Rhubarb Compote with Fresh Ginger

Cooking spring’s rhubarb down to a compote removes some of the iconic bitterness and creates a complex dessert sauce. With a spice of ginger, the compote makes a perfect parfait or a delicious toast spread.
By Lynsey Walker

Of all the vegetables there is something so admirable about rhubarb. A hearty little being, it is one of the first brave souls to stick its head out of the soil after months of lying dormant under a mass of frozen earth.

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Super sour thanks to its high content of oxalic acid, it cleans your pots, detoxifies your liver, clears your skin, makes a bad-ass drink bitter, and doesn’t back down when you try to remove her from your garden. But this tough old broad has a softer side too, and isn’t opposed to easing some of her bite when shown a little love from some sugar or honey, like in a humble dessert or rhubarb compote of sorts.

While rhubarb does like to cozy up with the likes of strawberries, we are still months away from the first signs of those in these parts. Luckily rhubarb got the memo and plays well with the last of winter’s citrus like orange, and the warming spice of ginger, both of which I used in this rhubarb compote, and then layered with creamy yogurt into one heavenly springtime parfait.

Paired with some raisin swirl buns (or hot crossed, if you prefer), some hard-boiled eggs, and a few chocolate ones (because you can eat chocolate for breakfast on holidays right?), it is the perfect little set up for an Easter brunch.