slice of crostini bread with goat cheese, rhubarb and fennel chutney spread over top, with slices of rhubarb surrounding
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Savory Rhubarb and Fennel Chutney with Mint

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Rhubarb Vegetables (yes! Rhubarb is technically classified as a vegetable!) are commonly used in sweet dessert puddings, pies, and crumbles. However, Rhubarb has a distinctive bitter taste that lends itself well to savory cuisine. This savory rhubarb chutney with fennel and mint recipe (located at bottom of this page) is a delicious condiment to add to many different savory, salty and spicy foods.

slice of crostini bread with goat cheese, rhubarb and fennel chutney spread over top, with slices of rhubarb surrounding
Two Jars of Rhubarb Chutney, cooling on counter after canning.

Rhubarb stalks are commonly cooked over heat or baked in a hot oven until the fibrous stalks break down, leaving the slightly sweet, yet still bitter, almost cloyingly floral juices behind. For this rhubarb chutney studded with fennel and finished with fresh mint, the culinary process in no different.

Rhubarb and fennel slowly cook on a stove burner, breaking down into a sumptuous, chunky chutney: that can be enjoyed right out of the saucepan or preserved for future use (I personally will be using this rhubarb chutney during the Autumn months paired with an oven roasted pork loin instead of the ubiquitous, traditional applesauce accompaniment).

two jars of rhubarb and fennel chutney on wooden cutting board with rhubarb stalk laid across.
Try this Rhubarb Fennel Chutney on Toasted Bread Crostini slathered with goat cheese

Canning this Savory Rhubarb Chutney to preserve for later is simple……

I chose to use 1/4 pint (4 ounces) canning jars to can this preserve. This recipe makes 12 ounces of rhubarb fennel chutney. I used one jar immediately and stored the other two in my pantry for later use. However, if you do not want to can and preserve this condiment, simple store in a glass container in your fridge. This rhubarb chutney will keep, covered and refrigerated for 10 days.

hand holding a jar of preserved rhubarb, fennel and mint chutney
Preserving this Rhubarb Chutney for consumption at a later date

Savory Rhubarb Fennel Chutney with Mint is versatile and can be paired with cheeses, meat and seafood.

Try this condiment as a unique addition on a cheese board, pair with herb roasted pork or spread over seafood, (this sauce goes well with salmon!)

a vase with fresh rhubarb stalks with leaves attached
Freshly Harvested Rhubarb
  • Rhubarb develops it’s deep red color overtime. The light green hue of the rhubarb stalks pictured left does not affect the taste
  • Rhubarb Leaves ARE POISONIOUS! Remove before using in any culinary endeavor.
A whole apple rhubarb crumble pie on a black plate, topped with a golden crumbly crust and surrounded by rhubarb stalks.
Looking for something a little sweeter? Try this Rhubarb Tart Topped with Oat Crisp!
two jars of preserved rhubarb, fennel with mint chutney

Savory Rhubarb and Fennel Chutney with Mint

This vibrant rhubarb and fennel chutney combines the tartness of rhubarb with the sweetness of fennel and the aromatic flavor of mint. Perfect as a condiment for grilled meats, a topping for cheese, or a spread for sandwiches, this chutney brings a delightful balance of unique flavors to any dish.
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Jarring Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Servings 3 4 oz jars
Calories 157 kcal

Equipment

  • 3 4 oz canning jars with clean rubber lids
  • Canning Tongs

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Fennel Bulb Medium
  • 3 Stalks Fresh Rhubarb about 2 cups when chopped
  • 1/2 Cup Sugar
  • 2 Tbsp Water
  • 2 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 1/4 Tsp Vanilla Vanilla Extract or scraped from fresh Vanilla Bean
  • 1 Tbsp Fresh Mint Leaves
  • 1 Tsp Fresh Lemon Juice or 1/2 tsp citric acid

Instructions
 

Cooking The Rhubarb Chutney

  • Remove top and bottom of fennel bulb and slice into 1/2 inch pieces before chopping down to smaller pieces. Do the same to the rhubarb stalks. (The shape doesn't really matter here, the ingredients will break down over the stovetop during cooking).
  • Add the chopped fennel and rhubarb to a medium sized saucepan, stir in 2 tbsp. water and 1/2 cup sugar. bring to a boil.
  • Lower heat to medium and continue to cook on a low boil until the fibers of the fennel and rhubarb break down, 15-20 minutes.
    chopped fennel and rhubarb in saucepan on stovetop with wooden spoon.
  • While the chutney cooks, prepare your canning station. Fill a large stock pot with enough water to cover your cans and bring to a boil. Sanitize your canning jars and lids by boiling them, completely drying the jars and making sure your lids are clean and ready to go.
  • When the chutney has reached desired consistency and thickened, add apple cider vinegar, and let simmer on low heat for 3 more minutes.
  • Chop fresh mint into ribbons.
  • Remove saucepan from heat. Stir in chopped mint leaves, vanilla and lemon juice.

Canning the Chutney

  • Transfer Rhubarb Chutney into waiting sanitized jars, leaving 1/4 inch space at top. Seal lids loosely, making sure the lids are on, but not tightened.
  • Process jars in boiling water for 10 minutes. Remove jars from stock pot using canning tongs and place on heat safe surface. Let cool, and listen for the sealing of jar tops. They should make a popping sound. When the jars are cool enough to handle twist the lids, tightly closing them.

Storage of Rhubarb and Fennel Chutney with Mint

  • This chutney will last 8 months in a cool, dark cabinet or pantry. If you do not want to can this Rhubarb Chutney, simply keep covered in your refrigerator, it will keep fresh for 10 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 jarCalories: 157kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 1gFat: 0.3gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.1gSodium: 42mgPotassium: 343mgFiber: 3gSugar: 36gVitamin A: 175IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 44mgIron: 1mg
Keyword canning, chutney, condiments, fennel, jarring, mint, preserves, rhubarb
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