Sorghum Bowl With Black Beans, Amaranth and Avocado Recipe (2024)

By Martha Rose Shulman

Sorghum Bowl With Black Beans, Amaranth and Avocado Recipe (1)

Total Time
7 hours 30 minutes
Rating
4(32)
Notes
Read community notes

Sorghum reminds me of Israeli couscous, spherical and about the same size. Like Israeli couscous, it’s good with brothy stews. I love the way the firm, round grains stand up against the soft, brothy beans in this bean and amaranth stew. You can find amaranth at many farmers’ markets and Asian markets. The beautiful purple and green leaves are high in anthocyanins, known for their antioxidant properties, as are black beans. Substitute baby spinach if you can’t find it.

Featured in: New Ways to Use ‘Ancient’ Grains

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Ingredients

Yield:6 servings

  • 1pound (2⅛ cups) black beans
  • 1tablespoons grapeseed or canola oil
  • 1medium onion, chopped
  • 2 to 4garlic cloves, to taste, minced
  • 2 or 3epazote sprigs, if available
  • ¼cup chopped cilantro, plus sprigs for garnish
  • Salt to taste
  • 1cup sorghum
  • 1generous bunch amaranth, stemmed and coarsely chopped (an 8-ounce bunch, 6 cups chopped)
  • 1large ripe Hass avocado, sliced or diced
  • Crumbled queso blanco or feta for garnish (optional)

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)

1163 calories; 23 grams fat; 4 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 8 grams monounsaturated fat; 8 grams polyunsaturated fat; 201 grams carbohydrates; 29 grams dietary fiber; 7 grams sugars; 47 grams protein; 833 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Sorghum Bowl With Black Beans, Amaranth and Avocado Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Rinse the black beans, pick them over for stones, and place them in a bowl. Cover with 2 quarts water and soak for 4 hours or longer. Do not drain.

  2. Step

    2

    Heat the oil over medium heat in a large, heavy soup pot or Dutch oven and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until it is tender, about 5 minutes, and add half the garlic. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute, and add the beans and soaking water. They should be covered by at least an inch of water, preferably 2 inches. Add more water as necessary, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, and skim off any foam that rises. Add the epazote and/or half the cilantro. Cover and simmer 1 hour.

  3. Step

    3

    Add salt to taste (2 to 3 teaspoons), the remaining garlic and remaining cilantro. Continue to simmer another hour, until the beans are quite soft and the broth is thick and fragrant. Taste and adjust salt.

  4. Step

    4

    While the beans are simmering, cook the sorghum. Rinse and combine with 3 cups water in a saucepan. Add salt to taste (I use ½ to ¾ teaspoon) and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer 50 minutes, until the grains are tender. Pour off any liquid remaining in the pot (save for stocks if desired) and return the grains to the pot. Cover until ready to use.

  5. Step

    5

    When the beans are ready, stir in the amaranth leaves and simmer for 10 minutes, until the leaves are tender.

  6. Step

    6

    Divide the sorghum among 6 wide or deep bowls. Top with black beans and amaranth. Garnish with sliced or diced avocado and chopped cilantro. If you want some spice, add a little salsa or minced green chili. Sprinkle feta or queso blanco over the top and serve.

Tip

  • Advance preparation: Both the cooked beans and the cooked sorghum will keep for 3 days in the refrigerator and will freeze well.

Ratings

4

out of 5

32

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Cooking Notes

Scott

Are you supposed to leave the lid off for the second hour of simmering? The instructions didn’t say to remove it so I didn't think to do so; mine came out watery. Maybe some of the water was meant to evaporate?Also, that's a LOT of salt! 3 teaspoons of salt for the beans divided by 6 servings is almost 1200 mg of sodium per serving! Factoring in the up to 3/4 tsp more for the sorghum, that's almost 1500 mg.

Scott

Are you supposed to leave the lid off for the second hour of simmering? The instructions didn’t say to remove it so I didn't think to do so; mine came out watery. Maybe some of the water was meant to evaporate?Also, that's a LOT of salt! 3 teaspoons of salt for the beans divided by 6 servings is almost 1200 mg of sodium per serving! Factoring in the up to 3/4 tsp more for the sorghum, that's almost 1500 mg.

