Plant science at the dinner table

Dixie Sandborn, Michigan State University Extension - March 16, 2023

Rhubarb is one of the first plants harvested in Michigan gardens and is an early spring treat. It is technically a vegetable, but in the United States, it is eaten as a fruit. Many people call rhubarb the “pie plant.”

Rhubarb is one of the first plants harvested in Michigan gardens and is an early spring treat. It is technically a vegetable, but in the United States it is eaten as a fruit. Many people call rhubarb the “pie plant.” Scientifically, it is an herbaceous perennial with leaves growing off the top of a thick rhizome (underground horizontal stem that produces shoots). The leaf stalks (petioles or leaf stem) are the part of the rhubarb we eat. It is usually used in desserts or an ingredient in sweet dishes, but there are many recipes for savory dishes as well.

Folklore credits Benjamin Franklin with bringing rhubarb to America in the late 1700s. However, it wasn’t until the late 18th or early 19th century that Great Britain and the United States started using it for culinary purposes. Prior to that, it had been cultivated in Asia for over 5,000 years and used for medicinal purposes.

Looking for more fun facts about rhubarb? Michigan State University Extension offers the following:

This is a great recipe to try if you are a rhubarb fan. Even if you’re not a rhubarb fan, you might just become one after eating these brownies!

Adapted from the Endless Meal

Chocolate rhubarb brownies are rich and decadent with the slightly tart flavor of rhubarb which cuts through the sweetness like magic.

Start to finish: 30 minutes (prep time: 10 minutes; cook time: 20 minutes)

Servings: 9

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper and lightly butter the paper.

In a medium-sized bowl, whisk the sugar, vegetable oil, eggs and vanilla.

In a large bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and sea salt.

Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix them until they are just incorporated. Add the rhubarb, chocolate chips, and nuts, mix until they are combined. The batter will be quite thick.

Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and spread it out so that it is even. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or just until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Make sure not to overcook the brownies so they don't dry out.

Remove the brownies from the oven and let them cool for at least 10 minutes. Cut them into 9 squares

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

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