Fresh and local

Arugula Salad with Strawberry Rhubarb Vinaigrette

by Edith Jakobs

Rhubarb. As a child I remember seeing these big plants every spring and neighbours handing my Mother bunches of colourful stalks over the fence into our backyard. My Mother would cook it with some water, sugar (you can use Splenda or honey as well) and make a rhubarb compote, which we would eat plain, or with ice cream.

Rhubarb is versatile and healthy: you just need imagination. Rhubarb can be frozen. Cut it into 1” pieces, place in a freezer bag and voila – you can make a rhubarb pie in the fall. Rhubarb is low in calories – only 25 per uncooked cup, it’s high in vitamin A, C, K, potassium, plus it has fibre.

This is a common plant that is readily available fresh in Toronto you may even have some growing around the house or cottage. The use of rhubarb has changed over the years, you can use it for more than pie and jam. Chefs are using this wonderful local ingredient for sauces with pork or chicken or for a BBQ sauce.

This week’s recipe is delightful; you are able to get all the ingredients locally. Check the Savour Ontario web site to find out what’s going on for locavores.

Recipe

Dressing:

Method:

Simmer in small non-reactive saucepan until tender, about 10 minutes. Puree, strain into large bowl, and cool.

Whisk in: 3/4 C canola oil 1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Salad:

1 bunch arugula

12 whole strawberries

4 oz goat cheese

Rhubarb Pistachio Crisp

Serves 6

Topping

Preheat oven to 350 F

Combine Rhubarb, granulated sugar, flour and crystallized ginger in a 10 x 8 baking dish, or divide up into ramekins to individual portions. Dot baking dish with butter.

Prepare topping by combining flour, oats, brown sugar, ground ginger, pistachios and salt. Cut in butter os it reembles coarse meal. Sprinkle over rhubarb.

Bake for 30 – 35 minutes, (less if you are using ramekins) or until juices are bubbling and the crumble is golden.

Suggested toppings: whipped cream, cream fresh or ice cream.

Mmm-hmm!

Edith is the owner of Opulence Catering and Gourmet Food Shop located in Muskoka and Toronto

(4 votes, average: 4.25 out of 5)

 Loading ...