of Rhubarb and Anise Syrup
After dangling shorts-and-sunnies weather in front of our noses for a few glorious days last week, the sun packed up and headed for the Mediterranean. I’m wearing a sweater now, but I refuse to be jipped out of cool summer drinks!
This syrup is an ode to summer lovin’. Lovers gone by (*shakes fist at the sun*) and new lovers like rhubarb, whose pretty red stalks I’ve avoided in the past because it takes so much sugar to counter their acidic bite.
Inspired by Heidi Swanson’s rhubarb-rosewater syrup, my version is sweetened with honey and perfumed with star anise. A drizzle can trick out a flute of prosecco, make routine breakfast yoghurt feel downright fancy, and add an exotic tang to a tall, cool spritzer like the one below.
RHUBARB and ANISE SYRUP
makes 1 medium-sized jar
3 hefty stalks rhubarb
375 ml/1.5 cups water
5 star anise
Juice of 1 lemon
350 g/1 cup honey
Chop the rhubarb and set in a pan with the water, star anise, lemon juice, and honey. Cook over medium heat until the rhubarb falls apart (about 15 minutes). Strain the mixture, saving the rhubarb solids, and simmer the remaining liquid on low heat until it reduces down into a thick, glossy syrup (about 20 minutes). It’s not extremely sweet, but I like it that way.
The strained-out rhubarb solids (star anise discarded) are a classy compote in and of themselves, and a nice seasonal alternative to applesauce.
Enjoy!
I must try this! I have rhubarb in my fridge and no sense of what to do with it!
I have the same problem, and I’ve made so many zany creations that either didn’t taste good or didn’t feel good (those stringy bits are tricky!). I hope this is a fresh start. (:
Whoa.
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hmmm i forgot about this recipe when i had 2kg of rhubarb! good thing i’ve planted a whole row of rhubarb seeds, i’ll have heaps of rhubarb now!
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