Amaranth is an ancient grain that is similar to quinoa. The small, light tan colored seed is cooked similarly to rice and oats and eaten as a pilaf or porridge. Amaranth is also ground into a flour and used in baking, particularly in recipes that are gluten-free.
Is amaranth a grain or seed?
Amaranth is considered a ” pseudocereal ” rather than an actual grain since it’s technically a seed. Other examples of pseudocereals are buckwheat and quinoa; both amaranth and quinoa are from the family Amaranthaceae.
It normally grows to about 4 or 6 feet with maroon or crimson color seed heads. The amaranth grains are tiny, only a millimeter in diameter, round to oval, usually off-white to brown in color, and one gram of seeds hold about 1,000-3,000 seeds.
How to save seeds from amaranth?
Seed Saving Tips: 1) Leave the Globe Amaranth flower head to dry on the plant. 2) Once the flower head is completely dry, you are ready to save the seeds. Cut the flower head from the stem. 3) Once you break apart the flower head, you will feel the seeds at the base of the bracts in the fuzzy coating. While some gardeners keep the seeds in the.
Some popular varieties include: Red-leaf amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor): This varietal has especially nutritious foliage that tastes like slightly tangy spinach. ‘Molten Fire’ and ‘ Joseph’s Coat ‘ are popular cultivars of this species.‘Burgundy’ (A. hypochondriacus): Stunning purple leaves, red flowers, and white seeds adorn this varietal.‘Hopi Red Dye’ (A.
What to make with amaranth?
Method of rolling rajgira roti . Make a small or medium sized balls from the dough. Dust with amaranth flour. Roll to a small or medium sized paratha. While rolling add some more flour if required. Then gently lift up with a spatula and fry the paratha on a hot tava.
What is amaranth and what does it taste like?
In terms of taste, you can compare Amaranth to a cross between brown rice and wheat berries or whole wheat. In terms of appearance, they resemble sesame seeds when raw. When cooked, however, it becomes glossy and resembles caviar. As a whole, Amaranth is quite versatile and has a unique flavor.
Is amaranth a good source of vitamin-E?
Being seeds instead of cereal grains, amaranth indeed is an excellent source of vitamin-E (α-tocopherol). 100 g of seeds carry 1.8 mg or 8% of daily recommended levels of this vitamin. The seeds are also a prominent source of essential fatty acids.