Amaranth Recipes - Breakfast Porridge with Bluebery Compote (2024)

(updated May 3, 2023) // by Phoebe Lapine // 12 comments

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Earlier this fall I started doing some recipe development for Roland Foods. My mom and I have been longtime fans of their strong Dijon mustard – something that’s hard to find outside of France, and often leads to a suitcase full of jars every time one of us returns from Europe. Though I probably would accept payment in the form of hot, sinus-clearing mustard, they were plenty of other perks to the job. One of them was getting to play around with specialty grains I’ve never worked with before – things like Einkorn wheat, turanicum, and farro. Of course, I couldn’t really taste more than a small nibble of these gluteny things. So my favorite part of the project was the amaranth recipes.

I grew up eating a lot of quinoa and millet, but for whatever reason, amaranth didn’t quite get as much attention in my mom’s gluten-free pantry. It’s slightly smaller and finer than its other seedy step sisters, which makes for a nice crunchy coating for chicken or fish, without having to grind it into flour. This was one of the recipes I experimented with. But the more popular use for amaranth is as a porridge, either savory or sweet.

I’ve never been much of a warm breakfast cereal person. But my dad is the oatmeal king. It’s one of the two things he’ll make for himself (the other is a smoothie). And he takes endless pride in his fruit and oat combinations. I’ve often woken up to my house guest or boyfriend being force-fed dad’s fiber-rich oatmeal at the dining room table. My mom and I have never been the most consensual oatmeal eaters (even pre-gluten free), so a captive audience for his breakfast creations is something to be seized with gusto.

Breakfast is of course a relative term when you suffer from insomnia and Ambien eating. My dad’s oatmeal is usually prepared anywhere between the hours of 2 and 10am. And it’s a sure sign of a bad night’s sleep when I wake up at 7am and see a dirty oatmeal pot in the sink, though it’s better than finding an entire box of my gluten-free cookies laying empty on the counter.

For someone who doesn’t like breakfast porridge, I’ve sure made a lot of it over the last few months. My blueberry oatmeal is a favorite of my weekly client. And in addition to this amaranth breakfast porridge, I also developed 10 oatmeal recipes for Food & Wine’s website this fall. My mom certainly takes the gluten-free cake when it comes to most of my recipe inspiration, especially at breakfast. But whenever I’m standing alone over the stove, watching my oatmeal slowly simmer away in milk, I always think of my dad.

It’s his 65th birthday tomorrow and we’ll be celebrating many years of life, love, and 4am oatmeal. Perhaps as a gift this year, I’ll agree to one day letting him feed me some.

xo
Phoebe

Amaranth Breakfast Porridge with Blueberry Compote

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 2

Author Phoebe Lapine

Ingredients

  • 10 ounces fresh or frozen blueberries about 2 cups
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 cup amaranth
  • 2 cups milk
  • Pinch salt
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • ¼ cup finely chopped toasted walnuts

Instructions

  • In a small saucepan, combine the blueberries, sugar, zest and two tablespoons water. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the blueberry skins have popped and the mixture has reduced slightly, about 10 minutes.

  • Meanwhile, combine the amaranth and milk in a medium lidded saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, covered, until the grains are tender and thick, about 15 minutes. Stir in the maple syrup.

  • Serve the amaranth pudding in bowls and top with the blueberry compote and walnuts.

Nutrition

Serving: 2g

Amaranth Recipes - Breakfast Porridge with Bluebery Compote (8)If you make this, tag @phoebelapine and #feedmephoebe - I'd love to see it!

Amaranth Recipes - Breakfast Porridge with Bluebery Compote (9)

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Comments

  1. Amaranth Recipes - Breakfast Porridge with Bluebery Compote (10)Liz @ Virtually Homemade says

    This looks so yummy and healthy! I’ve never cooked with amaranth but definitely want to give it a try.

    Reply

  2. Amaranth Recipes - Breakfast Porridge with Bluebery Compote (11)amanda says

    ohhhh this looks really good. i’ve been experimenting some with other grains and it really is so fun to discover how delicious so many of them are!

    Reply

  3. Amaranth Recipes - Breakfast Porridge with Bluebery Compote (12)Jeanette | Jeanette's Healthy Living says

    This is definitely comfort breakfast in a bowl Phoebe – love that blueberry compote!

    Reply

  4. Amaranth Recipes - Breakfast Porridge with Bluebery Compote (13)Frankie says

    Amaranth is good for cookies too!

    Reply

    • Amaranth Recipes - Breakfast Porridge with Bluebery Compote (14)Phoebe Lapine says

      recipe?

      Reply

  5. Amaranth Recipes - Breakfast Porridge with Bluebery Compote (15)Jake Steijn says

    I like the compote, useful so many ways beyond this recipe!

    Reply

    • Amaranth Recipes - Breakfast Porridge with Bluebery Compote (16)Phoebe Lapine says

      Definitely! Also great on French Toast 🙂

      Reply

  6. Amaranth Recipes - Breakfast Porridge with Bluebery Compote (17)Adelina says

    Amaranth Recipes - Breakfast Porridge with Bluebery Compote (18)
    Hi there! I was really exited when I found this recipe, since I really wanted to try out new grain. I was following your recipe exactly but after simmering for 40 min it seemed not to be cooked ( I had to add extra milk as well) Does maybe amaranth needs to be soaked before cooking?

