Rhubarb Apple Amaranth Porridge

Mix up your morning routine with this seasonal, stewed Rhubarb, Apple and Amaranth Porridge cooked with ginger, vanilla and coconut. Naturally gluten free, high protein and delicious with a wee drizzle of pure maple syrup.

I’m sharing another nutritious breakfast option today, to add some variety to your morning. I find that I need to be really mindful of including a wide range of foods in my diet, otherwise it gets a bit same-same every day. Mixing things up enables you to get a good balance of nutrients. But it also helps prevent the development of food sensitivities, which can occur due to an overexposure of a particular food.

Cue our lovely Rhubarb, Apple and Amaranth Porridge.

[bctt tweet="Stewed Rhubarb, Apple + Amaranth Porridge: gluten free, protein & iron rich. Find it here!" username="laurenglucina"]

Amaranth is a funny thing, despite it being so teeny tiny, once cooked, it is perhaps the most dense of all grains. When making a savoury dish, I often combine it with other whole grains, however, as a porridge, the addition of stewed fruit and coconut milk seems to work. It’s incredibly satisfying, and packed full of nutrients.

Per half a cup of uncooked amaranth, we have;

• As much protein as two eggs (about 13g) – and, being a complete protein, we have all 9 essential amino acids. It is particularly rich in the amino acid lysine, which is uncommon for grains. Lysine has anti-viral properties so may be helpful as a preventative for herpes. It also increases the intestinal absorption of calcium [1]
• Over 25% (6.5g) the recommended daily intake (RDI) of fibre for adult women (25g)
• Over a third (2.75mg) of the RDI of zinc for adult women (8mg)
• A huge 40% (7.35mg) of the RDI of iron for adult women (18mg), making it a great blood builder
• About 75% of the RDI of magnesium for adult women
• About 15% (154mg) of an adult woman’s daily calcium needs (1,000mg)
• Good amounts of B group vitamins (particularly B₆, though excluding B₁₂)

[2,3,4]

(Sorry lads! I know there are more women readers here – but your RDI’s can be found here).

Remember that these amounts don’t accurately reflect the amount bioavailable to us – as cooking will reduce some of the heat sensitive vitamins (such as our B’s), and phytocompounds (chemical compounds produced by plants) found on the outer of the seed may inhibit mineral absorption (such as phytic acid, but also phenols which despite this exert some great anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties)[5].

I prefer to use amaranth as a whole grain, as the milled flour can have a slightly grassy note to it. The leaves are also great in a salad or smoothie. Mum has them in the garden from time to time.

From an energetic perspective, amaranth is slightly bitter yet sweet, light and dry. The dryness is valuable in damp conditions or for damp constitutions (in Ayurveda, this would be a Kapha dosha, or someone who perhaps tends towards producing a lot of secretions such as phlegm, someone who perspires easily, feels clammy, retains fluid, is prone to swollen glands, and tends to have pale, cool, moist skin).

I hope you get to give this a whirl – there is so much extra goodness to be had just by adding in some more variety!

More fabulous plant-based breakfasts

• Coconut Quinoa Porridge
• The Perfect Vegan Bircher
• Tofu Scramble (best version of this dish IMO - so good!)
• Chocolate Grain-free Granola

📖Recipe

Amaranth Porridge

Naturopath Lauren Glucina

A naturally gluten free, amaranth porridge with stewed rhubarb and apple. Great source of plant protein and delicious with a drizzle of maple.

5 from 4 votes

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Prep Time 2 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 22 minutes mins

Course Breakfast

Cuisine Vegan, Vegetarian

Servings 1

Calories 477 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2-4 stalks rhubarb
• 1 small apple
• 1 cup water
• ½ cup amaranth
• ½ cup coconut milk I use canned, full fat, organic
• 1 teaspoon ginger powder
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

TO SERVE:

• Drizzle of 100% pure maple syrup
• Dollop of coconut yoghurt
• Crushed freeze dried raspberries for a bit of colour

Instructions

 

• Wash and roughly chop the rhubarb, peel and cut the apple into slices. Add to a pot with the vanilla, ginger and water, cover, boil, reduce to a simmer and cook for five minutes.
• Rinse the amaranth under running water then add to the pot with coconut milk, cook for another 10-15 minutes until done.
• Serve with a dollop of coconut yoghurt and a drizzle of pure maple syrup.
• Enjoy!

Notes

• Nutrition panel is an estimate only, and is for one serving size.

Nutrition

Calories: 477kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 7gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 22gSodium: 30mgFiber: 8gSugar: 13gCalcium: 180mgIron: 6.3mg

Keyword Amaranth porridge

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References:

1. Osiecki, H. (2010). The nutrient bible (9^th). QLD, Australia: Bio Concepts Publishing

2. USDA NATIONAL NUTRIENT DATABASE. (2016). Full Report (all nutrients):  20001, Amaranth grain, uncooked

3. Self NutritionData. (2014). Amaranth, uncooked nutrition facts & calories

4. NUTRIENT REFERENCE VALUES FOR AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND. (2014). Nutrients

5. Tang, Y., & Tsao, R. (2017). Phytochemicals in quinoa and amaranth grains and their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and potential health beneficial effects: a review. Mol Nutr Food Res.