Grain Amaranth - any suggestions ?

by Chilli-head 22nd May 2010, 9:09 pm

Having carefully grown, harvested dried and winnowed some grain Amaranth, it is still sitting in the kitchen cupboard.

According the the packet, it can be popped in hot oil - did not work for me, and the seeds are only 1mm diameter, so not much of a snack. Ground and mixed with white flour in the (Panasonic) breadmaker it made an earthy flavoured brick. Cooked in with rice it was edible, not badly flavoured but strangely gritty in texture.

Anyone have any better ideas as to what to do with it ? Perhaps it would be good sprinkled on top of bread like sesame or poppy seed ?

by Wilhelm Von Rhomboid 22nd May 2010, 9:28 pm

Simmer it in water or stock for about 20-25 mins - 3 parts liquid to 1 part grain, until liquid absorbed. Let it rest and then fork in some butter - like you would with couscous. Quite pleasant this way - chewier, nuttier version of cous cous effectively.

I have had things made with amaranth flour, including waffles, which IMO are vom-inducing even made with normal flour, and have always found them a bit 'challenging healthfood shop' tasting TBH.

You can use the leaves in alcohol production but I forget how or why

by Chilli-head 24th May 2010, 3:41 pm

I know exactly what you mean by 'challenging healthfood shop' tasting Grain Amaranth - any suggestions ? Icon_lol

. Thanks for your suggestion, I will try it out; it seems to make sense. Seems a shame to have put in the effort and then not eat it !

I don't much fancy the thought of a brew from Amaranth leaves, but with all this sun my mind is turning to my 10 year old homemade mead sitting in the cupboard under the stairs Grain Amaranth - any suggestions ? Drunken_smilie

Grain Amaranth - any suggestions ? Drunken_smilie

by Chilli-head 28th May 2010, 10:09 pm

So, tried it out last night. Still a slightly gritty texture, and not a terribly strong flavour. OK, but I don't think I'm going to rush to grow it again.

I've tried various unusual food plants now - I used to get seed from Future foods before their demise, and I have to say that all too often you can tell why these alternative crops have not become popular ...

by Compostwoman 28th May 2010, 10:49 pm

MmmmI must admit I, too, have given up with this due to the rather odd texture...

I used mine to feed the wild birds, tbh....

by Chilli-head 29th May 2010, 4:31 pm

When I say I think I'll give up growing it, what I mean to say is that I'll probably not sow it again - but where I grew amaranth and sunflowers last year is now a strawberry bed, and I suspect I will be hoeing out amaranth and sunflower volunteers for some time to come.

Noticed this morning that the Italian meadow rocket has somehow found its way to the allotment from my garden (where I sowed it about 8 years ago and have not been without it since). No bad thing there ... Grain Amaranth - any suggestions ? Icon_biggrin

by Compostwoman 29th May 2010, 6:49 pm

I have found Rocket and Purple choy sum to be very hard seeds to kill in a hot composter.....

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Grain Amaranth - any suggestions ?

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Re: Grain Amaranth - any suggestions ?