Explore Ancient Grains With 9 Amaranth Recipes

Amaranth flour, which is made from roasted and ground amaranth seeds, can be a secret shortcut to a delicious, easy, gluten-free pancake. Since it has a toasty, nutty flavor, dress it up with bananas, chocolate chips, cinnamon and pecans.

When boiled, amaranth transforms into soft porridge. Dress it up with lots of flavor with coconut milk, maple syrup, cardamom and a pinch of salt. Top with sliced pears and chopped pecans and you’ve got a highly nutritious, but equally tasting breakfast.

Because amaranth boils down to a softer consistency, it’s easy to mold it into patties with mashed chickpeas. Brown on each side and serve with pita, tahini sauce and turnip pickles.

The ultimate homemade power snack is these sweet energy bites. Toast the amaranth until they pop and mix with date paste, nut butter, clarified butter (ghee), nuts, honey and dried fruits into little balls. Pop one when you need a sweet treat or a satisfying snack.

Another recipe with popped amaranth, it bakes with rolled oats in the oven into crunchy clusters. A little orange zest provides a whole lot of flavor.

With just three ingredients, you can make a more wholesome candy. A mix between a crunch bar and a peanut butter cup, this recipe alternates popped amaranth and chocolate with peanut butter.

Vegetable soup becomes a meal when amaranth brings protein and fiber. Adding cooked amaranth to your soup adds a soft, slightly chewy grain, plus nutrients that veggies don’t bring alone. In this one, carrots, coconut milk and aromatics are delicious on their own, but amaranth gives it that extra boost.

Just like the amaranth falafel, the grain can be molded into a patty with black beans and then baked. It not only adds texture and shape to the burger patty but also more nutrients than beans can provide, too, making it a worthy meatless meal.

Once you realize how easy it is to mix up a batch of warm amaranth crackers, you might not be able to go back to the box. You can make them sweet or savory, depending on your preference.