ok, i swear i think this is going to be the last of the rhubarb posts for 2012. that isn’t to say that my willy wonka rhubarb patch is not going to continue to give. it’s just, i really do need to move on. this season has been a busy one for me, busy with work, and i fear even more lack of time to flex my preserving prowess in the coming weeks. 
i think i may have missed strawberry season entirely in the northeast. (did I?)
but never you mind with that because this little shrub-o-mine consists of one of my absolute favorite flavor combinations. it’s a winner in jam, makes this now famous rhubeena even better. and in this old-fashioned whistle-wetter, it positively shines!
shrubs are about the easiest thing you could ever make. at their simplest they are equal part fruit, sugar, and vinegar. mixed with water or sparkling water they make a refreshing summer drink sans alcohol, or use as a base for a cocktail and you’ve got a whole other party going on. for all you’ve ever wanted to know about shrubs, read this great post over at serious eats.
there’s two ways to make a shrub, either by cooking the fruit, or by what is called the cold-process method. i prefer the cold-process method as it retains the fresh fruit flavor. cold-infused herbs render a much brighter herbal flavor also. plus, you can be lazy about the whole process, which i like.
rhubarb lavender shrub
- 4 cups rhubarb, split lengthwise, then chopped into 1/2 inch pieces
- 4 cups sugar, organic if you can
- 4 cups champagne vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
- 15 sprigs of lavender, no flowers (or 10 lavender flowers)
- yield: approximately 1 & 1/2 quarts
- stir chopped rhubarb and sugar together in a large bowl. place a towel loosely over top and let sit at room temperature overnight. stir once or twice during that time continuing to redistribute the sugar that settles at the bottom.
- next day tuck lavender sprigs inside and give it one more stir. place in the fridge. at this point i transferred all to a half gallon jar and promptly let it sit in fridge for 6 whole days as i traveled back and forth to nyc. you can do that too if you happen to need to get to the city.
- after 24 hours or 6 days (or anything in between, or even a couple days more) take the whole lot out of the fridge and strain over a fine-meshed colander, or chinouis. i let this sit at room temperature overnight, even stirring a bit here and there if it looks like the sugar is sitting on top.
- next day discard the solids, add vinegar to the remaining liquid and whisk. pour into jars or bottles and place directly in fridge.
let your shrub rest in the refrigerator for at least a week. it gets better over time as the bite of the vinegar mellows and the fresh fruit and lavender flavor remain and even intensify. a couple of teaspoons is all that is needed per glass.
you would not want to hot-water bath process this as it would change the flavor, and it lasts a good 3 months or more in the fridge so no need to. this is also a wonderful place to use homemade vinegars as a precise acidity level is not needed for preservation.
i’ve got that rhubarb outta the way just in the nick of time, ’cause i got blueberries coming at me! lots of them! (as long as i can keep the birds at bay) wait! did i just say blueberries & bay?! that sounds like another perfect shrub combo!
see how nice things can be?
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Sounds lovely and a perfect drink during our extreme heat warning! When you say lavender sprigs, no flowers, do you mean just leaves? I’ve never used lavender leaves before. And for 10 lavender flowers, you mean 10 stalks with all the flowers, not just 10 individual buds, right? Just checking – thanks! (…do you prefer one over the other?)I’m off to scavenge the rhubarb and see if I can gather enough…
when i say sprig i mean use a sprig of just leaves right before the flower shoots out. so each sprig can be about 4 or so inches long and will have a bunch of individual leaves. i usually end up using sprigs because i love the flavor combo of rhubarb & lavender and my lavender is never in bloom when my rhubarb needs tending too. the sprigs have a wonderful flavor so there is no loss there. they are just a little less strong then a full flower. and yes, by flowers i mean the stalks with all the little tiny flowers on them. so 10 of them would be 10 full stalks. go get that rhubarb and make this shrub!
Done, drinking, and delicious – thanks for the great combo!
Sounds delicious!
We are trying to get rid of our city house in The Hague and then move to the country if we can.
Reading your blogs is what I do to keep me busy in the mean time, dreaming of my own Willy Wonka Rhubarb Patch.
Thank you!
a country house in the netherlands sounds awesome ragna! i hope it is yours someday soon! and so glad you are enjoying my blogs!
Someday I’ll try the shrub. With the last of the rhubarb here I made your “Krack” and served it at brunch. Delish! I sent everyone home with a big ole hunk and just finished the last bit myself. Thanks:)
so glad you and your friends enjoyed the krack pat!