How to Cook Amaranth - Amaranth Should Not Be Eaten With What
Amaranth Also known as "Xingcai", due to its high nutritional value, amaranth is also called "longevity vegetable" by people. Due to amaranth being suitable for summer consumption except cucumber,bitter gourd type vegetables, the common people also call it "sweat vegetable", indicating that it can be eaten when sweating in summer. Questions such as methods of preparing amaranth, benefits and effects of amaranth, whether pregnant women can eat amaranth, and what they should not eat with amaranth are topics that netizens pay the most attention to.
Methods of preparing amaranth
There are many ways to prepare amaranth, such as cold salad, quick stir-fry, or soups. Today, we recommend several unique methods of making amaranth for you. Compared to common household amaranth dishes, these methods will be more flavorful and enticing.
Purple Amaranth Juice Rice Noodles
Ingredients: Purple amaranth,rice flour, garlic paste , chili oil , vinegar
,
salt
. Method:1. Wash the purple amaranth, put it in a container and crush it, then filter and squeeze out the juice. 2. Use the purple amaranth juice to mix with wheat flour into dough, let it rest for half an hour;
place a bowl of clear water and wash the dough until the water becomes very red and thick; the remainingfermented dough
is light in color.3. Wash the thick juice several times with fine mesh to remove the residue.Then, pour the remaining liquid into a refrigerator to settle for more than 4 hours until water and starch separate. 4. Pour out the separated water, mix the starch evenly so that the slurry turns light pinkish.
Scoop some of the slurry into an oiled pizza pan, shake to spread it evenly.
5. Put the pizza pan in a pot with boiling water and cover; steam for about two minutes, then take out and cool under cold water.
6. When not hot enough to handle, remove the whole sheet of dough, lay flat on an oiled plate, and cut into strips as you like.7. Mix the amaranth noodles with condiments such as garlic paste, chili oil
,vinegar
,
salt
, and sesame oil to taste.
Amaranth
Pancake Ingredients: Amaranth, wheat flour, garlic paste, chopped green onion, vinegar, oil, salt Method:1. Clean the amaranth leaves and mix them with chopped green onion. 2. Mix the flour into the amaranth without adding water; only a little flour is needed.
3. Heat a
flat pan
, apply oil, heat to five-tenths hot when pouring in the mixed amaranth and flatten with a spatula. After the surface of the pancake turns color, flip it over and fry for another two minutes before removing from the pot and cooling under cold water.4. Crush garlic into paste, add vinegar and sesame oil to make sauce; dip the cooked amaranth pancakes in this sauce. Amaranth Benefits Amaranth is rich in nutrition with high value for consumption, called "longevity vegetable" by people. Studies show that in 100 grams of amaranth,
protein content is 1.8 grams, fat content is 0.3 grams, carbohydrate content is 5.4 grams, crude fiber content is 0.8 grams, ash content is 1.6 grams, lutein and zeaxanthin content is 1.95 milligrams, vitamin A equivalent content is 0.04 milligrams, beta-carotene content is 0.16 milligrams, nicotinic acid content is 1.1 milligrams. These nutrients absorbed by the human body after adequate intake have many health benefits. According to traditional Chinese medicine, amaranth is cooling in nature with a slightly sweet taste; regular consumption can detoxify and clear heat, remove dampness, stop diarrhea, relieve constipation, stop bleeding
, and alleviate summer heat. For those who are keen on weight loss, amaranth is also a good choice as it has laxative effects to prevent constipation. Some of the nutrients in amaranth can promote detoxification, so amaranth can be paired with other foods for weight-loss meals.
How to choose amaranth
Amaranth comes in three varieties based on leaf color: green amaranth, red amaranth, and colorful amaranth. Green amaranth has a firmer texture compared to the softer red and colorful amaranth; generally, green amaranth is more suitable for stir-frying while the colorful amaranth is tenderer with a smooth taste. Let's look at some tips for choosing amaranth:
1. Look at the leaves; fresh amaranth leaves are smaller and thinner. Wilted leaves are older.
2. Check the toughness; gently pinch the stem; fresh amaranth can be easily broken, while old amaranth cannot.
3. Examine the root; for fresh amaranth, roots with fewer and shorter tendrils are better. Long roots indicate older amaranth.
Can pregnant women eat amaranth
Amaranth is rich in various vitamins and minerals that are easily absorbed by the body, enhancing immunity and overall health. So can pregnant women eat amaranth?
To answer this question, let's first understand the nutritional value and benefits of amaranth! Firstly, amaranth contains a high amount of calcium which is well-absorbed by the body; it promotes bone growth and dental health. Some mineral components in amaranth help maintain normal heart muscle function and prevent muscle spasms. Additionally, it has calcium and vitamin K which promote blood clotting and hematopoiesis. For pregnant women, these benefits are significant. Therefore, pregnant women can eat amaranth.
Benefits of eating amaranth during pregnancy:
1. Promotes fetal bone development: The iron content in amaranth is twice that in spinach, while the calcium content is three times higher; amaranth contains more nutrients than fresh vegetables.2. Enhances maternal immunity during pregnancy: Amaranth contains protein, fat, carbohydrates, and various vitamins and minerals which provide essential nutrition for pregnant women to boost their immune system. 3. Prevents constipation during pregnancy: Eating amaranth can promote detoxification and prevent constipation.
Amaranth should not be eaten with
soft-shelled turtle
.
Experts explain that amaranth contains a large amount of N-methylcatechol, more potassium salts, and certain amounts of dihydroxyethylamine. When these substances meet with soft-shelled turtle meat, it can damage the stomach leading to digestive issues. Additionally, amaranth should not be eaten withhorseradish
. This combination may cause food poisoning. Tips:Amaranth is best paired with
eggsor pig liver to enhance immune function. Note: People with a yin excess and yang deficiency constitution, those with spleen deficiency leading to loose stools or chronic diarrhea should avoid eating amaranth. Additionally, it is particularly important to note that amaranth should not be eaten with wasabi, or it may cause food poisoning.
Warm reminder:
1. Amaranth is most suitable when paired with eggs or pig liver, as it enhances the body's immune function.
2. People with yin excess and yang deficiency constitution, spleen deficiency with loose stools, or chronic diarrhea should not consume amaranth.