    Reply

Amaranth Recipes - Breakfast Porridge with Bluebery Compote (2024)

FAQs

Is porridge with blueberries healthy? ›

Blueberries, walnuts and sunflower seeds

These look pretty on top of your porridge, but even better, an 80g portion of blueberries counts as one of your 5-a-day and the walnuts and sunflower seeds provide unsaturated fats as well as fibre and vitamins.

Is it necessary to soak amaranth before cooking? ›

Soaking: If you have the time, consider soaking the amaranth overnight before cooking. "Soaking the grains makes their nutrients easier to digest and shortens the cooking time," says Ziata. Simply combine amaranth and water in a large bowl, completely submerging the grains.

Can you eat amaranth as a cereal? ›

If you mix in anywhere from a half cup to one cup of soy milk, the amaranth takes on the consistency of cream of wheat. And it's delicious. The flavor is nutty and earthy and the texture is a bit more interesting than oatmeal. Here's a very simple method for cooking amaranth and turning it into cereal.

How do you make amaranth more digestible? ›

As in many other plant-based food products, applying heat treatment to the amaranth grains seems to provide an overall improvement in digestibility of the nutrients they contain (Kauffman and Weber, 1990, Tovar et al., 1994).

Which is healthier, oatmeal or porridge? ›

Now that you better understand the difference between porridge and oatmeal, you can decide which dish best suits your lifestyle. Though porridge may offer a wider variety of flavor options, oatmeal is loaded with nutritious and filling ingredients that make it an excellent morning meal.

Is amaranth better than oatmeal? ›

Amaranth is an ancient grain with a slightly sweet, nutty taste that works well in place of oatmeal. In addition to being gluten-free, amaranth is a good source of several key nutrients, including protein, fiber, iron, and manganese ( 1 ).

How to tell if amaranth is rancid? ›

If it isn't moldy, check to see if there is any odor coming from the amaranth. If it doesn't fall under either of those conditions, the taste can be off. It should be sweet and nutty. If it isn't, it may be rancid.

Why does my amaranth taste bitter? ›

Saponins. Saponins are extremely bitter in taste. Similarly to phytic acid, they can form complexes with proteins or minerals, such as zinc and iron, to inhibit absorption into the body. Since they are only present in small quantities in amaranth, they are characterised as low toxicity and don't pose any danger.

Can you eat amaranth every day? ›

Also known as Rajgira or Chaulai, the leaves and seeds of this amazing plant are storehouse of protein, fibre and a variety of micronutrients. Those aiming to lose weight or keep their blood sugar levels in control can include amaranth in their daily diet.

Is amaranth healthier than quinoa? ›

While quinoa has proteins as good as 8 grams per cup, amaranth has 9 grams per cup. Amaranth has double the protein than rice or wheat, Makhija added. Quinoa has 3 grams of iron per cup and amaranth has 5 grams of iron in the same quantity which makes it a richer food, she points out.

What is the best way to eat amaranth grain? ›

If you're curious about how to cook amaranth, you'll be pleased to know that it makes for a delicious hot cereal or polenta! You can also use it to add a lovely texture to baked goods or homemade granola. With an earthy, nutty flavor, amaranth is perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner and every snack in between.

Is amaranth a laxative? ›

Amaranth contains both soluble and insoluble fiber. Fiber plays an important role in digestion. It can help relieve diarrhea and constipation by ensuring a person has a consistent stool texture. Additionally, it helps the body manage blood sugar , so it is especially important for people living with diabetes.

Does amaranth give you gas? ›

The introduction of seed grains like quinoa, amaranth and millet can also cause bloating if these are new to their diet or the person's digestive health has been compromised and the proper enzymes and digestive factors are not being produced to break these down properly.

Is amaranth anti-inflammatory? ›

Amaranth has many micronutrients and anti-inflammatory properties. It may help lower cholesterol, aid weight loss, and is gluten-free.

Is it healthy to eat oatmeal and blueberries every day? ›

One of the simplest and tastiest ways to enjoy blueberries is by sprinkling them over your morning cereal, oatmeal or yogurt. Their natural sweetness complements these breakfast staples perfectly while delivering a healthy dose of antioxidants and essential nutrients.

Is porridge with fruit healthy? ›

Adding fruit to porridge really livens it up – and contributes to your 5 A Day. Per serving: 1,439kJ / 344kcal. 17g protein.

How many calories are in a bowl of porridge with blueberries? ›

Specifications
Nutrition Per 100g450kcal/Single Serving
Energy (kcal)474450
Fat (g)20.0g19.0g
Of which saturates (g)9.2g8.7g
Of which transfat (g)0.3g0.3g
7 more rows

Is porridge banana and blueberries a healthy breakfast? ›

This banana porridge with blueberry compote is an extremely nutritious breakfast due to the healthy oats, nutritious milk, and the fact that each serving contains two portions of your five a day. It is quick and easy to make (because I hate cooking in the mornings) and will keep you full until lunchtime!

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