Rhubarb Sauce

A tangy and delightful sauce will perfectly complement any dessert. Among various tart sauces, rhubarb sauce is best for desserts.

This article will present an easy rhubarb sauce recipe where you will get proper guidelines on making rhubarb sauce from scratch. We will provide some useful tips, which will help you make the authentic rhubarb sauce.

Sugar is an essential ingredient for this sauce recipe. But nutritionists suggest less consumption of sugar. Therefore, we have come up with a healthy version where we use natural sugar substitutes. If you want to learn this healthy version, don’t miss the end. Now, let’s start from the beginning.

Ingredients for Classic Rhubarb Sauce

You will need only a few basic ingredients to prepare the sweet rhubarb sauce. The required ingredients include;

1. Chopped Fresh Rhubarb – 4 cups (Frozen Rhubarb can also be used)
2. Granulated Sugar – ½ cup (Suggested to use according to your taste)
3. Water – ¼ cup
4. Corn Starch – 1 to 2 teaspoons (To thicken the Sauce) 
5. Lemon Juice – 1 teaspoon (Optional; to enhance tang)
6. Vanilla Extract – ½ teaspoon (Optional; for depth and flavors)

How to Make Rhubarb Sauce from Scratch: 6 Simple Steps

Preparing the rhubarb dessert sauce is quite easy. We have come up with a 6-step process on how to make rhubarb sauce. You can follow these steps to make the rhubarb compote like a pro.

Step 1: Prepare the Rhubarb

Start this quick fruit sauce recipe by preparing the rhubarb. First, let me tell you what to do with fresh rhubarb.

• Wash the rhubarb properly.
• Then, remove extra water using paper towels.
• Now, chop them into ½ inch pieces.
• Take 4 cups of chopped rhubarb for this rhubarb reduction recipe.

Special Tip: You can also use frozen rhubarb to make this sauce. In this case, you need to chop the rhubarb before freezing it. Then, you can easily use frozen rhubarb. 

Step 2: Cook the Rhubarb with Water and Sugar

The second step is to cook the rhubarb with water and sugar for a few minutes.

• Place a medium saucepan over medium heat.
• Combine chopped rhubarb, water, and sugar.
• Then, cook them for a few minutes until the rhubarb becomes soft and the sugar dissolves nicely. It may take about 10 minutes.

Note: Cook the rhubarb for some extra minutes if you use frozen rhubarb. 

Step 3: Blend the Soft Rhubarb

Now, use a hand blender to blend the cooked rhubarb to get a smooth mixture quickly.

• After the rhubarb becomes soft, you can blend it using a hand blender.
• This step may take 5 minutes to get a smooth, sauce-like consistency of cooked rhubarb and sugar.

Special Tip: If you have no hand blender, you can use any food processor to blend the rhubarb. Moreover, if you don’t want to use a food processor, you need to cook the rhubarb for a few more minutes and stir it nicely to get a smooth mixture. 

Step 4: Add Cornstarch Slurry and Simmer

Now, it’s time to add cornstarch to thicken the sauce.

• Combine cornstarch and water to make a cornstarch slurry.
• Reduce the heat to low and add the slurry to the mixture.
• Stir continuously after adding the slurry.
•  Then, simmer the sauce for 2 to 5 minutes, depending on your consistency requirement.
• Don’t forget to stir the mixture throughout the simmering process. 

Step 5: Add Flavoring Ingredients (Optional)

The tart fruit sauce with rhubarb is ready. However, you can add some flavoring ingredients to enhance the flavors.

• Stir with some lemon juice and vanilla extract.
• Then, taste the sauce and adjust the sweetness by adding sugar or tanginess by adding lemon juice, according to your preference. 

Step 6: Cool and Store

Finally, the rhubarb sauce is ready.

• Let it cool at room temperature.
• After cooling, serve the sauce with your favorite dessert.
• Alternatively, you can transfer the sauce into an air-tight jar to store.
• You can store the sauce for up to 1 week in the refrigerator.

Can You Make Rhubarb Sauce without Added Sugar?

Nowadays, people are very health-conscious and want to avoid eating added sugar. Therefore, we have come up with a healthy version of sweet rhubarb sauce.

Prepare the rhubarb sauce according to the traditional process. You just need to use natural sweetening agents instead of table sugar. Here is a list of healthy sugar substitutes.

• You can use stevia, erythritol, or monk fruit.
• Cooking the rhubarb with apple juice instead of water can replace the sugar. 
• You can make strawberry rhubarb by adding strawberries to balance the tartness of the rhubarb.
• Additionally, you can enhance sweet flavors by using Cinnamon powder or vanilla extract. 

Conclusion

Whether you add rhubarb topping for pancakes or ice cream, you can enjoy a great dessert every time with the rhubarb sauce. This versatile sauce can be a vibrant addition to your kitchen that will offer balanced flavors of tartness and sweetness.

This sauce is very simple yet flavorful. We hope you can make this sauce at home after reading this article. Then, pair this sauce with your daily meal to elevate the taste and smell, and enjoy a delicious meal.

FAQs

Can Rhubarb Sauce Be Used for Savory Dishes?

Yes, you can use rhubarb sauce for savory dishes. Though the rhubarb sauce is meant to be used with desserts, you can use it with savory items. You can combine grilled chicken, pork, or any other grilled meat with the rhubarb sauce. 

How Long Does Homemade Rhubarb Sauce Last?

Homemade rhubarb sauce typically lasts for up to a week in the refrigerator. But if you use any preservative with the rhubarb sauce, you can store it for up to a month. Moreover, for long-term storage, you can freeze the sauce at below -8°C.  

What Can I Serve Rhubarb Sauce With?

Generally, you can serve dessert items with the rhubarb sauce. Let us give you some of our favorite options.

1. Ice cream
2. Pancakes
3. Waffles
4. Yogurt
5. Cheesecake
6. Fruit salad