7.31.2012

another way to use rhubarb that doesn't involve a pie


This was actually the reason that I bought rhubarb in the first place. Making strawberry rhubarb pie was just one of the perks of having extra rhubarb. Like most of the food that we eat, I can't take credit for creating the recipe but I'm sure glad that my friend Mary was willing to pass it along.

I had Rhubarb Lentil Chili for the first time last fall and I've basically been dreaming of it ever since. It may not seem like a very summer food, but rhubarb's in season and when I saw it at the store all I could think of was putting some of this chili into my belly asap. Also, it's gluten free, dairy free and yum-full. I usually put celery into my chili but rhubarb is like celery's tart, sassy, redheaded cousin that adds a major yum factor.  It's a pretty easy recipe that can be thrown into a crockpot or done on the stove. I love one pot meals. I ate the chili with grilled polentayum on it's own and with everything elsebut I imagine it would be great by itself, with rice or cornbread on the side.

You will need:
2 onions chopped
1 can diced tomatoes (I used 1 1/2 fresh tomatoes and a little puree because that's what I had on hand)
4 garlic cloves minced
1 tsp thyme
4 tbs butter (or coconut oil or palm oil, I choose coconut this time)
1 tsp cumin
3 fresh stalks of rhubarb cut into bite size pieces
1 tsp garlic salt (didn't have any and it was still great)
2 cups of lentils
1 tsp red pepper
4 cups vegetable stock (if you want to do it vegetarian or I used chicken stock)
1 can of kidney beans
1 can of garbanzo beans
1 large chicken breast (or not, it's fine either way)

Throw all the ingredients into a pot or crockpot with the chicken on the bottom and bring to a boil and let simmer for 3 hours or let the crockpot do all the work. That's all folks and then you get some amazing food at the end. And I'll say "yum" one more time for the road. Yum.

14 comments:

  1. I wish I had the patience to cook more elaborate dishes. I always cook, I like freshly made food, but I make simple and fast things. This recipe sounds delicious, even if I am a vegetarian and I should find a substitute.
    p.s.
    I owe you an email.

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    1. This recipe is seriously vegetarian friendly. Protein is our friend when we don't eat meat. And it is so easy.

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  2. Oh yum! I love rhubarb... but I can never talk Mark into it, he must be one of the only crazy people on earth that hates strawberry rhubarb pie.

    That's it, I'm going straight home and buying some rhubarb. You're making me hungry. :)

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  3. I'm so glad to learn a rhubarb recipe that is not rhubarb crisp (which is what always make) especially because I want to eat healthier. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. I want to eat healthy too, but pie is so divine for summertime.

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  4. Yummm!! that looks amazing xx

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  5. yay it looks so yummy! better yet I have most of the ingredients! we are just starting to eat gluten free (as of 9 days ago.)

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    1. Good luck, gluten free is different but you can totally do it.

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  6. This looks so delicious! I don't eat beef so I'm always looking for different alternative chili recipes. I'll have to give this a try.

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  7. auh! I'm starving and this looks FANTASTIC! Just printed it off to try sometime soon, thanks so much for sharing. =)

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  8. That recipe looks so easy and fun (and healthy)! Awesome.

    Kacie

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  9. this is so interesting. I love chili, but this one has great vegetables all through it, and sounds really fun and delicious.

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    1. It could even have more vegetables. I'm a veggie kind of girl. Throw some carrots, celery and extra tomatoes and tell me how it turns out. :)

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Thanks for your nice words. I appreciate them so much.