Rhubarb Crumble with Strawberries and Coconut

 

This is an extremely special crumble, and a refreshing change from the rhubarb crumbles we are all used to. The coconut is perfect for a crispy topping and the sweet strawberries complement the tart flavours of the rhubarb wonderfully well. Enjoy.

40 minutes  Serves 4- 6

750g Rhubarb

300g Strawberries

50g of Unrefined Castor Sugar

1 spoon of butter

For the crumble:

110g Flour

70g Ground Coconut

110g Unrefined Sugar

110g Butter

  • Preheat the oven to 200 degrees
  • Peel the rhubarb and cut it in to 2cm pieces. Place rhubarb in a buttered oven dish, douse with water, sprinkle over the 50g of sugar and place in the oven for approx 10 minutes until softened
  • Take the rhubarb out of the oven. Wash and clean the strawberries, slice them in half and lay them on the top of the rhubarb. Cover with a further sprinkling of sugar
  • Prepare the topping by rubbing together the flour, sugar and the butter, cut into small cubes to make breadcrumbs. Then add the coconut.
  • Spread the topping evenly over the strawberries and rhubarb and transfer to the oven for 25 minutes until golden on top and bubbling round the edges. Serve hot with vanilla ice cream or fresh cream

HEALTH BENEFITS

Rhubarb, (a member of the buckwheat family) really a vegetable but often thought of as a fruit is often called ‘the pie plant’ as its primary use is in various types of pies. Rhubarb is known to have a variety of therapeutic qualities, not least as a very good source of dietary fibre, known to relieve constipation and to help indigestion as well. With anti bacterial properties, rhubarb has also been found to have anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy properties as well.

Some research has shown that rhubarb may also assist in helping to manage high cholesterol, and that it may help in reducing the risks of cancer.

N.B Ensure you always only eat the stalks because rhubarb leaf contains a very high level of oxalates, which are mineral salts that the body cannot metabolize; for people who are sensitive to them they can be toxic.