Rhubarb Ginger Fool Food

RHUBARB AND GINGER FOOL

Steps:

• Put the rhubarb, sugar, ginger syrup, orange rind and juice in a heavy saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the rhubarb has become soft but still holds its shape (about 7 to 10 minutes).
• If the mixture is very liquid, put it in a sieve and drain some of the juice into a small saucepan. Bring the juice to a boil and reduce it by half. Return it to the rhubarb and mix it in.
• Chill the rhubarb. When it is cold, stir in the yogurt and the whipped cream. Pour the mixture into six individual glasses or a glass serving bowl. Top with the slices of preserved ginger.

RHUBARB FOOL

Steps:

• To make the fool, put the rhubarb, honey, orange zest and juice, candied ginger, vanilla bean, and salt in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir to combine, then cover and cook, stirring every few minutes, for 10 minutes, until the mixture has come to a boil and the rhubarb has softened. Remove from the heat and allow to cool, then remove the vanilla bean. Transfer the compote to a bowl, and refrigerate, uncovered, for at least 30 minutes, until very cold.
• Whip the cream and sugar until soft peaks form, either by hand or using an electric mixer on medium speed. Set aside 1/3 cup of the compote to garnish the dessert, then fold the remaining compote into the whipped cream. Spoon the fool into six 1/2-cup glasses or dishes and chill for 1 hour before serving topped with the remaining compote.
• Storage: This fool is best served the day it is made, but any leftovers can be covered with plastic wrap and stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
• If you would like to garnish the dessert with candied rhubarb strips, make them first: Preheat the oven to 200°F. Line a baking sheet with a Silpat mat or lightly greased parchment paper.
• Cut the rhubarb into 6-inch lengths, then cut each piece into strips 1/4 inch to 1/8 inch thick with a good peeler, a mandoline, or a well-positioned knife. Combine the sugar and water in a saucepan over high heat and bring to a boil. Cook and stir until the sugar is dissolved, then remove from the heat. Dip the rhubarb ribbons into the syrup, then place them on the prepared baking sheet, laying them out flat and ensuring that they do not touch each other.
• Bake for about 45 minutes, until dry. While they are still warm, twist the strips into shapes, wrapping them around your finger or the handle of a clean wooden spoon. Use immediately, or store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

RHUBARB AND GINGER FOOL

Steps:

• Put the rhubarb, caster sugar and 1 tbsp water in a pan and cook over a gentle heat, covered with a lid, until the rhubarb is tender. Remove the lid and turn up the heat to bubble and reduce the liquid to a syrup. Tip the rhubarb into a sieve set over a bowl to catch the syrup and leave until cold.
• Purée the cooled reserved syrup with 1/2 of the rhubarb chunks and the ginger syrup until smooth.
• Put the double cream and icing sugar in a mixing bowl and beat until it holds soft peaks. Fold through about 4 tbsp of the purée with most of the diced ginger.
• Roughly mash the rest of the rhubarb with a fork to break it up a bit, then fold it into the cream mixture with the Greek yogurt. Pile into serving bowls or glasses and keep chilled. When ready to serve, scatter with the remaining ginger, spoon over the leftover purée, and serve with crunchy biscuits.

RHUBARB-GINGER FOOL

Steps:

• Trim the ends of the stalk and if more than 1 1/2 inches wide, cut in half lengthwise. Cut into 1 inch pieces.
• In a stainless steel pan with a heavy bottom and a tight-fitting lid, combine the rhubarb, gingers and sugar. (No need for water, it will create its own juices). Cook over low heat until the rhubarb is tender and falling apart. (Or do what I did - throw it all into the rice cooker - I needed two cycles to get it to the right degree of doneness). Refrigerate until well chilled.
• Whip the cream until it holds soft peaks; fold in the chilled rhubarb until well mixed. Spoon into serving dishes and chill until ready to serve.

RHUBARB & GINGER SYLLABUB

Steps:

• Put the rhubarb, root ginger, sugar and white wine in a pan, bring to the boil and simmer on a low heat for 4-5 mins until the rhubarb has softened. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
• In another bowl, whisk the mascarpone, double cream and icing sugar to soft peaks. Remove 4 tbsp cooled rhubarb and mash with a fork, then fold into the cream mixture.
• Divide the rest of the poached rhubarb between 4 glasses, reserving a bit. Spoon over the cream mixture, then top with a few pieces of crystallised ginger and the rest of the rhubarb. Can be chilled for several hours before serving.

RHUBARB FOOL WITH CONFIT RHUBARB & PISTACHIOS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Line a roasting tin and arrange the rhubarb in a single layer. Scatter over the sugar, cardamom, blood orange zest and juice, and the lemon juice. Cover and roast for 20 mins. Remove from the oven, uncover and leave to cool in its syrup.
• Scoop out and discard the cardamom pods, then use a slotted spoon to transfer half the rhubarb into the bowl of a food processor. Add a couple of spoonfuls of the syrup and blitz to a purée.
• Combine the purée with the condensed milk and a pinch of salt. Stir in the ginger. Whip the cream to medium peaks in a bowl, then carefully fold in the rhubarb mix.
• Spoon the mousse into glasses and chill for a few hrs or overnight until set. Top with the remaining rhubarb, along with its syrup and scatter over the pistachios.