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Vlita Salad (Amaranth Greens) and How to Serve Them

Vlita Salad (Amaranth Greens) and How to Serve Them

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Vlita pr. VLEE-ta (in Greek βλίτα or βλήτα) is one of the varieties of “horta” or greens, which both leaves and tender shoots, are boiled and served as a salad, well known in Greek cuisine for its high nutritional value.

vlita greens image

Amaranthus blitum, var. silvestre, commonly called purple amaranth or Guernsey pigweed,  livid amaranth, slender amaranth (En.); amarante livide (Fr.); bledo (Sp.). is an annual plant species in economically important plant family Amaranthaceae.

Vlita with fish image

It is native to the Mediterranean region, but it has been naturalized in other parts of the world, including eastern North America.    Although weedy, it is eaten in many parts of the world.  

“Amaranth” derives from Greek ἀμάραντος (amárantos), “unfading”, with the Greek word for “flower”, ἄνθος (ánthos), factoring into the word’s development as amaranthAmarant is an archaic variant.

Vlita amaranth greens washed image

Vlita grow during summer and are characterized as weeds of other plantations.  They grow and multiply easily, so if we plant a few, we will have a crop each year.

Nutritional value of Vlita per 100 gr of cooked greens:

  • Calories: 28
  • Protein: 2 gr.
  • Carbohydrates: 4 gr.
  • Fat: 0 gr.
  • Fibre: 2 gr.

They are also a good source of :

  • Vitamin C, Vitamin Α, Vitamin B complet (Folate, Niain, Riboflavin an Pyridoxine.
  • Calcium, Iron, Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium, phosfphte, Zinc, copper & Manganese.

Here are some of the most important properties of Vlita (amaranth greens):

  • Vlita (amaranth greens) can improve the immune system.
  • These greens have strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
  • They can help regulate blood pressure, prevent osteoporosis and heart disease. They are an excellent dietary source of phytosterols, which reduce blood pressure and prevent heart disease and stroke.
  • Additionally, they are good food for those who want to maintain or reduce their weight, but also for those who have problems with constipation.
  • One of the main advantages of Vlita, is their ability to reduce LDL-bad cholesterol levels in the blood due to tocotrienol, a subgroup of vitamin E, as well as due to the fiber they contain.
  • They cover 90% of our daily needs in vitamin C and 73% of vitamin A, 57% of manganese and 19% of folic acid. It is also a source of calcium, iron, fiber, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium.
  • They are ideal for people with anemia because they are rich in iron. A portion of 132 grams of boiled greens provide 17% of the recommended daily intake of iron.
  • They contain lysine (an essential amino acid) which in combination with vitamin E, iron, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium and vitamin C, help fight the free radicals responsible for aging and malignant cells.
  • They are ideal for people which follow a gluten free diet. People who are gluten-intolerant or suffer from celiac disease can eat Vlita.   A portion of 132 g. boiled vlita provide 6% of the recommended daily intake of protein.
  • With 28 only calories per 100 gr. and a low glycemic index, they are ideal for those on a diet!
  • Some varieties are cultivated for their seeds and the flour produced makes a more nutritious alternative than regular flour.

References:

Wikipedia

Co-operators’ Guide

Translated into English from Iatrika Nea (Medical News) and MyDiatrofi (Nutrition).

washing vlita image

How to clean and cook vlita

  • Try buying vlita while they are still fresh and tender.  Discard any wilted or yellowish leaves.
  • Fill your sink basin or a very large bowl with water and add some vinegar, (about 1 tbsp for 1 litre of water and let the leafy greens soak for half an hour in the water.  (This is done in case there are bugs on the greens, which will float on top).
  • Remove them from the basin and discard the water.
  • Then rinse them twice.
  • As you are rinsing them, cut off the thicker stems, which cook 5 – 10 minutes before adding the leaves.  Woody stems, should be discarded.
  • For tender shoots and leaves, boil them in hot, salted water for 5 – 10 minutes (depending on how tender they are).
stems of vlita image
These stems are very tender but should be cooked ahead of the leaves.

How to serve Vlita

There are two ways this salad is served in Greece.

One is with extra virgin olive oil, vinegar, salt and pound garlic (called skordostoumpi – σκορδοστούμπι (crushed garlic), which is a garlicky vinaigrette dressing) and the other is with extra virgin olive oil, salt and lemon juice, called ladolemono.

Skordostoumpi:

  • 6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 2 pinhes of salt
  • Freshly grated pepper to taste (optional)
Directions:
  1. Put the garlic and two pinches of salt in a mortar and using the pestle pound it into a smooth paste.
  2. Transfer the paste into a shaker or a container with a lid, add the olive oil, vinegar and season with pepper.  Shake well until an emulsion is formed.

    (Alternatively, you call add all the ingredients in a food processor and mix until well blended).

Sea bream with vlita image
Sea bream with vlita

I usually prefer the second dressing on my salad in which I also add some oregano as well, which I love.

Mpifteki with Vlita and Mushroom sauce image
Mpifteki (Greek burger) with Vlita and Mushroom sauce

Vlita salad is usually served with grilled meat or fish but they are also delicious with many more dishes.

