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AMARANTH
Amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus) is a close relative of pigweed-- a common weed in our garden. Pigweed is
also known as "wild spinach" and I've even thrown it in salad mix on occasion! You will mostly get Amaranth
in your salad mix, so you don't really need tips on how to prepare it. However, it can be cooked too and can be substituted for spinach
in just about any recipe. The nice thing about Amaranth is that it grows well in hot weather and the leaves do
not become bitter in the summer heat.
Amaranth is also grown as a grain, though it is not common in the US. It has very small, but nutritious seeds that can be ground into flour or eaten whole. Maybe someday I'll get into trying some seeds and grains! Amaranth contains small amounts of oxalic acid (like Sorrel) and should be avoided or eaten in moderation by people with kidney problems or gout. Also, like spinach, Amaranth contains some nitrates. Once it has been cooked, it should not be reheated (which can change the nitrates to nitrites) and fed to children because they are more sensitive to nitrate and nitrites. |