Holy Amaranth The healthy wheat of the Incas

At first glance, the small grains look like grain and are also prepared in the kitchen similarly. Amaranth, however, does not belong to the sweet grasses such as wheat, rye & Co., but to the fox tail plants. Therefore, he is also referred to as pseudo-grain. Already 3,000 years ago, the plant was cultivated in Central and South America. In the Incas, it was considered a holy grain and was one of the staple foods.
The "Inca wheat" has a fine nutty taste and can be prepared both spicy and sweet. The seeds are briefly boiled in double the amount of water. Then simmer over low heat for 25 to 30 minutes and leave to simmer. It is also easy to make popcorn from amaranth to refine muesli and yoghurt. To do this, heat a pan with the lid closed without grease. Put the grains on the hot ground and remove the pan from the heat. Stir a little and the seeds start to "pop".

Recommended for a gluten allergy: Amaranth. Image: HandmadePictures - fotolia

If you want to bake bread, rolls and biscuits, you should mix the amaranth flour in a ratio of 1: 2 with flour from wheat, spelled or rye. Because the pseudo cereal does not contain gluten, which gives the dough stability and flexibility. This property makes amaranth, however, also the ideal alternative for people with gluten intolerance (celiac disease).

Also in terms of ingredients, amaranth is interesting. It contains, among other things, iron (8 mg), magnesium (300 mg), potassium (484 mg per 100 g) and the essential amino acid lysine - an important component of collagen in connective tissue. Particularly valuable is the high-quality protein (14 g per 100 g). This makes the "Inca wheat" interesting for vegans, who must pay more attention to the protein intake.
Amaranth is often referred to as "superfood". "But individual foods can not work miracles if their ingredients are still so valuable," explains nutritionist Harald Seitz from aid infodienst. "However, the nutritious grains also bring variety to the diet, even if domestic cereal products are correspondingly less harmful to the environment because of shorter transport routes," said Seitz. Amaranth can be found in health food stores, drugstores and well-stocked supermarkets. Dry and protected from light, the seeds are stable for several months. (Heike Kreutz, aid)