A dietary staple of the Aztec empire, this ancient crop was 'lost' for hundreds of years, and only since the Sixties, following its rediscovery, has it been grown in the U.S. Amaranth, which has a pronounced earthy sweetness, is not a true grain, which is a nutritional plus: Unlike wheat or barley, amaranth is not deficient in the essential amino acid lysine. These tiny seeds of a weed-like plant are also a very rich source of iron, and supply copper and magnesium. And amaranth is well supplied with dietary fiber. Info from ; recipe from Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone by Deborah Madison.