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Sorghum Bowl With Black Beans, Amaranth and Avocado Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is amaranth the same as sorghum? ›

While sorghum flour is made from grinding the whole grain of the sorghum plant, amaranth flour is derived from the seeds of the amaranth plant. Both flours have been used for centuries in various culinary traditions around the world. Sorghum flour is known for its mild, slightly sweet flavor and fine texture.

How do you prepare and eat sorghum? ›

Place rinsed sorghum, 3 cups water and salt into a slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours. Cooking on low is not recommended. Drain excess water and serve.

Is sorghum vegan? ›

Sorghum is naturally vegan, as it is a cereal grain that does not involve any animal products or by-products in its cultivation or processing.

What is the healthiest grain to eat? ›

Healthy Grains and How to Enjoy Them
  • Brown Rice. 1/17. In the world of whole grains, you can argue this is the original star. ...
  • Sorghum. 2/17. Many cultures enjoy this ancient cereal grain. ...
  • Buckwheat. 3/17. It isn't a grain or a wheat. ...
  • Barley. 4/17. ...
  • Oats. 5/17. ...
  • Millet. 6/17. ...
  • Quinoa. 7/17. ...
  • Bulgur. 8/17.
Sep 29, 2023

What is the English name for amaranth? ›

Amaranthus is a cosmopolitan group of more than 50 species which make up the genus of annual or short-lived perennial plants collectively known as amaranths. Some of the more well known names include "prostrate pigweed" and "love lies bleeding".

Is it safe to eat sorghum everyday? ›

The USDA recognizes sorghum as 100% gluten-free, meaning it's safe for people with Celiac's Disease and gluten intolerance to eat on a regular basis. Both sorghum flour and whole-grain sorghum are great substitutes for wheat-based recipes.

What does sorghum give to the body? ›

It's rich in vitamins and minerals like B vitamins, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc. It's also an excellent source of fiber, antioxidants, and protein. What's more, it's easy to replace rice or quinoa with whole sorghum in most recipes.

Can I eat sorghum like oatmeal? ›

Instead of a bowl of steel cut oats, you can hunker down to a bowl of freshly cooked whole grain sorghum, which is rich in protein, fiber, and other nutrients that help stave off hunger. You can even cook it in a slow cooker for overnight porridge!

What animal eats sorghum? ›

Sorghum is utilized in the beef, swine, dairy and poultry industries. Sorghum grain, stalks and leaves can be utilized in various feed ingredients. Sorghum is the smart choice for animal agriculture for numerous reasons.

Is sorghum gut friendly? ›

Analyzing fermentation profiles across diverse human microbiomes, they discovered that grain from parental lines of sorghum stimulate growth of many species of gut microbes that are known to be beneficial to our health whereas grain from waxy derivatives lacks this capacity.

Who eats sorghum? ›

Today, sorghum is the fifth most important cereal crop in the world. In Africa and parts of Asia, sorghum grain is primarily a human food . Nigeria, Sudan, Ethiopia and Burkina Faso account for nearly 70 percent of the sorghum grown in Africa.

What is another name for amaranth? ›

There are hundreds of names for the many species of amaranth. Some you may encounter: African spinach, Chinese spinach, Indian spinach, bush greens, callaloo, Joseph's coat, yin choi and love-lies-bleeding (among many, many others).

What is the common name for sorghum? ›

Sorghum bicolor, commonly called sorghum (/ˈsɔːrɡəm/) and also known as great millet, broomcorn, guinea corn, durra, imphee, jowar, or milo, is a species in the grass genus Sorghum cultivated for its grain. The grain is used for food for humans; the plant is used for animal feed and ethanol production.

What grain is sorghum similar to? ›

Types of Sorghum

It can be eaten similar to rice or porridge, added to baked goods, and even popped like popcorn. Whole grain. The unprocessed grain is hearty and chewy and can be cooked like rice or quinoa.

What grain is similar to amaranth? ›

The overall best substitute for amaranth flour is quinoa flour. Why? It has a similar flavor-though quinoa is a little stronger in taste – a similar nutritional profile, and you can swap it 1:1.

References

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