Amaranth Recipes - Breakfast Porridge with Bluebery Compote (2024)

FAQs

Is it necessary to soak amaranth before cooking? ›

Soaking: If you have the time, consider soaking the amaranth overnight before cooking. "Soaking the grains makes their nutrients easier to digest and shortens the cooking time," says Ziata. Simply combine amaranth and water in a large bowl, completely submerging the grains.

Blueberries, walnuts and sunflower seeds

These look pretty on top of your porridge, but even better, an 80g portion of blueberries counts as one of your 5-a-day and the walnuts and sunflower seeds provide unsaturated fats as well as fibre and vitamins.

Add amaranth, reduce heat and simmer, cover until liquid is absorbed, which will be about 20 minutes. For cereal, simply bring 2 ½ cups water and ½ teaspoon salt to a boil in a medium pot. Add your amaranth, reduce heat and simmer, cover for 25 minutes. You can also cook your amaranth in a multi-cooker!

If it isn't moldy, check to see if there is any odor coming from the amaranth. If it doesn't fall under either of those conditions, the taste can be off. It should be sweet and nutty. If it isn't, it may be rancid.

As in many other plant-based food products, applying heat treatment to the amaranth grains seems to provide an overall improvement in digestibility of the nutrients they contain (Kauffman and Weber, 1990, Tovar et al., 1994).

Should I eat eggs or oatmeal for breakfast? Both are good choices, in fact you'd do well to have them both. The protein and fat in eggs will help keep you full, just as the fibre in the oats, and the slow-release carbohydrates from the oats will give you steady energy until lunchtime.

But the main difference between porridge and oatmeal is that porridge is made with a variety of whole grains, cereal or legumes, and oatmeal is made with oats (either rolled, flattened or ground).

Most porridge oats we come across in the shops are rolled oats, also called old-fashioned oats. These are oat groats, softened by steaming and then rolled into flakes. They absorb liquid quickly so the cooking time is reduced to 5-10 minutes when making porridge or they can be eaten without cooking for more texture.

This banana porridge with blueberry compote is an extremely nutritious breakfast due to the healthy oats, nutritious milk, and the fact that each serving contains two portions of your five a day. It is quick and easy to make (because I hate cooking in the mornings) and will keep you full until lunchtime!

Is eating oatmeal and blueberries everyday good for you? ›

One of the simplest and tastiest ways to enjoy blueberries is by sprinkling them over your morning cereal, oatmeal or yogurt. Their natural sweetness complements these breakfast staples perfectly while delivering a healthy dose of antioxidants and essential nutrients.

Step 2: Soak: When possible soak amaranth overnight to improve digestion and increase the absorption of nutrients. For every 1 cup grain add 1 Tbsp. of apple cider vinegar (ACV) or lemon juice, cover and soak in filtered water overnight at room temperature. Step 3: Cook: Rinse & drain in warm water.

Avoid eating too much amaranth from agricultural fields. The leaves (like those of spinach, sorrel and many other greens) also contain oxalic acid, which can be poisonous to livestock or to humans with kidney issues of eaten in large amounts.

Amaranth can be consumed boiled or popped, in sweet or savory dishes, by itself or mixed with other grains. My favourite ways to have it until now are: Cooked like a porridge.

We can't digest raw amaranth. It's like eating raw rice or raw beans. It'll pass right through our digestive tract without change. It's necessary to either cook it or puff it so we can digest it and enjoy the benefits of this amazing superfood.

Saponins. Saponins are extremely bitter in taste. Similarly to phytic acid, they can form complexes with proteins or minerals, such as zinc and iron, to inhibit absorption into the body. Since they are only present in small quantities in amaranth, they are characterised as low toxicity and don't pose any danger.

Once amaranth is soaked, rinse under cold water and discard soaking liquid. In a small pot, add soaked amaranth and 3 cups of fresh water. Cover and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat, and let simmer for 20 minutes.

Amaranth does not require nearly as much water as you would think. The native Americans and Aztec Indians grew Amaranth in arid and dry desert regions. Yes, it still needs water, however it can be left dry far longer than most crops in your garden. I typically water our amaranth about once every 1-2 weeks as needed.