cooking with red amaranth- Frugal Friday
February 25, 2011 at 4:59 pm 34 comments
Red Amaranth is a delicious leafy vegetable that I had no idea what to do with. Lifting the lid of my Foodconnect box, sitting pretty up the top of the vegetables, I first wondered what it was and then what the devil I was going to do with it?
Plenty it seems. It’s used in Asian and South American cooking and can easily be used as a substitute for spinach or any other leafy greens.
*****
In a flat bottomed wok add,
diced garlic
sliced onion
vegetable oil
sesame seed oil
Cook it up for a few minutes and then add
amaranth leaves (any other leafy green vegetable you might have, spinach, silver beet…)
a slurp of kecap manis (Indonesian sweet soy sauce)
a slurp of fish sauce
stick a lid on it and let it wilt down. Team it up with a bowl of basmati rice.
In the flat bottomed wok, crack an egg. Cook it through, and pop it on top of the rice and amaranth (leafy greens).
Back to the wok, add a small handful of local nuts (sesame, pecans, peanuts, whatever you have in stock…).
Once toasted add to the top.
Entry filed under: frugal friday. Tags: cooking, easy, food, foodconnect, frugal, locavore, recipes, red amaranth, simple, stirfry, sydney, vegetarian.
1.
Kate | February 25, 2011 at 5:11 pm
oooo sounds interesting and looks delicious. I might have to check that one out. At the moment we’re a bit obsessed with bringing in ‘weeds’ from the paddock and asking Mr google what they are and what they are good for:eating or medicinal. Its fascinating what you discover when you look and ask.
2.
cityhippyfarmgirl | February 25, 2011 at 8:34 pm
It’s quite tasty Kate. Cooks up very similarly to English spinach.
I would love to know more about local eating and medicinal ‘weeds’.
3.
bagnidilucca | February 25, 2011 at 5:14 pm
I’ve never heard of it, but it looks great. I could eat it right now for breakfast. However, I don’t have any, so I will walk across to the bar and have a cappuccino and a sfoglia.
4.
cityhippyfarmgirl | February 25, 2011 at 8:36 pm
Debra, the sacrifices that you are forced to make sometimes…tough, really tough. Have a cornetto di crema and an expresso for me tomorrow.
5.
Jodie | February 25, 2011 at 5:34 pm
never heard of it, looks interesting though. What is the flavour like? (in its natural state)
6.
cityhippyfarmgirl | February 25, 2011 at 8:38 pm
If I said a generalised leafy greens flavour, would that be too vague? It’s really similar to spinach… I would definitely look forward to eating it again.
7.
Alisa Fleming | February 25, 2011 at 5:34 pm
I would definitely be puzzled by that green … er red? … too! I do love Asian greens though.
8.
cityhippyfarmgirl | February 25, 2011 at 8:39 pm
They are great aren’t they. So easy to cook with in my trusty wok.
9.
Anna Johnston | February 25, 2011 at 6:32 pm
I have heard of it, but I’ve never tasted it….. sounds & looks great in this dish too
10.
cityhippyfarmgirl | February 25, 2011 at 8:40 pm
I’d be interested to see how other people use it Anna.
11. Tweets that mention cooking with red amaranth- Frugal Friday « Cityhippyfarmgirl -- Topsy.com | February 25, 2011 at 7:49 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Eva Miranda and Cooking Sharp, Katlyn Ann Smith. Katlyn Ann Smith said: cooking with red amaranth- Frugal Friday « Cityhippyfarmgirl: It's used in Asian and South American cooking and … http://bit.ly/fhd85C [...]
12.
Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial | February 25, 2011 at 8:25 pm
Wow, I’ve never heard of that before! Thanks for the headsup Brydie!
13.
cityhippyfarmgirl | February 25, 2011 at 8:41 pm
I’m quite often surprised by something in the vege box. It’s all good, keeps me out of a cooking rut.
14.
Joanna @ Zeb Bakes | February 25, 2011 at 8:27 pm
I’ve seen this in salad leaf mixes for growing at home. Was it delicious? It looks very pretty
15.
cityhippyfarmgirl | February 25, 2011 at 8:42 pm
It was pretty with its two tone leaves.
