Strawberry Rhubarb Salad
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Strawberry Rhubarb Salad is a simple and light fruit salad perfect for spring celebrations; juicy strawberries, sweet-tart fresh rhubarb, tossed in a light citrus dressing with mint and slivered almonds.
I love it when I stumble upon a unique rhubarb recipe and this wonderful Strawberry Rhubarb Salad is the definition of unique.
Tart rhubarb blanched crisp tender making a light and lovely rhubarb simple syrup, then tossed with fresh, ripe strawberries for a unusually good spring salad.
I love the brightness and lightness of spring fruits and vegetables; if you do too, you might want to try these fresh recipes; Tropical Mango Salad, Sweet Apple Maple Salad and Blackberry Chicken Salad.
My favorite unique rhubarb recipe
Are you a rhubarb lover? Never tried it?
This is by far the most unique way I have enjoyed rhubarb, it is not buried in a concoction of strawberries and baked into a jam (though, there is nothing wrong with that).
Instead it is front and center, a sweet-tart delight amidst this quick and easy fruit salad.
Spring screams fresh rhubarb season, and for good reason too, as that is rhubarb’s prime growing season. It’s the perfect compliment to sweet strawberries.
What you’ll need for Rhubarb Fruit Salad
When I am entertaining whether for Easter or a spring ladies luncheon, I want recipes that are simple and straight forward and hopefully make ahead or quick to assemble and this strawberry rhubarb salad is exactly that!
- FRESH RHUBARB | more details below on how how to pick the best rhubarb, but you want it to be firm and not limp, the color doesn’t matter as much as the state of the stalk.
- STRAWBERRIES | purchase fresh, firm, deep red strawberries
- MINT | Adds a delightful brightness to the salad, mince it really small if you are not a huge mint lover.
- SLIVERED ALMONDS | These add a bit of protein and crunch, always a plus in my salads.
- SUGAR | I use all natural cane sugar in my recipes, you will use this to make slightly sweeten the rhubarb.
- FRESH ORANGE & LEMON JUICE | A touch of orange and lemon juice along with zest adds the perfect citrus touch.
How to Make Rhubarb Salad
The hardest thing (and it is not hard) about this unique rhubarb salad is preparing the rhubarb, you will need to cook it crisp-tender and in the process make a light and delicious rhubarb simple syrup that we will use for the dressing.
Making Rhubarb Simple Syrup
- In a small saucepan, stir together sugar and water over medium-high heat; bring to a light boil, stirring occasionally until sugar dissolves.
- Add cut rhubarb to sugar water; cook 1 minute, remove pan from heat, cover and let stand about 10-15 minutes, until rhubarb is crisp-tender. Remove rhubarb with slotted spoon, reserving rhubarb syrup.
Assemble Rhubarb Salad Recipe
- In a medium to larger bowl, stir together orange juice, lemon juice, and two tablespoons rhubarb syrup.
- Add cooled crisp-tender rhubarb and quartered strawberries, gently toss to coat in salad dressing.
- Add julienned or minced mint.
- Toss in slivered almonds, serve room temp or chill up to an hour before serving.
USES FOR RHUBARB SIMPLE SYRUP | Use this leftover simple syrup to flavor cocktails and drinks, drizzle over ice cream, sorbet or yogurt. Store in a glass jar in fridge indefinitely.
Tips
- PREP | Make the rhubarb and simple syrup ahead of time, zest and squeeze the juices and set aside, then assembly comes quickly and easily.
- FRESHEST RHUBARB | When choosing rhubarb you want it to be firm, like a stalk of celery, not limp. Rhubarb varies in colors from greenish pink to deep red, the color is varietal and does not impact the flavor.
- STORING RHUBARB | If possible leave a portion of the leaf on when storing rhubarb. It is best stored in refrigerator crisper drawer, wrapped in a damp paper towel in a vented bag.
Why you’ll love this Salad
- UNIQUE |Strawberry salads are a dime a dozen and nothing wrong with them, but adding rhubarb and a light citrus dressing makes this a delicious different unique rhubarb recipe.
- FRESH | I am all about fresh! Using seasonal fresh rhubarb and ripe strawberries is as fresh as it gets!
- GOOD FOR YOU | Fresh rhubarb and strawberries are high in antioxidants and have vitamins and minerals in them.
