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.
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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.
cityhippyfarmgirl 
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.
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It’s quite tasty Kate. Cooks up very similarly to English spinach.
I would love to know more about local eating and medicinal ‘weeds’.
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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.
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Debra, the sacrifices that you are forced to make sometimes…tough, really tough. Have a cornetto di crema and an expresso for me tomorrow.
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never heard of it, looks interesting though. What is the flavour like? (in its natural state)
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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.
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I would definitely be puzzled by that green … er red? … too! I do love Asian greens though.
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They are great aren’t they. So easy to cook with in my trusty wok.
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I have heard of it, but I’ve never tasted it….. sounds & looks great in this dish too 🙂
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I’d be interested to see how other people use it Anna.
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Wow, I’ve never heard of that before! Thanks for the headsup Brydie!
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I’m quite often surprised by something in the vege box. It’s all good, keeps me out of a cooking rut.
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I’ve seen this in salad leaf mixes for growing at home. Was it delicious? It looks very pretty 🙂
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It was pretty with its two tone leaves.
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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… 😛
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Rita I believe you can make a salad of the leaves…and growing, I think you should 🙂
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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!
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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.)
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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!
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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.
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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!
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Now that was timing 🙂
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Thanks for that, we’ve got it growing here and your recipes are delicious.
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Thanks Sonya! Is it easy to grow?
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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!
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Let me know if you do end up cooking with it…Maybe an amaranth cook book is needed? 🙂
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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. ; )
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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.
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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.
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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.
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never heard of red amaranth as a vegetable before, only amaranth grain – looks so pretty
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yum. yum. that photo seriously looks so good.
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