Vega Community

share. learn. thrive!

It's Raining Amaranth

As suggested in the Thrive book, I attempted to "pop" amaranth in a hot air (popcorn) popper. It rained amaranth in my kitchen when every last grain blew out of the popper the second I poured it in. Has anyone had success doing this? Or, has anyone been successful doing it in a pan, also suggested in the book? Any other ways on how to use this grain would be appreciated. Thanks.

Tags: Amaranth, Popping

Views: 3198

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jeri Taira on April 10, 2010 at 2:26pm
I couldn't pop mine either. We were using the pan and it started popping out. So glad for all the suggestions. Your post made me laugh. Love it.
Permalink Reply by Jeri Taira on April 10, 2010 at 2:40pm
Thanks for replying as we know you are busy, but busy doing good. God bless.

Jeri - Oahu

Brendan Brazier said:
I’ve found that when amaranth is not as fresh, such as what’s from the bulk section, it can dry out. Once dry, there's no moisture in the center, therefore it can't expand when heated. And as such, won't pop. So, if you have older, dry amaranth, soak overnight and then try the frying pan method. Hope that helps!
Permalink Reply by Maria Erb on April 10, 2010 at 5:55pm
Are there any substitutes for popped amaranth? can you pop quinoa? I"m really eager to try the banana pancakes w/ the popped amaranth, but am really looking for something a lot easier than trying to pop it in a skillet cuz I know I'll burn it. thanks
Permalink Reply by Tobi on January 27, 2011 at 9:15am
I saw Brendan speak this week in FL and have been inspired to start using more of his recipes and living the Thrive lifestyle.  I tried popping amaranth yesterday with very little success. how big do the seeds pop? it seemed like some of them popped but they were still so small there is no way they could have been scooped out of the pan with a spatula as suggested in the book.  I almost burned the rest of the grains - I ended up adding the semi-popped kernels to my oatmeal this morning. I will try soaking and popping.
Permalink Reply by Caroline Foster on January 27, 2011 at 1:26pm
Mara, I don't have any experience with amaranth; it still sits in the container I bought it in and I haven't tackled that yet. But thank you for the giggle! :-) and I'll read your post to see what people are saying about it so it doesn't rain amaranth in MY kitchen LOL!
Permalink Reply by Mara Martinelli on January 27, 2011 at 2:59pm

Actually, I just saw a recipe that called for Amaranth and one other grain to make a crust.  It sounded really good.  If I can find it, I will post it.  (I'm still determined to use amaranth as a staple food, just like I do quinoa and millet.

Permalink Reply by Paula G on January 29, 2011 at 1:22pm
Permalink Reply by Louise on February 4, 2011 at 1:30pm
I too like many of you have had difficulty trying to get the amaranth popped.  I first tried it in the pan and it burnt instantly...then tried my popcorn maker and found that all the seeds fell down through the vents in the machine and burnt as well.  I had to throw out the popcorn maker.  I gave up on the popping amaranth until I was thrilled to find it in a health food store on 64th near Costco in Langley.  It is called Amaranth Puffs and the brand is GOGO QUINOA www.gogoquinoa.com.   Ask your local health food store if they can bring it in for you or try online.  It is worth it because the recipes calling for amaranth puffs are great.
Permalink Reply by Mara Martinelli on February 4, 2011 at 5:15pm
Awesome.  Thanks.  I will try to find it.

Louise said:
I too like many of you have had difficulty trying to get the amaranth popped.  I first tried it in the pan and it burnt instantly...then tried my popcorn maker and found that all the seeds fell down through the vents in the machine and burnt as well.  I had to throw out the popcorn maker.  I gave up on the popping amaranth until I was thrilled to find it in a health food store on 64th near Costco in Langley.  It is called Amaranth Puffs and the brand is GOGO QUINOA www.gogoquinoa.com.   Ask your local health food store if they can bring it in for you or try online.  It is worth it because the recipes calling for amaranth puffs are great.
Permalink Reply by Nicole on February 5, 2011 at 3:35am
I tried popping amaranth tonight in my hot air popper and it didn't work... found this forum and would like to try soaking as suggested, but how do you drain the water after soaking such small seeds??
Permalink Reply by Jaden Sempsrott on February 7, 2011 at 12:58pm

We tried as suggested in the Thrive book the first time and all we managed was to burn it. Last night my wife finally got the hang of it. We put very little in one of our steel frying pans with NO coconut oil. We found that the oil just made it stick in the pan and burn. Once it started to pop at all we removed the pan from the heat and palced a lid over it to contain the stuff- removing it from the heat seemed to allow all of it to pop and not burn. Dumped it out and put another spoonfull in. After the pan got to the right temp we were able to get it to pop without even placing it back on the burner for a few spoonfuls. A few piece flew out but we were able to get a cup of it fairly quickly once the pan was hot.

Permalink Reply by Stacey Meanwell on March 16, 2011 at 7:03am
I tried the pan method with and without oil, air popcorn popper and my electric popcorn popper all with equally lousy results.

▶ Reply to Discussion

RSS

© 2013   Created by Vega Kelly.

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service