I stumbled upon Amaranth a few months ago after eating a frozen dinner with the ingredient labeled on the container and I was interested in learning more. After researching, I learned that Amaranth is pretty much the coolest super grain ever! Read more to find out why…
According to the Whole Grains Council, Amaranth was first used by the Aztecs between 6,000 and 8,000 years ago. Amaranth is high in iron and potassium, is naturally gluten-free, and is considered a protein powerhouse at about 13-14% (slightly more protein than the popular Quinoa)!
I love all of those health benefits, but the coolest thing about Amaranth is you can pop it like popcorn! I experimented with popping this superfood grain a few months ago when I made these Popped Amaranth Protein Balls.
I must admit I burnt my first two batches, but I finally figured out a few tricks to popping
Amaranth:
This is a recipe for a simple, traditional Caesar salad with a few small twists. Parmesan crisps are simply Parmesan melted in the oven until crispy. They are often found in salads or accompanying soups, and by adding popped Amaranth in these crisps, you add a fun texture and of course all of the health benefits Amaranth has to offer.
The Salad Herb Blend by Litehouse adds delicious flavor in an instant! As a busy mom, I am not going to be popping these tiny super grains weekly. You can actually store popped Amaranth in a sealed jar in the fridge for a few months, which makes tossing popped Amaranth in any salad super easy. Amaranth is something you can keep on hand and add to cereals, soups or salads. How cool is this ancient grain? Have you heard of Amaranth before? Let us know if you try popping it!