Persian Rhubarb Syrup Food

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.

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.

RHUBARB SYRUP

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a large stock pot and bring to bubbling. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes or until rhubarb is cooked down and falling apart.
• Strain rhubarb through a fine sieve, taking a much liquid as you want (you now have tasty stewed rhubarb).
• Put the liquid in a stock pot that can hold about 3 times the volume of the liquid. Bring to bubbling over high heat (it will foam up like cray, so use a large pot).
• Stir rapidly, until foam goes down, then cook and stir for about 5 minutes, until liquid has become glossy. Cool and store in the fridge, adding to drinks as you see fit.

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.

RHUBARB JELLY AND/OR RHUBARB SYRUP

Steps:

• I juiced the rhubarb using a Back to Basics steamer/juicer, which really simplified things, but if you don't own one simply grind the rhubarb in a food processor or grinder. Strain through a jelly bag, reserving 10.5 cups of juice.
• In a very large pot or dutch oven, add sugar and food coloring and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
• Add pectin and return to a full rolling boil. Boil 1 minute, stirring constantly.
• Allow to sit a few minutes and skim off foam.
• Pour hot into hot, sterilized jars leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Adjust caps. Process for 10 minutes in a boiling water bath.
• FOR SYRUP: To use up any remaining juice, add 1 cup of sugar to every 1/2 cup of juice. Boil until sugar is dissolved. Can be preserved in jars as the jelly or put straight into the refridgerator.