they start losing the Vitamin C content.

The best way to store a cabbage is to keep it in the fridge covered for up to 2 weeks.

Cooking with Cabbages

The wonderful thing with cabbages is they can be eaten raw or cooked. When it is cooked the natural sugars are released so it becomes naturally deliciously sweeter! Cut cabbages into quarter & cut off the core so it is easier to handle.

Cabbage and Bean Stew

(Serves 4)

• 1 tblsp olive oil
• 1 finely sliced onion
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed (optional)
• 1 tsp caraway seeds
• 1 tblsp fresh thyme, run your fingers down the leaves & discard the stems
• 1 dessertspoon vegetable stock powder
• 1 cup filtered water
• 1 x 400g can organic tinned lima beans, or red kidney beans or butter beans
• 3 cups chopped cabbage, it looks fabulous mixing the red & green cabbages although it is fine to use the one colour

Method

Heat the oil & add the sliced onion, crushed garlic, caraway seeds & thyme. Saute on a medium heat for 5 mins. Add the chopped cabbage & stir. Add stock powder & water & stir. Allow the vegetables to simmer & cook for a further 20mins. Add the drained the beans & cook for another 10mins until the beans are heated through. Taste & check the seasoning & add salt & pepper to suit your palate.

Copyright © 2010 The Wholesome Food Coach. All Rights Reserved
www.GetFreeHealthyRecipes.com

FREE Recipes: Get Quick AND Delicious Healthy Family Recipes NOW!
If you’re time poor, but still want to serve your family delicious & wholesome food, then help is here.
Our FREE recipes include lots of easy, mouth-watering food ideas that will have you eating healthier & feeling great.
There’s food even the kids will love. What’s more these budget-friendly recipes taste great & are quick to prepare.
Click here to get your FREE recipe eBook.