Persian Rhubarb Syrup Recipes

RHUBARB BAKED IN WILD RASPBERRY SYRUP

Steps:

• For the raspberry syrup: Combine the raspberries, lemon juice and 1/3 cup water in a large metal bowl. Crush the berries and set the bowl over a pot of simmering water, double-boiler-fashion. Cook very gently until the raspberries begin to dissolve, about 15 minutes.
• Pour the mixture into a jelly bag (or a large sieve lined with two layers of cheesecloth) set over a deep bowl. Let the mixture drip, gently stirring the pulp now and then but not pressing on it, until it seems that all of the liquid has been expelled, 1 to 2 hours.
• Measure the juice, pour it into a wide-bottomed saucepan and then measure out an equal volume of sugar (for example, for 1 1/2 cups of juice, you'd need 1 /¿2 cups of sugar). Add the sugar to the juice and set the pan over medium-high heat. Bring the syrup to a rolling boil (watch to make sure it doesn't boil over), boil for 30 seconds and then remove from the heat. Let it settle for a minute, and then carefully skim off the foam. Bring to a rolling boil again and then immediately remove from the heat. Let it settle, and skim it again. Measure out 1/2 cup of the syrup for use in the baked rhubarb and set aside; refrigerate the rest of the syrup for another use.
• For the baked rhubarb: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Trim and discard the ends of the rhubarb; cut the stalks into 3/4-inch-thick slices on a deep diagonal, keeping them neatly stacked together. Transfer the slices to a 9-by-13-inch baking pan, making rows of cut rhubarb, until you have filled the pan.
• Warm the reserved raspberry syrup in a microwave oven (or a small saucepan) until hot. Add the sugar to the warm syrup and stir to dissolve. If using the vanilla bean, slice it lengthwise, scrape out the pulp and throw the pulp into the syrup and the pods in with the rhubarb. If using vanilla extract, add it to the syrup.
• Pour the raspberry syrup evenly over the rhubarb and bake, uncovered, until the rhubarb is soft but not mushy, 15 to 18 minutes. Halfway through baking, remove the pan from the oven, and gently tilt the pan and spoon the syrup over the rhubarb to glaze it.
• Allow the baked rhubarb to cool in the pan, glazing it once more with the syrup as it cools. Refrigerate the rhubarb in the pan. (The rhubarb will keep in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, and gets firmer and brighter as it sits.)
• Serve over vanilla ice cream.

RHUBARB SIMPLE SYRUP

Steps:

• Bring rhubarb and water to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until rhubarb is falling apart, about 10 minutes.
• Line a strainer with a double layer of cheesecloth, set over a bowl, and strain mixture. Gently press on rhubarb with a wooden spoon to squeeze out any remaining juice. It should yield about 2 cups of liquid. Discard pulp or save for another use.
• Return liquid to the saucepan over medium heat and stir in an equal amount of sugar Heat until sugar is dissolved, 2 to 3 minutes. Skim any foam from the top of the syrup. Let cool.

PERSIAN RHUBARB SYRUP

Steps:

• Put the rhubarb in a large stainless steel pan along with 3/4 cups water.
• Bring to a boil.
• Cover, turn heat down to low, and simmer for 30 minutes.
• Strain, saving only the juice.
• Put the rhubarb juice back into a clean stainless steel pan.
• Add the sugar and lime juice.
• Stir and bring to a simmer gently for 30 minutes or longer, until the juice turns slightly syrupy.
• Strain into a clean jug or pitcher, cover and cool.
• To make into a drink, pour 1/2 inch of syrup into a glass and add 4 ice cubes. Fill to top with seltzer or ginger ale and add mint sprig.

STRAWBERRY-RHUBARB SYRUP

Steps:

• Combine strawberries and rhubarb in a blender; blend on low speed until smooth, 20 to 30 seconds. Pour through a mesh strainer placed over a bowl to separate the pulp from the juice. Reserve the juice.
• Combine 1 cup water and sugar in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a rolling boil, whisking constantly. Add the reserved juice and return to a boil, whisking constantly.
• Whisk cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water together in a small bowl until smooth. Add to the juice mixture and cook, whisking constantly, until thickened, about 1 minute.
• Remove syrup from heat. Serve warm or cold.

KHORESH RIVAS (SAVORY RHUBARB AND BEAN STEW)

Steps:

• Bring a few tablespoons of water to a boil in a small pot. Let the boiling water stand for 2 minutes to allow the temperature to drop slightly while you grind the saffron. Using a mortar and pestle (or a small bowl and the handle of a wooden spoon), grind a pinch of sugar with the saffron to a fine powder (you should have about ¼ teaspoon total). Add 2 tablespoons of the hot water, gently stir, cover and let steep until ready to use.
• In a large pan, heat ¼ cup of olive oil over medium. Add the parsley and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant and slightly darkened, about 8 minutes. Drizzle in more oil if the pan seems too dry. Add the mint and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 5 minutes. Keep in mind that mint burns very quickly. Remove from the heat and set aside until ready to use. (You'll reuse this pan.)
• In a large, deep sauté pan with a lid, or a Dutch oven, heat ¼ cup of the olive oil over medium-high. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle with a little salt, and reduce the heat to medium. Add the turmeric, stir and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the beans, season well with salt and pepper, and cook, gently stirring without breaking the beans, until the flavors have mingled, about 5 minutes. Taste a bean and make sure it's salted to your liking. The turmeric might feel overpowering at this point, but it will mellow as the stew simmers.
• To the beans, add the parsley and mint mixture (keeping the pan handy), 2 cups water and half of the saffron water, and season with salt. Gently stir and bring to a rapid simmer. Partly cover, reduce the heat to low and simmer, occasionally stirring, for 30 minutes, until the flavors have mingled and the oil rises.
• Add the rest of the saffron water, the lemon juice and 1 tablespoon sugar. Stir and simmer, partly covered, for 15 minutes. Taste as the stew simmers and season as needed. Add more water to the stew if necessary to make it juicier, or remove the lid to reduce the liquid. There should be plenty of liquid to spoon over rice, but it shouldn't be soupy. The stew can be made 1 day in advance up to this point.
• Meanwhile, wipe clean the reserved pan from the herbs. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the pan and heat over medium. Add the rhubarb and cook until the color deepens on each side, about 2 minutes per side. You're not fully cooking the rhubarb here; it should maintain its shape and still have a slight bite to it, as it will finish cooking in the stew.
• Gently place the rhubarb pieces in the stew, increase the heat to medium-low and cook, partly covered, until the rhubarb is tender and releases its tangy flavor, about 10 minutes. Don't stir the rhubarb; you want it to maintain its shape and not turn mushy. Taste the stew as it simmers; add more lemon juice for extra acidity, if needed, and more sugar for balance, if you like. Serve over rice.