Amaranth leaves (biteku teku) stew recipe

Amaranth leaves stew recipe is one of my favourite vegetable stew recipes. It is a leafy green and is normally grown in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean. It is known under different names throughout Africa (biteku-teku, efo tete, ndunda). Due to immigration, you can easily find this vegetable in an Asian or international market in America. The plant is considered to be a superfood due to its nutrients and the health benefits from its leaves and seeds. 

I grew up eating this vegetable as a stew mostly. My mom would put onions, green onions, tomatoes and a little bit of palm oil in it. I could eat just this stew by itself.

What do amaranth leaves taste like?

Amaranth is similar to spinach but with a deeper flavour. Unlike spinach, I cook the leaves with a small part of the stem. The leaves do not wilt as easily as spinach under hot water.

What are its health benefits?

Amaranth leaves are a superfood. They are packed with twice the amount of vitamin C as spinach. They are a good source of potassium, which can reduce the risk of strokes and improve brain function. It also contains magnesium, which helps reduce the risk of hypertension; and they are full of fiber and iron. They are also easier to digest than kale. So, if you are not a fan of kale, you should try amaranth leaves.

How can you eat amaranth leaves?

Amaranth leaves are versatile greens that can be eaten in soup, salad, stew or stir fry. Its seeds are also edible and can be cooked as hot cereal.

How do you make amaranth leaves stew?

This is a classic amaranth leaves stew recipe that does not need any improvement. You can add dry fish to it, which makes it even more delicious. I ran out of fish at the time when I was making this recipe. But it’s a good add-on to the recipe. I added a yellow habanero pepper and mint leaves to add another layer of flavour which brought this dish to another level. If you do not like spicy food, make sure to remove the habanero pepper before it pops. 

Here are the steps:

1. Chop thinly the amaranth from where the leaves start. Discard the big stem.

2. Wash the leaves thoroughly in a colander

3. First, put the leaves in a sauce pan. Keep in mind that they will wilt as they are cooking.

4. Add the water to the leaves and place it on medium high on the stove.

5. Add the onion, green onions, tomato, mint leaves, habanero pepper, palm oil, salt.

6. Do not stir at first.

7. After 5 min, mix everything well.

8. Let it boil for 20-25 min. 

9. The leaves should be tender and wilted. 

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