I was raised in a household that collected things. We visited antique stores looking for Wallace Nuttings and spode dishes. It was a big part of my childhood and while I didn't always like it,I have an appreciation for it now. Fast forward, I don't collect antiques but there are two things my house is currently full of: coffee mugs and cookbooks. Once a month I head to the local used bookstore to pick up used cookbooks. I thumb through them, collecting ideas that might have once been forgotten or never caught on.
This particular recipe can be credited to Whole Grains Every Day, Every Way. The author has a no-nonsense approach to grains and some small, but powerful ways of using whole grains. One of my biggest complaints with amaranth is that it doesn't cook like other pseudo-grains (mainly quinoa). Turns out, I wasn't completing the process. If you give cooked amaranth a good rinse, the end result is less porridge, slightly more quinoa-like texture. Perfect for grain bowls, pilafs, and even this amaranth salad.
Amaranth is a pseudo-grain I do not use near enough. An early, disappointing experience left me pushing amaranth to the back of the pantry. However, the more time I spend with the grain, the more I like it. Of course, you could easily swap out the grain for something more to your liking but I highly recommend playing around with this tiny seed.
Grains: Swap out amaranth for your favorite grain. I like quinoa, bulgur, or freekeh; all of which are quick cooking.
Vegetable: I love the floral taste of coriander and use it quite liberally in my cooking. Beyond cauliflower, I love roasting winter squash and sweet potatoes with coriander or even adding a sprinkle of ground coriander right into my lemon vinaigrette.
Greens: Swap out the lettuce for spinach or kale.
One of the things I love about amaranth is that, given a plot of land, I could grow it. The plant produces beautiful flowers, edible leaves, and a plethora of tiny seeds. Amaranth cooks in less than 30 minutes and is wonderful for porridges. A few of my favorite amaranth recipes:
Amaranth Porridge with Roasted Pears
Blueberries ‘n’ Cream Amaranth Porridge
I soak amaranth overnight before boiling It for 10-15 minutes, as this is what It says to do on the package. It doesn't turn out porridge like at all. Maybe that's the secret?
Thank you so much for the tip about cooking amaranth. I think I did it once many years ago, and I have been thinking about it lately. Around here (far west Texas), we have a lot of wild amaranth that is a pesky weed - don't know if it's edible or not. I also like the idea of soaking the amaranth, because I'm generally in the habit of soaking all my grains (except quinoa and teff) and beans