5 IDEAL WAYS TO COOK WITH HEMP SEEDS

Often associated with marijuana and the free loving spirit of the 60s, the cannabis sativa plant is actually a varied beast. One strain of the cannabis sativa plant famed for its low content of tetrahydrocannabinol or THC (the element which gets you feeling squiffy) is hemp.

Once cultivated, the hemp plant – below 0.3% in dry weight – has many historic uses in society; used in clothing as a sustainable alternative to cotton, as a potential biofuel and even a replacement for paper. 

But what of the seeds themselves? Well, these can be deployed in many meals to add crunch, bite, nutrition and more. With that in mind, here are 5 IDEAL ways to cook with hemp seeds.

THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF CANNABIS SEEDS

But first, let’s look at the potential nutritional benefits of cannabis sativa and hemp seeds in your diet. From a health perspective, it’s prudent to seek out the hemp seeds which are raw, shelled and grown with no GMO or pesticides. Be mindful you shouldn’t attempt to plant or grow these seeds (illegal in the UK to do so) but rather use the seeds in your cooking.

Hemp seeds have plenty of nutritional benefits, composed of 32% carbohydrates, 80% fiber and 23% protein as well as lipids. These seeds also boast calcium, potassium, magnesium (improving the quality of sleep), zinc, phosphorus and vitamins A, D and E. They are particularly rich in linoleic acid, better known as omega 6, and alpha-linoleic acid, which is also called omega 3. Their balanced content of omega 3 and omega 6 can contribute to the strengthening of the immune system and helps to take care of the cardiovascular system.

What’s more, the present amino acid arginine can help dilate blood vessels and reduce hypertension to prevent heart disease. Cannabis sativa seeds are also an excellent source of plant-based protein. Anyway, if you’ve decided to get creative with them, we bet by now you’re wondering how to include these seeds in your diet? Well, here’s a start…

USE SEEDS AS A SALAD GARNISH

With their nutty flavor and crunch when toasted, cannabis sativa seeds can be added to many dishes for both textural intrigue and an agreeably, lingering aftertaste. Consider first toasting a handful in a dry pan over a medium heat until they give off a nutty aroma, then peppering over a simple salad at the last minute, to retain their crunch and vitality. Ideal, we think, as a replacement for sesame seeds in an East Asian inspired dish of zest and crunch.

SPRINKLE OVER YOUR MORNING YOGHURT & GRANOLA

Yep, we understand the connotations of a yoghurt, granola and hemp seed breakfast. It’s all a bit health food shop, hey? We assume that you’ll be heading for a morning chakra realigning session next. And that’s just fine by us. 

But should you want to add another layer of intrigue (and nutrition) to your daily breakfast, then a sprinkle of hemp seeds over your wake up bowl will do just that. Alternatively, you can simply use the seeds as a healthy office snack on their own throughout the day.

MAKE INTO A MILK

If you’re lactose intolerant, vegan, not a lover of dairy or just fancy changing things up, then here’s some good news for you; it’s easy to make hemp seed milk at home.

All you need is the seeds themselves – shelled ones allow for much greater convenience as you’re going to need a good quantity here and you’ll negate the need for straining – as well as some water and unrefined sugar (many prefer coconut sugar, honey or agave nectar for this) to taste as hemp seeds are nutty and a little bitter. After you’ve gathered your hemp milk ingredients, you blend until thoroughly mixed and milky.

Hey presto! You have hemp milk.

CANNABIS SEED OIL SALAD DRESSING

Cannabis sativa seed oil – different from cannabidiol oil (CBD) incidentally – contains omega 3 and omega 6 in a balanced way. This oil is rich in nutrients and has very little saturated fat. It reduces the formation of blood clots and helps in the recovery of good heart health after heart disease.

Accordingly, you can use cannabis sativa seed oil in a salad dressing as a replacement for your regular olive, rapeseed of whatever other oil you use. We wouldn’t, however, recommend frying with it; hemp seed oil has a low smoke point.

USE CANNABIS SEED POWDER AS A GLUTEN FREE FLOUR

Cannabis sativa seed powder even makes it possible to design gluten-free flour for all your baking needs. Fancy that? This cannabis flour or protein is obtained from the pulp residue, resulting from the pressing process of the seed giving the oil. You might want to buy this powder pre-processed, rather than buying the seeds and doing the work yourself, as it’s a fairly labour intensive process.

Good stuff indeed. Care to invite us round for tea once you’ve tried out our suggestions?