Stewed Rhubarb and Pear (& cordial!)

We know that you all love a good recipe as much as we do! The change in seasons and end to daylight saving has had us craving some tasty warm comfort food.

One thing we obsess over is how to make sure we use up all of our fruit and veggies so nothing goes to waste. So when Hannie Olsen of @joyfull_creations_ tagged us in a recent post on Instagram showing us how to make stewed rhubarb and how to make cordial with the leftovers, we just had to get hold of her recipe and share it with you all! 

 

Written by Hannie Olsen @Joyfull Creations 

 

I love having stewed fruit in the fridge. It’s a great way to use up any fruit you have lying around instead of throwing it out and adds a big punch of flavour to breakfasts. I like to add it to pancakes, oats, yoghurt or granola. When the winter months roll around it’s also a great base for crumble, and can even be used inside pies and tarts!

 

 

One of my favourite combinations is stewed rhubarb and pear with ginger and maple syrup. It’s full of flavour and has such a beautiful, bright colour that is always so inviting to see in your fridge! 


To start, you'll need to gather your ingredients. For this recipe, you'll need:


  • 4-5 stalks of rhubarb, chopped into 1-inch pieces
  • 2-3 ripe pears, chopped into 1-inch pieces
  • 1-2inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and grated
  • 1/4 cup of pure maple syrup
  • Water

Method: 

  • Place the chopped rhubarb and pear in a large saucepan, add the grated ginger and top with water, and stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally.

    • Once the mixture is simmering, reduce the heat to low and cover the pot. Let the fruit stew for 20-30 minutes, or until it's soft and tender. Be sure to stir the mixture occasionally to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
      • Once the fruit is fully cooked, remove the pot from the heat and add the maple syrup, stirring to combine. 

        • Strain the stewed fruit through a fine-mesh strainer – add the stewed fruit into a jar (I like to use Seed & Sprout's Pantry Jars with a Silicone Lid to store as it’s so easy to clean!). Add the leftover liquid into a clean jar or bottle and add a few tablespoons of sugar or maple syrup and stir to combine. You can also add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice for a bright, citrusy flavour.

         

        • Store the cordial in the fridge for up to a week, and serve it over ice with a splash of soda water for a refreshing drink. You can also use it to add flavour to cocktails or to drizzle over fruit salad or ice cream.

        When stewing fruit feel free to get creative. Try other fruits such as apples, peaches, raspberries, and apricot – the list is endless!