Philadelphia, PA - "Cooking with cannabis is a relatively new entrant into the culinary world, but it has undoubtedly become one of the highlights (pun intended) of the marijuana industry. If you grow CBD cannabis seeds or have some extra nugs lying around, why not throw a five-course, gourmet, infused dinner party? Read on for five marijuana dishes that’ll tantalize your taste buds and impress your guests. You’ll also learn some expert tips to chef it up with weed. You can find more information about weed here."
Foundations of Infusions
By now, you’ve likely heard of the benefits of adding CBD to your diet. You cook marijuana dishes like any other meal, but the special ingredient is usually an infused high-fat product.
The cannabinoids tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are lipophilic. Greasy foods like butter are perfect for pulling their full potency because they need fat to extract.
Before cooking with weed, you need to make an infused ingredient. Butter and oil are two popular options because almost every recipe requires one. To make them, you must decarboxylate your marijuana by baking it at 245ºF for 30–40 minutes.
Here are two easy recipes that form the foundations for a plethora of cannabis recipes:
Cannabutter
Cannabutter is easy, and it blends well with the flavor of marijuana. It’s rich, delicious, and versatile. You can spread it on toast, cook with it, and even create baked cannabis food recipes. Here’s how to make it:
Equipment
- Weed grinder
- Strainer or cheesecloth
- Storage container for cannabutter
Ingredients
- 1 cup of water
- 1 cup of ground decarboxylated cannabis
- 1 cup of butter
Method
- Grind the decarbed buds into fine pieces.
- Melt the butter and add in the water.
- Add the cannabis to the pot and simmer at 160–200ºF for 2–3 hours.
- Strain it into the container and allow it to cool.
- Refrigerate the mixture.
Infused Olive Oil
Infused olive oil is the way to go if you want a healthy option. It’s heart-healthy and versatile. You can cook with it or drizzle it over your favorite foods. Here’s how to make it:
Equipment
- Double boiler
- Fine mesh strainer
- Cannabis grinder
- Container
Ingredients
- 2 grams of decarbed buds (use more for increased potency)
- ½ cup olive oil
Method
- Add the buds and olive oil into a double boiler and cook at 185ºF for 2 hours.
- Strain into a container using a fine mesh strainer.
- Allow it to cool.
- Store in a sealed container.
A Five-Course, High-Class Meal Experience
Once you have an infused ingredient, you can make any meal a psychedelic journey. Here are some dishes that genuinely complement the aromatics of cannabis and make for a captivating, gourmet experience:
Hors D’Oeuvre: Bruschetta
Bruschetta (/bruːˈskɛtə/, /bruːˈʃɛtə/) is an Italian antipasto made from lightly toasted bread, olive oil, and toppings. Standard options include marinated tomatoes, cheese, and cured meats.
It’s one of the straightforward weed recipes. Infusing it requires minimal effort. Brush it with the weed olive oil, mix it in the toppings, or drizzle it over the top. Bruschetta is also an excellent cannabis-infused snack.
Appetizer: French Onion Soup
It’s rich and delicious and covers your palette in umami aromatics. This soup bursts with meaty, savory flavors that go perfectly with croutons or a toasty slice of cheesy bread.
The decadence is perfect for the richness of cannabutter and is an excellent appetizer to water your guest’s mouths. Add a spoonful of the infused item when the soup finishes, or drizzle it on the croutons or toast.
Salad: Greek Salad
There’s nothing better than a refreshing salad before a satiating meal. For a greek version, include cucumber, green bell peppers, red onion, cherry tomatoes, Kalamata olives, and fresh mint leaves.
To create a cannabis-infused salad, make a simple dressing with weed olive oil and vinegar and drizzle it over. You could also add croutons that you have baked in the marijuana blend.
Main Course: Gnocchi in Cannabutter
Gnocchi, pronounced “n(y)oh-kee,” is chewy pasta made from semolina, egg, and potato. It has a soft texture and generally pairs well with simple sauces.
Simply boil the gnocchi until it floats and toss it in cannabutter, sage, or Italian herbs for a rich, classic dish. Add some of the pasta water at the end for added creaminess. This marijuana cooking recipe takes no more than 20 minutes.
Dessert: Golden Cannabis Cupcakes
Cupcakes aren’t exactly gourmet, but they can be with the right toppings. Vanilla or chocolate batter works for these, and the critical ingredient is edible gold sprinkles for that added touch of class.
Follow your favorite cupcake recipe but substitute the butter for cannabutter. For added potency, you can make the icing with cannabutter too, but keep it in the batter for a milder effect. For the finishing touches, cover in edible gold and add a fresh weed leaf on top.
Tips for Cooking With Cannabis
Cooking with cannabis is as easy as pie once you get the hang of it. However, there are some steps to maintaining the potency for the best final product. Here are some tips:
- Use high-quality, potent buds.
- Always decarboxylate.
- Gently strain plant matter from your infusions to prevent it from seeping through and affecting the flavor.
- Don’t cook cannabis at temperatures over 350°F as you risk damaging the cannabinoids.
- Dose correctly. For beginners, the ultimate level is around 5 mg of THC.
- Always label your infused products and store them away from pets and children.
Happy cooking!