strawberry and rhubarb is the most classic spring pairings. rhubarb is tart, tart, tart. which matches perfect to the sweet strawberry. typically a crisp uses butter to hold together the crumble topping. here tahini is used in its place. more on that later, but lets just say, the flavors are so perfect together. i am so excited to share this strawberry rhubarb tahini crisp with you!

what is a crisp and how is it different than a cobbler?

ah, the question that I ask myself all the time! who comes up with the rules and names anyway? i digress...

a cobbler is: a baked fruit dessert with a drop biscuit topping
a crumble is: a crisp topping a baked fruit dessert without oats
a crisp: a baked fruit dessert with oats!

never fail formula for making any fruit crisp

one thing you are sure to find on my site is seasonal fruit crisps. they are hands down one of the easiest and tastiest desserts you can make. literally all you need to know is how to chop fruit, coat it in sugar and cornstarch, throw it in a baking dish and bake. need a bit more direction? cool:

chop about 6 cups (1.5 pounds) of seasonal fruit to approximately the same size
use cornstarch to thicken the fruit as it bakes. use about 2 tablespoon per 6 cups depending on the juiciness of the fruit. the juicer it is, the more you'll need to use
top with a streusel topping: flour, oats, sugar, butter (or tahini in this case). mix together until the mixture sticks into...crumbles.
top it with ice cream, fresh whipped cream or even yogurt

what exactly is rhubarb?

so glad you asked! rhubarb is technically a vegetable. although its sold as a fruit. i know. its like finding out a tomato is technically a fruit. food science...what can you do?! back to the rhubarb. it looks a bit like celery, but pink and thus prettier. for food testing purposes, i tasted a raw piece and its bitter, sour and celery like. not really the tastiest. hence why its paired with other fruits!! a few other things about this delightfully pink veggie:

the color varies from light green to dark pink
the intensity or range of color does NOT indicate ripeness
don't eat the leaves- they're poisonous
if you buy rhubarb at the store they cut of the leaves for you!
if you buy one with leaves attached, they should look fresh and crisp
their season is typically april through june, but can be found as early as february
if you want to learn more, check out this post

what can I pair with rhubarb?

want to try something other than strawberries? yay! some of my best creations come from deviating from the normal pairing couples. for rhubarb, look for things like:

citrus fruits like orange, grapefruit, blood oranges and blackberries
spices like cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, and ginger, vanilla and sorrel
savory pairings in middle eastern stews or with lentils
other pairings are: lavender, dates, coconut, tomatoes and other summer berries

seasonal baking and cooking is the best and the easiest!

looking for more seasonal crisp recipes?

while im currently hooked on this strawberry rhubarb tahini crisp, look no further than these recipes for more inspiration.

new crisp recipes are going up all the time. make sure to check back for more delicious recipes!

tips to make the best strawberry rhubarb tahini crisp

fresh rhubarb: you can use frozen here! just make sure to thaw the rhubarb before following the recipe
fresh strawberries: this should be an easy ingredient to find. but, if its not, frozen works great too
subs for rhubarb: another tart fruit like raspberries could work
subs for strawberries: a tart but sweet fruit, like raspberries or even blackberries would work great here
tahini: you can use butter or even coconut oil in its place
all purpose flour: use any flour you like! there's no need to rise
oats: adding this is totally up to you! technically, if you omit its now a crumble, but still so delicious!
baking time: bake until the top is golden brown and the fruit filling is bubbling. plus, your house will smell unbelievable

raw strawberry and rhubarb filling before being baked

raw strawberry rhubarb crisp with topping

close up of the strawberry rhubarb filling

warm strawberry rhubarb crisp topped with cold ice cream

strawberry rhubarb crisp with melting ice cream

close up of strawberry rhubarb crisp with melting ice cream

individual bowls of strawberry rhubarb crisp with ice cream