Homemade Rhubarb Squash

A really nice recipe for squash cordial. This recipe is easily in the top 2 of the simplest things you can make with rhubarb. Fifteen minutes from start to finish, including the 10 minutes it just sits and simmers. If you have plenty of rhubarb in the garden and a big freezer, this is a great way to use them up. Or pour it into a nice bottle and give it away.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFE8PHkV72w

Ingredients

  • 500 g rhubarb
  • 1 l water
  • 250 g sugar
  • 1 lemon, juice of
  • 1 tbsp homemade vanilla sugar, or 1 vanilla pod
  • 1 star anise (optional)
  • 1 cinnamon stick (optional)

Method

Clean the rhubarb and cut into pieces 2–3 cm long.

Put the cinnamon and star anise in a saucepan along with the rhubarb.

Pour in water until they are covered, and let them simmer for 10–15 minutes, until they fall apart.

Put the sugar in a bowl and strain the rhubarb juice into the bowl.

Add the lemon juice and vanilla.

Notes

The basic principle is “enough water to cover the rhubarb when cut into pieces”, then “half as much sugar as rhubarb” — by weight. Season with lemon juice.

You can add a preservative to extend the shelf life, or you can freeze it.

Dilute with water to taste. 1:1 is usually about right.

The proud juice-maker with their rhubarb squash © kvalifood.com