Healthy eating has always been a priority in my family. We learned this from our Nana, who instilled in us the importance of cooking with whole, nutritious ingredients. She always says that food should be both delicious and good for you, and that’s why she taught us how to make a variety of healthy and gluten-free foods, including delicious amaranth bread. 

Nana showed us that eating healthy doesn’t have to be boring or bland – it can be creative, satisfying, and full of flavor. And let me tell you, this amaranth bread recipe is a perfect example of that!

What is Amaranth and Why You Should Include it in Your Diet

Amaranth flour is an incredibly nutritious alternative to more traditional wheat-based flour, boasting a wealth of essential nutrients such as protein, fiber, iron, zinc, and magnesium. As someone who’s always looking for healthier alternatives to processed grains, I love using amaranth flour in my baking. It’s a great option for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity since it’s completely gluten-free. 

Plus, it contains more protein than other grains, which can help promote tissue growth and repair. And the best part? Amaranth flour contains fewer calories than other grains but still provides a substantial amount of fiber and minerals. 

So, whether you’re looking to improve your overall nutritional intake or seeking healthier alternatives to traditional grain products, amaranth flour is definitely worth considering!

How to Make your Own Amaranth Bread

Baking amaranth bread is quite similar to baking regular bread, but it’s more nutritious. You can make amaranth flour by milling the seeds of the amaranth plant into an ultra-fine powder. As a gluten-free flour, you can use it in a broad array of culinary uses, ranging from cakes to breads and other baked goods.

For making amaranth bread at home, here are some simple guides from my Nana, who loves the nutty flavor of this bread.

First, we blended together the amaranth flour with a combination of other gluten-free flour, adding some honey and salt for sweetness and flavor, as well as yeast to create a better texture. We left the dough to rise before finally baking it in the oven until it became a stunning golden brown color.

My Nana has always been a great source of advice when it comes to baking bread, and one of her key tips is to incorporate some nuts or seeds into the dough. Not only do these ingredients provide an additional crunchy texture, but they can also contribute to the nutritional value of your bread. Furthermore, she emphasized that it is very important to let the dough rise sufficiently and then check with a baking thermometer that the loaf is properly cooked through.

The result was a perfectly soft and tasty loaf of bread that is also healthy and satisfying to eat. With Nana’s help, I now have amaranth bread on my list of go-to gluten-free foods.

Tips for Baking Amaranth Flour

Amaranth flour is an alternative for making healthy breads at home. If you want to perfect baking with amaranth flour, here are some things I’ve learned from my Nana that you should consider.

Combine with Almond Flour

Amaranth flour, with its subtle nutty, and earthy tones, lends itself perfectly to baking. In particular, when combined with almond flour, it creates a unique flavor that is irresistible in cakes, muffins, and other baked goods. The combination of these two flours gives baked recipes an added depth of flavor that adds something special to the end result.

Add Leavening Agents

When using amaranth flour as the sole flour in a recipe, it is important to add extra leavening agents. This is due to the fact that amaranth flour has an extremely high capacity for absorbing liquid, which can lead to your recipe becoming overly dense and heavy if you use too much. Therefore, by adding additional leavening agents such as baking powder or soda, you will be able to ensure that your end result will have a lighter texture and not become excessively dense.

Substitute Wheat Flour

Try substituting amaranth flour for 25% of the wheat flour in your recipes, and combine it with other gluten-free flour to create a delicious end result. This will ensure that you get the best texture possible for all your homemade baked goods. Amaranth flour is an excellent addition to any gluten-free baking repertoire.

Toast Amaranth Grains

Try toasting amaranth grains over a dry heat source, such as on the stovetop or in the oven, to add a delightful nutty flavor and distinctive texture to your baked goods. This technique is especially effective when used in granola recipes, where it adds an extra layer of crunchy goodness.

It is important to ensure that your amaranth flour stays fresh and usable for as long as possible. To achieve this, it is best to store it in a dry, airtight container away from sources of heat and direct sunlight.

Other Tips for Baking Amaranth Bread

• Adding xanthan gum or psyllium husk powder to gluten-free bread recipes can help create a better structure and texture. These ingredients are often used as binding agents, helping the bread hold together more effectively. However, it is important to make sure that you use the recommended amount in your recipe, as too much can lead to an overly gummy consistency.
• It is important to be careful not to overmix the dough when making gluten-free bread, as it does not require the same level of kneading that wheat-based dough does. If you mix it too much, then your final product will likely be dense and heavy – a far cry from the light loaf you are striving for!
• To make sure that your bread is nicely baked, you should use a thermometer to measure the internal temperature. It’s essential to check the heat inside of your loaf, and the ideal temperature should be approximately 200-205°F. This will guarantee that your bread has been cooked properly and completely.

Making delicious amaranth bread can be surprisingly straightforward and enjoyable as long as you stick to the instructions in the recipe and heed a few of my grandmother’s tricks. With her guidance, you will be able to craft a satisfactory loaf that will tantalize your taste buds and fulfill your expectations.