Re: Amaranth

Ginger Blue 3/4/2017, 10:19 am

It's funny that this thread would come up now. I've been thinking a lot about growing grain and seeds, to mill for homemade bread. Research on "grains" with the most nutritional value led me to amaranth, quinoa (technically a seed), and rye, which I've added several varieties of to next year's garden plan.

Now, having learned that the leaves from amaranth and quinoa are edible, I'm even more eager to grow them! I can hardly wait! hungry

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countrynaturals 4/23/2017, 12:56 pm

Ginger Blue wrote:It's funny that this thread would come up now. I've been thinking a lot about growing grain and seeds, to mill for homemade bread. Research on "grains" with the most nutritional value led me to amaranth, quinoa (technically a seed), and rye, which I've added several varieties of to next year's garden plan.

Now, having learned that the leaves from amaranth and quinoa are edible, I'm even more eager to grow them! I can hardly wait!

Save

I am stalking you, Ginger. Twisted Evil

I have 2 little red amaranth plants that I grew from seed that Marie sent me. I just looked them up and found this:

The protein in amaranth is more digestible than other seeds and grains and has been compared to the digestibility of milk protein. 7. Lysine – Vegetables and grains are often lacking in this essential amino acid. Amaranth has a good amount of lysine which helps the body absorb calcium, build muscle, and produce energy.

So, I came over here to read up on it and here you are again. Amaranth - Page 3 3170584802

I will definitely plant some more of these beautiful little plants today. (I'll add a new pic, later.)

countrynaturals 4/23/2017, 6:01 pm

trolleydriver wrote:
There is some research about Amaranth being done in Ontario. The article in the link below mentions the Vineland Research Station. Vineland is a community close to St.Catharines which is near Niagara Falls. When I was a teenager living in St.Catharines, I had a summer job at that same Vineland Research Station. One of the areas of research that I helped with was in connection with different varieties of tomatoes.

http://fooddaycanada.ca/made-in-canada/amaranth/

Popped amaranth? Really! We had to give up popcorn on our new diet. If we could pop amaranth and enjoy it, we could get our favorite snack back. Amaranth - Page 3 3170584802

I can't wait to try it. bounce

countrynaturals 4/23/2017, 6:06 pm

Ginger Blue wrote:It's funny that this thread would come up now. I've been thinking a lot about growing grain and seeds, to mill for homemade bread. Research on "grains" with the most nutritional value led me to amaranth, quinoa (technically a seed), and rye, which I've added several varieties of to next year's garden plan.

Now, having learned that the leaves from amaranth and quinoa are edible, I'm even more eager to grow them! I can hardly wait!

Save

When making bread, know that almond flour has a fraction of the carbs of wheat flour. It's very expensive and doesn't hold together very well, so you might want to make brioche for the eggs. We're going to try it for peanut butter cookies one of these days.

Roseinarosecity 4/25/2017, 9:09 pm

When making bread, know that almond flour has a fraction of the carbs of wheat flour. It's very expensive and doesn't hold together very well, so you might want to make brioche for the eggs. We're going to try it for peanut butter cookies one of these days.

I'm curious about the brioche made with almonds. Is this recipe one you can share?
How do you add the amaranth?

**AtlantaMarie** 4/26/2017, 7:44 am

countrynaturals wrote:
trolleydriver wrote:
There is some research about Amaranth being done in Ontario. The article in the link below mentions the Vineland Research Station. Vineland is a community close to St.Catharines which is near Niagara Falls. When I was a teenager living in St.Catharines, I had a summer job at that same Vineland Research Station. One of the areas of research that I helped with was in connection with different varieties of tomatoes.

http://fooddaycanada.ca/made-in-canada/amaranth/
Popped amaranth? Really! We had to give up popcorn on our new diet. If we could pop amaranth and enjoy it, we could get our favorite snack back. I can't wait to try it.

Popped amaranth is quite tiny, lol. So you'll need a lot. And be sure to have some sort of splatter screen, 'cause it goes EVERYWHERE! (Ask me how I know... :-) I actually popped some accidentally. But pretty good stuff.)

countrynaturals 4/26/2017, 11:48 am

AtlantaMarie wrote:Popped amaranth is quite tiny, lol. So you'll need a lot. And be sure to have some sort of splatter screen, 'cause it goes EVERYWHERE! (Ask me how I know... :-) I actually popped some accidentally. But pretty good stuff.)

Cauliflower chips and popped amaranth. Just color me green and call me a health-food junkie. rofl

**trolleydriver** 4/26/2017, 12:04 pm

My Amaranth Dreadlocks seeds From Baker and sown indoors just a few days ago have sprouted. Very Happy

**sanderson** 4/27/2017, 12:40 pm

Great. Mine died during the in-out-in-out sessions. The one that made it to planting was nibbled to a stub. I think I will direct sow and see what happens.

yolos 4/27/2017, 7:00 pm

Experimenting again. I planted 4 different varieties of Amaranth in this whisky barrel to see how they all do. I think I will have to do some thinning but I really don't know how big each of these varieties will grow.
Amaranth - Page 3 Amaran10

**AtlantaMarie** 4/28/2017, 4:25 am

countrynaturals wrote:
AtlantaMarie wrote:Popped amaranth is quite tiny, lol. So you'll need a lot. And be sure to have some sort of splatter screen, 'cause it goes EVERYWHERE! (Ask me how I know... :-) I actually popped some accidentally. But pretty good stuff.)

