Rough Pigweed (Amaranthus hybridus)

Family: Amaranthaceae | Edibility: Choice Edible (5/5)

The nutritious mildly flavoured leaves and young seedlings can be eaten raw or cooked and used as a spinach substitute. Seeds are used as a cereal substitute and used in porridges and bread. Other common Name: Smooth Pigweed, Green Amaranth; Slim Amaranth. Spanish: bledo; quelite. French: amarante hybride. Portuguese: caruru-de-folha-larga. Brazil: caruru-branco; caruru-roxo. Germany: Bastard - Amarant; Gruenaehriger. Japan: honagaaogeito.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Nuts/Seeds, Leaves

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer, Spring

Flavor & Culinary Uses

mild flavour. — Leaves and young seedlings - cooked as a spinach, added to soups etc or eaten raw.; The nutritious leaves have a mild flavour.; Seed - raw or cooked.; Used as a cereal substitute, the seed is usually ground into a flour for use in porridges, bread etc.

Habitat & North American Range

Of uncertain origin, it grows wild in cultivated fields and waste places. (Zone 5)