16.
Rita | February 25, 2011 at 10:19 pm
Simple and easy. I thought at first you’d make a salad with red amaranth. I like the idea of cooking them. Mmmm… I’d like to grow some of them…
17.
cityhippyfarmgirl | February 25, 2011 at 10:25 pm
Rita I believe you can make a salad of the leaves…and growing, I think you should
18.
heidi | February 26, 2011 at 12:43 am
First – I’d like to say how much I like your “slurp” measure in your recipes, Brydie! I know how much a slurp is instinctively and enjoy seeing it incorporated in your personalized accounts!
Second- I love veg boxes- they are delicious, educational, and help to stretch one’s repertoire of cooking!
And lastly-YUM!
19.
cityhippyfarmgirl | February 26, 2011 at 5:05 pm
Heidi I totally agree about the vege box. You can’t really go wrong can you. I like the challenge of cooking with something I’m not used to cooking with.
(many a slurp, a dash and a good sprinkle to be had in this kitchen. Everyone’s taste buds are different so my recipes are only meant as a guide.)
20.
jennifer | February 26, 2011 at 3:56 am
I’ve never used it either, I thought it was a cereal! Is there a flower connected with the plant?
What a simple and delicious meal, peasant food at its best!
21.
cityhippyfarmgirl | February 26, 2011 at 5:08 pm
There could well be Jennifer. Apparently there are many types of amaranth cavorting about the globe. I’m sure there would be a flower or two popped in there somewhere.
Also a happy belly when peasant food is on the table.
22.
Christine | February 26, 2011 at 7:41 am
Yes..red amaranth. We saw some at my local veggie gardening group yesterday growing away happily in the host’s backyard. Much discussion took place on what was the best way to cook it..I do believe you have hit the nail on the head, dear Brydie!
23.
cityhippyfarmgirl | February 26, 2011 at 5:09 pm
Now that was timing
24.
Sonya | February 26, 2011 at 8:42 am
Thanks for that, we’ve got it growing here and your recipes are delicious.
25.
cityhippyfarmgirl | February 26, 2011 at 5:09 pm
Thanks Sonya! Is it easy to grow?
26.
Katie | February 26, 2011 at 3:34 pm
oh yum! I have heard of it too, but never really knew what to do with it either, so never grew it or bought it. mmm might be worth a try!
27.
cityhippyfarmgirl | February 26, 2011 at 5:11 pm
Let me know if you do end up cooking with it…Maybe an amaranth cook book is needed?
28.
bruisemouse | February 26, 2011 at 11:12 pm
Foodconnect looks really interesting. I bet you get some amazing produce through it. I really like the idea of ‘lucky dip’ style vege shopping.
Looking forward to hearing about the other amazing produce you get. ; )
29.
cityhippyfarmgirl | February 27, 2011 at 6:45 am
I’ve been really happy with the Foodconnect box since I’ve started getting it. The quality is great and it keeps me on my toes for cooking different things.
30.
drfugawe | February 27, 2011 at 1:07 am
Don’t know why, but as a gardener, I simply haven’t tried this veg yet – strange because I’m known for having weird things in my garden. I will take your advice and give it a try this summer. Did you know that allowed to grow to maturity and go to seed, that it produces a grain which has a rich 8000 year history in the foods of mankind?
A truly noble vegetable.
31.
cityhippyfarmgirl | February 27, 2011 at 6:47 am
I did read a little about the grain side of the plant Dr. A pretty remarkable plant I say! I’ll be interested to see how it grows for you.
32.
Johanna GGG | February 27, 2011 at 10:22 pm
never heard of red amaranth as a vegetable before, only amaranth grain – looks so pretty
33.
Kristi | March 6, 2011 at 7:19 pm
yum. yum. that photo seriously looks so good.
34. sweet potato leaves, it’s Frugal Friday « Cityhippyfarmgirl | March 25, 2011 at 6:20 am
[...] potato leaves have come up a few times in my Foodconnect box. At first (along with my red amaranth) I didn’t know what to do with it. A little playing though and another healthy leafy green [...]