Cauliflower chips and popped amaranth. Just color me green and call me a health-food junkie.

Did you ever hear the Ray Stevens song about being a health-food junkie by day & sneaking Twinkies, etc. by night?

countrynaturals 4/28/2017, 10:56 am

AtlantaMarie wrote:
countrynaturals wrote:
AtlantaMarie wrote:Popped amaranth is quite tiny, lol. So you'll need a lot. And be sure to have some sort of splatter screen, 'cause it goes EVERYWHERE! (Ask me how I know... :-) I actually popped some accidentally. But pretty good stuff.)

Cauliflower chips and popped amaranth. Just color me green and call me a health-food junkie.

Did you ever hear the Ray Stevens song about being a health-food junkie by day & sneaking Twinkies, etc. by night?

No, but I would never! Rolling Eyes

(Never did like Twinkies, but don't come at me with brownies or I'm a gonner.)

**sanderson** 4/29/2017, 3:41 am

If the back red one is a Molten Fire, it will get big.

BeetlesPerSqFt 4/29/2017, 7:48 am

While I like quinoa and kañiwa, I haven't liked amaranth as a cooked whole grain - it seemed rather slimy (and as a reference point I like okra.) But it's probably been 15 years since then, and I'm more skilled at cooking now, so I should probably give it another go. I've cooked with the leaves on rare occasion - I can get them from one of the local Asian markets. Pretty sure I liked them.

The popping amaranth sounds fun, too! I've even got a grease splatter screen. Do you pop with or without oil?

I keep amaranth flour in the pantry, I feel like it makes the best gluten-free gravy of the gluten free flours I've tried. I like the texture, and it adds a faint mushroomy-ness.

**sanderson** 4/29/2017, 1:37 pm

BeetlesPerSqFt wrote:I keep amaranth flour in the pantry, I feel like it makes the best gluten-free gravy of the gluten free flours I've tried. I like the texture, and it adds a faint mushroomy-ness.

Another use for amaranth!

countrynaturals 4/30/2017, 12:04 am

BeetlesPerSqFt wrote:I keep amaranth flour in the pantry, I feel like it makes the best gluten-free gravy of the gluten free flours I've tried. I like the texture, and it adds a faint mushroomy-ness.

Kewl! I'll look for it. Our favorite flour right now is almond. It's pricey, but lower in carbs than any of the others we've tried (5 vs. 28 I think or something close).

**RoOsTeR** 5/18/2017, 8:50 am

My daughter came home with amaranth seeds yesterday Smile

guess we will be growing some this year!

**trolleydriver** 5/18/2017, 9:22 am

RoOsTeR wrote:My daughter came home with amaranth seeds yesterday guess we will be growing some this year!

I bought Amaranth (Dreadlocks) seed from Baker Creek. I've never grown Amaranth before and don't know if it will work in my climate/area. Here are my Amaranth seedlings started indoors and now being hardened off outside. Not even sure if it is possible to transplant Amaranth.

Amaranth - Page 3 Img_3715

yolos 5/18/2017, 12:36 pm

My Amaranth transplanted just fine. I did not loose any when I transplanted them.
All Red Leaf, White Leaf, Red Leaf, Red Garnet.
Amaranth - Page 3 Amaran11

**Scorpio Rising** 5/18/2017, 9:04 pm

yolos wrote:My Amaranth transplanted just fine. I did not loose any when I transplanted them.
All Red Leaf, White Leaf, Red Leaf, Red Garnet.

It is beautiful! I didn't know you ate the leaves, thought it was primarily a grain....right?

yolos 5/18/2017, 10:07 pm

Both a grain and also a green vegetable. I am growing it to use in salads. Our weather gets so hot so fast that lettuce is just now starting to bolt. But I understand that amaranth can grow until the temps get up to 85*F. This is the first year I am growing this so we shall see. Here are a few videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krPnwSrt0pk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLblyvh1yFw

countrynaturals 5/19/2017, 9:53 am

yolos wrote:Both a grain and also a green vegetable. I am growing it to use in salads. Our weather gets so hot so fast that lettuce is just now starting to bolt. But I understand that amaranth can grow until the temps get up to 85*F. This is the first year I am growing this so we shall see. Here are a few videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krPnwSrt0pk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLblyvh1yFw

85? YIKES! I already planted my amaranth in permanent outdoor containers. We're having triple-digits next week. Maybe I'll have to add it to the list of things I can't grow here. Sad

**sanderson** 5/19/2017, 6:29 pm

Molten Fire amaranth does fine in the heat. It develops beautiful plumes.

**Scorpio Rising** 5/20/2017, 10:17 am

Interesting! I think it is a weed around here too. You see it in fields in the fall with it's big red shock of seeds....

countrynaturals 5/20/2017, 10:24 am

sanderson wrote:Molten Fire amaranth does fine in the heat. It develops beautiful plumes.

Good to know. Thanks. thanks

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