Amaranth considered a weed is a valuable source of nutrition. While the Aesop’s fables and poets write about thebeauty and value of Amaranth flowers and seeds, the devotees of Krishna do not use grains or beans on Ekadasi days. They use Amaranth, buckwheat, quinoa etc on Ekadasi fasting days, to prepare rotis, puris, halava etc.
I tried making cookies from this flour on the recent Kamika Ekadasi. The devotees who tasted this appreciated the crisp coconutty taste. Since some asked for the recipe, here it is.
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup dessicated coconut powder or shreds
1 1/2 cups Amaranth flour
I used 3/4 cup Amaranth flour and 3/4 cup potato starch
2 teaspoons of yogurt
1 teaspoon cinnamon powder- optional.
Cream together the butter and sugar, till fluffy. Add the remaining ingredients. Pre -heat the oven to 350 deg farenheit. Roll out the dough into small balls, flatten and place on a cookie sheet. Bake till the edges begin to brown.
Chappan Bhog 