Rhubarb cooked with Rose ger anium leaves

Rose pelargonium (Pelargonium graveolens) is a pretty, flowering plant that falls within the geranium family. Its leaves are scented and heady, and are great for cooking with. They have a unique flavour and are often used to perfume sugars, ice creams, cakes, jams and syrups. Rhubarb and rose is an incredible combination and one I’ve played with many times in the past. But the flavour from the rose-scented geranium leaf is even more lovely.

serves 4

4 large rhubarb sticks, trimmed and cut into 8–10cm pieces

2 tbsp runny honey 2 tbsp golden caster sugar 8–10 rose geranium leaves

heat the oven to 150°c/300°f/gas mark 3.

1. Arrange the rhubarb pieces in a single layer over a large shallow baking dish. Scatter over the sugar, trickle over the honey and two tablespoons of water, and tear over the geranium leaves. Then turn everything together.

2. Cover the dish tightly with a piece of foil and place in the oven for 20–35 minutes, or until the rhubarb is soft but not broken down – timings will depend on how thick the chunks are.

Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.

3. I like to serve the rhubarb and its rosy geranium syrup with vanilla custard, and perhaps a buttery shortbread biscuit or two.