- SUBSTITUTIONS | This blog is all about making a recipe yours!
- NUTS | Don’t like nuts, leave them out or swap them with pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts or pistachios.
- BERRIES | No strawbs? Use ripe raspberries, blackberries or even blueberries instead.
- MINT | Not a mint lover or cannot find it, try swapping with fresh basil or even thyme or omit all together.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is vegetable, though we usually combine it with fruits for desserts. A perennial plant that has stalks similar to celery.
Rhubarb can be eaten raw, but because of its tart flavor, it is more often cooked and sweetened with sugar
Yes, high in antioxidants that have anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties, which can help protect you from many health-related issues such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
Most fruit salads can be made a little ahead of time, but for this salad, I wouldn’t recommend making it more than an hour or two ahead of time. I recommend cooking the rhubarb ahead of time so it has time to chill before mixing in the salad.
How to Make a Rhubarb Ribbon Garnish
If you would like to get the look for a fun garnish, wash a stalk of rhubarb and pat dry, using a sharp vegetable peeler (this is my favorite).
Starting at one end, with gentle pressure pull towards you to create a thin slice. Using a toothpick alternate directions creating a ribbon.
More great rhubarb recipes:
I have just started in the rhubarb recipe game, but I have blogging friends who have crazy great recipes, both sweet and savory!
- Rhubarb Strawberry Oat Crumble Bars (Gluten free or Traditional)
- Low Sugar Strawberry Rhubarb Jam (this looks amazing and a great use of rhubarb!)
- Rhubarb Crisp (oh yes, please!)
- Lemon Rhubarb Bundt Cake (a crowd pleaser!)
- Strawberry Rhubarb Pie (a traditional recipe!)
- Roasted Rhubarb Crumble Ice Cream (seriously, rhubarb heaven!)
- Fresh Rhubarb Cake (Michaela says it is hands down her favorite way to eat rhubarb)
- Rhubarb Carrot Cake with Mascarpone Frosting (well, hello beautiful!
- Coconut Milk Rice Pudding with Rose Rhubarb (comfort food paradise!)
- Rhubarb BBQ Sauce (I can taste the deliciousness here!)
- Old Fashioned Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble (individual servings!)
- Pineapple Rhubarb Upside Down Cake (I know someone who’d love this!)
- Grandma’s Strawberry Rhubarb Pie (I can see this pie being served by my Gramma too!)
- Layered Rhubarb Pudding Dessert (Amy is the queen of rhubarb!)
Equipment
Ingredients
Rhubarb Simple Syrup
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup sugar | I use all natural cane sugar white sugar is fine.
Strawberry Rhubarb Salad
- 2 cups fresh rhubarb about 3 stalks
- 20 oz strawberries rinsed, quartered
- 1/4 cup slivered almonds
- 1-2 tablespoons fresh mint julienned or minced
Rhubarb Salad Dressing
- 2 tablespoons rhubarb simple syrup
- 1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp lemon and orange zest for garnish
Instructions
- Make Rhubarb Simple Syrup
- In a small saucepan, stir together sugar and water over medium-high heat; bring to a light boil, stirring occasionally until sugar dissolves.
- Add cut rhubarb to sugar water; cook 1 minute, remove pan from heat, cover and let stand about 10-15 minutes, until rhubarb is crisp-tender. Remove rhubarb with slotted spoon, reserving rhubarb syrup.
- Assemble Salad
- In a medium to larger bowl, stir together orange juice, lemon juice, and two tablespoons rhubarb syrup.
- Add cooled crisp-tender rhubarb and quartered strawberries, gently toss to coat in salad dressing. Add julienned or minced mint. Toss in slivered almonds, serve room temp or chill up to an hour before serving.
Fresh Tips
- NUTS | Don't like nuts, leave them out or swap them with pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts or pistachios.
- BERRIES | No strawbs? Use ripe raspberries, blackberries or even blueberries instead.
- MINT | Not a mint lover or cannot find it, try swapping with fresh basil or even thyme or omit all together.
I am making this again on Easter Sunday!! It was so yummy!
This salad is so good! I love the combination of strawberry and rhubarb together!
We love rhubarb but I’ve never thought to make it into a salad. We loved every bit of this one that’s perfect for spring!