The Serendipitous Chef calls it "Popcorn of the Gods". Experiment with popped amaranth, like tiny popcorn. It's much lighter than oats for an energy bar. Here, the amaranth is bound together with honey and dried fruits. Discovered at the Santa Fe Farmer's Market, Keegan Crumpacker Catering, New Mexico.
History of Amaranth from Wikipedia:
Amaranth grain was one of the staple foodstuffs of the Incas, and it is known as kiwicha in the Andes today. It was also used by the ancient Aztecs, who called it huautli, and other Native America peoples in Mexico to prepare ritual drinks and foods. To this day, amaranth grains are toasted much like popcorn and mixed with honey or molasses to make a treat called alegrÃa (literally "joy" in Spanish).
Amaranth was used in several Aztec ceremonies, where images of their gods (notably Huitzilopochtli) were made with amaranth mixed with honey. The images were cut to be eaten by the people. This looked like the Christian communion to the Roman Catholic priests, so the cultivation of the grain was forbidden for centuries.
Ayurveda Notes (help)
Dried energy bars provoke vata unless each bite is chased with a sip of water. Dense dried fruits must be chewed well for delicate vata digestions. Otherwise, a healthy, compact, light snack.
Dosha: Vata+ Pitta- Kapha-
Quality: Dry
Taste: Sweet
Recipe - (Help with Cooking)
Have fun and contact us to learn how to pop amaranth!
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