Pots.
Stalks.
In my last post I wrote about my rhubarb troubles and how the power of nature forced me to pull my first stalks of 2012. On that windy day I went home with a fistful of ‘fallen’ rhubarb and only one thing on my mind…
CRUMBLE!
Stopping off at the shops, I picked up some strawberries, ground almonds, cream and mascarpone – a crumble plan was forming, I was excited! Yet, it would be another two days before I got around to making it.
Rhubarb and Strawberry Crumble
The filling/jam:
2.75 pounds/1.25 kg rhubarb, sliced into 1/2 inch/2cm pieces
2 cups strawberries, fresh or frozen
1 cup of apple juice
5 1/2 cups of sugar
Juice of one lemon
1 tablespoon of dark rum (optional)
In a large pot, mix the rhubarb, berries, and apple juice. Cook, stirring frequently over moderate heat, until the rhubarb is cooked through and tender.
Add the sugar and lemon juice (you can add the rum now), and cook, uncovered, until the jam is thick and passes your chosen ‘jam set’ test. I use the ‘back of the wooden spoon test’. Leave to one side.
The crumble topping:
3/4 cup of all-purpose flour
4 tbsp cubed, chilled, butter
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup ground almonds
1/2 cup porridge oats
Mix the flour and butter together with your fingers until the mixture is crumb-like. Then add the brown sugar, ground almonds and porridge oats.
The mascarpone cream:
1/3 cup heavy cream
1 tsp sugar
Beat all the ingredients together until light and fluffy, and the cream forms soft peaks.
Finishing:
I used La Fermière pots to make individual servings. Place the filling/jam into each pot and top with the crumble. Bake in a pre-heated oven for 25 minutes at 375F (190C). Serve with the mascarpone cream. Sweet!
Crumble and cream.
I love this.. I’ve been searching for rhubarb for weeks now without a single stalk within sight. The rum addition would be a welcome dimension in flavor for me 🙂
To be honest, I don’t think I put enough rum in it. I would double the amount next time and use a spiced rum, if I had it!
You’re ahead of me…have’nt had my first crumble yet!
I‘m sure it won’t be long now, Bridget!
Looks delicious!
It tastes good too, Yvonne, and very sweet!
Sounds scrummy and totally indulgent. Not a stalk of rhubarb here in France so far but I’ll hang on to the recipe and try it in UK. Thanks Val!
I think it will be worth the wait, Julia!
What a visually appealing post! Your pictures are stunning, and the dessert, quite frankly, looks good enough to try and stick my hand through the computer screen and see what happens. So, more rum, you say? Always a good answer, me thinks. 😉
Go ahead and give it a try, Cara! Please note, I accept no responsibility for your actions!
LOL. No? I shouldn’t list you as an emergency contact, then?
Awesome Val – the new image header with the crumble shot is amazing. Loads of depth and colour in there (oh and the crumble looks good enough to eat too!). It’ll be at least another year before our barbs are ready to be picked, but can’t wait.
Thanks, Matt! Your own rhubarb is definitely worth waiting for! In the meantime, beg, steal, or borrow some barbs and treat yourself to a crumble!
this looks delicious! i might try this for a bridal shower i’m attending in a couple weeks. thanks for sharing!
I’m sure it will go down a treat! Thanks for dropping by!
Sounds awesome!
AND IS! (Even if I say so myself)
Great recipe, shall be using it at some point 😉 I cooked some Rhubarb this week, simply baked…take a look, see what you think!
Thanks, Adam. I will pop over to see what you’ve baked!
Val, I only just noticed you did this one on rhubarb as well. Drop me a line on ca4ole@gmail.com if it is ok for me to link it in as well. Cheers
Val, thanks for linking in. I have now also pinned this to the special Pinboard I have created for Food on Friday: Rhubarb. http://pinterest.com/ca4ole/food-on-friday-rhubarb/ I hope to see you again soon Cheers