When it comes to amaranth, this little super-seed has survived quite a lot, including near-extinction a few hundred years ago. Amaranth was a primary crop for the Mayan and Aztec civilizations and it played an important role in their spiritual rituals as well as their physical health. This tiny seed nourished the people with plenty of protein, including the essential amino acid lysine. So you can imagine what happened when the Spanish Conquistadors arrived along with Roman Catholic priests. You guessed it. Amaranth was seen as a threat to their Eucharist and, because it strengthened the people to fight against them, it was outlawed. There were harsh penalties for planting and growing amaranth (think loss of limbs). Amaranth went underground and it’s thanks to the many hands through which the seeds safely passed that we are all able to enjoy – and more deeply appreciate – this fortifying and delicious food.
Also, this explains why, despite cultivation since around 7000 BCE, amaranth is still seen as a ‘new kid on the block’ when wheat, barley, and other grains and seeds are more well-known.
Try it in our chocolate-y, power-packed Amaranth for Breakfast recipe and thank your lucky stars it survived and can nourish people like you today as it has for thousands of years.
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What are the Health Benefits of Amaranth?
One cup of cooked amaranth will net you about 250 calories, 4 grams of fat, 45 grams of carbohydrates and 5 grams of fiber. In terms of protein, with over 9.2 grams per cup, it comes in much higher than grains like oats, rice or wheat and has a leg up on protein-rich quinoa too. Beyond those macronutrients, amaranth also contains important minerals such as iron, magnesium, phosphorus and manganese.
It’s also a great plant-based source of protein and is gluten-free!
Where to Buy Amaranth and How to Store it
We used to be able to find it in the bulk section of Whole Foods until about 2018 but now your best bet is probably on Amazon, which is where we purchase ours.
Once you receive your bag of amaranth, you’ll want to transfer it to a wide-mouth glass jar. This will allow you to easily scoop out amaranth with a measuring cup with minimal spillage and make it easy to see in your pantry.
Word to the wise: it’s worth transferring the amaranth as we have poured from a bag and had hundreds – possibly thousands – of little seeds scatter around the kitchen that we were still discovering months later.
Prep: 2 minutes
Cook time: about 20 minutes
Yield: ~ 3 cups
Ingredients
1 cup amaranth
2 cups water
Instructions
Pour 1 cup of amaranth seeds into a medium pot and add 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil and then cover with a lid and simmer for about 20 minutes or until water has been absorbed.
Notes: Cooked amaranth has a cohesive, pudding-like texture and can be made into breakfast, lunch, dinner or a tasty treat. You can also use it in place of many other grains, including quinoa!