Make this easy Maple Rhubarb Compote recipe in under 15 minutes. Sweetened with maple syrup and a touch of cardamom, this simple gluten-free recipe is a versatile fruit compote that you’ll love for breakfast or an easy dessert. Stir it into yogurt or ricotta or spoon it over pancakes or your morning oatmeal.
About Rhubarb
When selecting rhubarb look for firm, crisp rhubarb with shiny stems. A rough guide to quantity is that 1 stalk will yield about 1 cup of rhubarb. Of course, nature is not an assembly line mechanically producing identical-sized rhubarb stalks, so use your judgment to choose how many stalks you need.
Rhubarb is usually sold with the leaves cut off, but if you do buy some with leaves, please don’t eat them because they’re poisonous.
What is compote?
Compote is a fancy name for stewed fruit that’s typically cooked with sugar and spices.
Ingredients
This recipe uses just three ingredients:
Preparing the Rhubarb
Remove any leaves (they are toxic) and cut the stem and any gnarly-looking bits. You don’t need to peel it. Chop it into roughly 1/2 inch pieces. If your stalks are not roughly even in size, you may need to cut them in half length-wise. Don’t get too fussed about this, as having some chunks of soft rhubarb in among the saucier rhubarb will provide texture.
Visual Overview: Making Maple Rhubarb Compote
Making Maple Rhubarb Compote
Bring the ingredients to a boil, then turn the heat down to a simmer. Stir every few minutes.
Making Maple Rhubarb Compote
Cook for about 12 minutes or until the rhubarb is broken down.
Maple Rhubarb Compote
Serving Ideas
You can eat this Maple Rhubarb Compote warm or cold. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Maple Rhubarb Compote
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Tips: Plant-based sweeteners
This recipe uses maple syrup, which is generally considered vegan-friendly. However some manufacturers may use non-vegan ingredients for de-foaming and filtering. Check the label or contact the manufacturer if this is a concern.
If maple syrup isn't available, you could try agave syrup instead.
Note that maple syrup is not the same as pancake syrup or table syrup, both of which may include additional ingredients which may not be vegan-friendly. Read the label or check with the manufacturer to confirm.
For more information about sweeteners see: Sugar, Sugar, Honey, Honey: A Guide to Sweeteners for Plant-Based Diets.
Recipe Card
Easy Maple Rhubarb Compote
Ingredients
- 4 cups rhubarb, sliced
- 3/4 cup maple syrup (For less sweet compote, use 2/3rds of a cup)
- 1/2 teaspoon cardamom
- 3 teaspoons beetroot powder (optional)
Instructions
- Put the rhubarb, maple syrup, cardamom, and beetroot powder (if using) in a sauce pan. Bring it to a boil, stirring occasionally.
- Turn the heat down to a simmer and let it cook for about 12 minutes, stirring occasionally until the rhubarb has broken down.