However, they also pair well with legumes.   You can use them as a spinach substitute during the hot and dry summer months.

Chickpeas and Vlita with Basil Pesto image
Chickpeas and Vlita with Basil Pesto

Personally, I’ve paired them with black-eyed peas, with chickpeas and with white beans.

Vlita with black-eyed peas image

I have cooked Vlita so many times, that I have made so many twists to this classic salad.

I have added some boiled potatoes and zucchini and served them with olive oil, lemon juice and some grated feta on top.

When we want to eat it as a main dish, I also like to add some nuts in the salad as well and we usually accompany it with some fresh marinated anchovies.

Vlita potatoes zucchini and feta salad image

I love adding zucchini to this salad as I find that the sweetness of zucchini balances the strong flavour of the greens. If the zucchini are fresh and still have flowers on them, if you don’t know what to do with them, you can boil them as well.

However, the flowers need just a couple of minutes cooking, so these are added just before the leaves are cooked.

Vlita zucchini graviera and walnuts image

My latest addition, is pairing them with my new Peppermint and Basil Pesto.

Pesto has garlic in it which pairs well with vlita and the aroma of Peppermit and Basil make them even more delicious!

Vlita with pesto image
Vlita with peppermint pesto image

Peppermint and Basil Pesto

Yield: 1
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

A lovely pesto with pepperment and Greek cheese (graviera)

Ingredients

  • 15 large basil leaves
  • 1 large clove garlic
  • 2 sprigs peppermint
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 1/4 cup graviera cheese
  • 1/4 cup walnuts
  • Salt and pepper

Instructions

  1. Put all the pesto ingredients, except the olive oil, in a food processor. Pulse until the ingredients are minced.
  2. Start adding the olive oil gradually. Stop to scrape down the sides of the food processor, if necessary.
  3. Continue adding olive oil until the mixture reaches the consistency of a thick sauce.
  4. Add cheese and mix.
Nutrition Information
Yield 1 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 789Total Fat 81gSaturated Fat 15gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 63gCholesterol 30mgSodium 502mgCarbohydrates 7gFiber 3gSugar 1gProtein 12g

"These values are automatically calculated and offered for guidance only. Their accuracy is not guaranteed."

Did you make this recipe?

Tried this recipe? Tag me @ivyliac and use the hashtag #kopiaste!

vlita with lemon image

Vlita Salad (Amaranth Greens) and How to Serve Them

Yield: 4
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

Vlita pr. VLEE-ta (in Greek βλήτα or βλίτα) is one of the varieties of "horta" or greens, which both leaves and tender shoots, are boiled and served as a salad, well known in Greek cuisine for its high nutritional value.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 kilo of vlita (Amaranth greens)
  • 1/2 kilo small zucchini
  • Zucchini Flowers (if any)
  • 2 litres of water
  • 1 tbsp salt

Instructions

  1. Clean the vegetables and remove any wilted leaves.
  2. In a large bowl or basin put water with vinegar (5 litres water to 4 tbsp wine vinegar) and let the leafy greens soak for about twenty minutes. Remove from the basin and discard the water (We do this so if there are insects on the greens, they will surface) Then rinse them twice 
  3. Cut off the thicker stems.
  4. Wash the zucchini and cut the two edges.
  5. Remove the backside of the zucchini flower as well as the stamen.
  6. Bring the water to a boil, add salt and cook the zucchini and the thick stems, first  After five minutes test with a fork to see if the zucchini can be pierced  Once the fork can penetrate, add the leafy greens and boil for 7-10 minutes (depending on how tender they are).
  7. Just before the end add the zucchini flowers and boil for 1 minute.
  8. Let them strain in colander and cool.
  9. Cut the leafy greens into smaller pieces as well as the zucchini.

Serving options:

Ladolemono Dressing: Extra Virgin Olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper and oregano (no mustard).

Skordostoumpi: Extra Virgin Olive oil, garlic, red wine vinegar, salt, pepper.

Peppermint and Basil Pesto (or other pesto of your choice): Instructions, similar to any other pesto.

Serve the salad, warm or cold with any of the above dressings.

Notes

Note: if you are on a diet to lose weight, add only one tbsp olive oil or pesto per portion.

Nutrition Information
Yield 4 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 27Total Fat 1gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 0mgSodium 1770mgCarbohydrates 5gFiber 2gSugar 3gProtein 2g

"These values are automatically calculated and offered for guidance only. Their accuracy is not guaranteed."

Did you make this recipe?

Tried this recipe? Tag me @ivyliac and use the hashtag #kopiaste!

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Collage vlita salad image

Kopiaste and Kali Orexi!

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My experience with Oxalates | ketOntrack

Monday 2nd of May 2022

[…] I did manage to have much more than my body could handle. I probably had a bowl of wild greens (xorta) most days in a week for a few weeks in a row. I was actually collecting them from my back […]

Angie

Monday 14th of August 2017

A very healthy and delicious meal, Ivy. My mom usually makes stirfries or soups with amaranth greens.

Ivy

Monday 14th of August 2017

Thanks Angie. I will have to try them in a stir fry!

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