Amaranth

         Amaranth comes in several colors.  Some varieties are green, some are red, and some are golden.  Whatever color, the plant is beautiful!  It grows really tall and reminds me of a sunflower.  While some varieties grow up to 16 inches, some will grow up to 64 inches or taller.  The usually red or golden seeds grow in long tasseled bunches.  This year my dad grew Giant Golden Amaranth.  The plants grew taller than me!  Their colors were gold tinged with orange, as the season waned, and they weathered the drought better than most of the garden.


Close up on Amaranth leaves

Henry and I with young Amaranth in the spring

      While the plant is still quite young, the leaves are delicious in salads.  The mature leaves are good cooked as spinach (which reminds me, one of the Amaranth varieties is known as wild spinach).  However, the tough, leaves are bitter.  The seed is used as flour when ground.  I have made baked goods with Amaranth, but it was so fine that my flapjacks were mushy and delicate.  It was better when I used it with another flour, such as buckwheat or spelt.  I’ve also made a hot cereal with the whole seeds.  It was really good!  Cooked amaranth has a similar consistency to corn grits, but softer.  I added butter and maple syrup…YUM!  I’ve read that in Mexico the seeds are popped like popcorn and then sugar, salt, or honey is added.  DELICIOUS!

Close up on Amaranth seeds

             I haven’t used Amaranth for medicinal purposes, but I am looking forward to it.  It is used to control diarrhea when taken internally (which is when you eat it like spinach or oatmeal) and to treat wounds.  This herb also contains astringent, soothing properties. 

TIDBIT: Amaranth is also used in the coloring of foods and medicines.  There are varieties that produce yellow, red, and brown dyes.

            I have watched this plant grow in our garden from seedlings to giants.  Amaranth is a beautiful plant and I can’t wait to work with it more.  Next week’s herb is also known as Leopard’s bane and is well known for its treatment of bruises.