Rhubarb Ginger Crumble

Rhubarb is one of those fruits (actually technically a vegetable), you either love or hate. I’m grateful my whole family love it as it is one of those nostalgic foods that takes me back to cooking with my nan. Though she was a whole lot more traditional in her use of it, I like to pair it with slightly less conventional flavours like ginger, coconut and almonds.

Like so many of my recipes, this is one is incredibly versatile, you could eat it for breakfast, or have it for dessert. It’s one of my most favourite flavour combos and nourishing to boot!

Health Benefits

Rhubarb is a high fibre vegetable and in Chinese herbal medicine, it is a rhizome used for supporting sluggish digestion (especially treating constipation and abdominal bloating). It has a very impressive nutrient profile including vitamin A, C, B complex and K, as well as being a fabulous source of many minerals. It’s one of the best plant sources of calcium (though its oxalate content does affect absorption). It is also a wonderful source of many protective antioxidants.

Ginger is awesome also for supporting a healthy digestion.

Take a look at the variations (below the main recipe) for suggestions to alter the recipe to suit your specific dietary requirements.

If you’re looking to save money across pantry items such as nuts, seeds, oats, coconut and more, I personally shop at The Wholefood Collective – great whole foods at heavily discounted prices (all home delivered), click HERE to take a look.

Rhubarb Ginger Crumble

Prep 10 minutes

Cook 15 minutes

Total 25 minutes

Serves: 4

5 from 1 vote

I think rhubarb and ginger is a match made in heaven. This simply delicious dessert is just that, heaven!

Ingredients

• 1 bunch rhubarb -leaves trimmed and cut to approx. 15cm lengths

Crumble

• 30 g coconut sugar or rapadura (2 tablespoons )
• 30 g rolled oats (¼ cup) see below for gluten & grain-free
• 25 g almond meal (¼ cup)
• 35 g raw almonds (¼ cup) chopped or almond flakes
• 25 g shredded or desiccated coconut (¼ cup)
• 50 g butter -at room temperature
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon

Ginger syrup

• 85 g rice malt syrup, honey or maple syrup (¼ cup)
• 1 tbsp hot water
• 1 tbsp ginger root -freshly grated or 1 tsp of ground ginger

Method

• Preheat your oven to 180℃/350°F. Line two small trays with baking paper.
• In a small jug, mix the syrup ingredients until well combined.
• Toss the rhubarb with the syrup and arrange in a single layer on one of the trays.
• In a large mixing bowl combine all of the crumble ingredients and rub the butter in the dried ingredients until well combined. Alternatively, pulse in a food processor.
• Arrange the crumble in a thin layer on the second lined baking tray.
• Bake the rhubarb and crumble in the oven for approx. 15 minutes or until the rhubarb is just cooked through.
• Divide the rhubarb between serving plates, spoon over the crumble and serve immediately with sour cream, full-fat natural or Greek yoghurt or coconut yoghurt.

Store

• Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Variations

Low-fructose

Replace the rapadura or coconut sugar with rice malt syrup (and choose RMS for the ginger syrup).

Grain and gluten-free

Replace the oats with rolled quinoa (flakes). This is one of my favourite crumble mixes.

Dairy-free

Sub the butter with coconut oil (or ghee if you tolerate it) and serve with coconut yoghurt or cashew cream.

Vegan

Choose rice malt or maple syrup as your sweetener. Sub the butter with coconut oil and serve with coconut yoghurt or cashew cream.

Nut-free

Replace the almond meal with desiccated coconut and the almonds with sunflower seeds (or shredded coconut).

Coconut-free

Replace the coconut with more nuts or oats.

Don't like ginger?

Then substitute it with cinnamon.

Apple Rhubarb crumble

For a pie type of crumble, dice the rhubarb (1-2cm), double the syrup and add in two large Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced. Pop in a baking dish and top with the crumble (I also double the quantity of crumble mix). Bake for approx. 30-40 minutes or until the fruit is cooked and the crumble browned. If your crumble has browned but your fruit isn't cooked through, cover with foil and continue to bake.

I'd love to hear how you like this flavour combo. Post a comment or rate this recipe. 

Course: Dessert