Brownies, cookies, chocolate, and other sweets immediately come to mind when most people think of cannabis edibles, but there are many different types of recipes you can make with cannabis, even snacks. Let’s look at some recipes for making savory cannabis infused dishes. These are great for medical marijuana patients suffering from wasting diseases like cancer or HIV because cannabis has been proven to increase appetite and promote healthful sleep. With a cannabis infused dinner, patients can increase their calorie intake as well as relieve pain.
Cannabis Oil
The basis of most marijuana infused foods is canna-butter, which is butter that has been heated with cannabis flowers and then cooled. This means that all the active ingredients and terpenes in the cannabis have been infused in the butter. You can also make canna-butter with coconut oil, olive oil, or any other fats. A good rule of thumb is to use half an ounce (weight) of ground marijuana buds or finely cut trimmings (also known as “shake”) per 2 cup oil or 1 lb of butter.
The easiest method for making cannabis-infused fats is to put the oil in a crock pot with the cannabis buds, add water, and allow the mixture to steep at a low heat setting for several hours. Then you strain the plant matter out and put it in the fridge to cool. You add water to bring the oils to the surface so that you can skim the oil off once you’ve cooled the mixture. Store your cannabis oil in the fridge for up to 6 months.
Good Flavor Combinations
Though you can use the herb in many different types of dishes, cannabis has such a unique flavor that it can overpower certain recipes. Here are some good pairings for cannabis to help mask that pungent, green marijuana taste.
- Italian or Mediterranean – Infuse cannabis with olive oil to use in dishes like pasta sauce or hummus. Pair with basil, oregano, and garlic for rich, herby flavors.
- Chinese or Thai – Coconut oil infusions are great for Thai dishes, and curry is an excellent flavor combination with cannabis, as well as lemongrass. For Chinese dishes, infuse cannabis into sesame oil and pair with garlic and white pepper.
- French – Cannabutter is excellent for traditional French cooking, as you can make a rich bechamel sauce or other creamy sauce. Pair with thyme, rosemary, sage, and bay.
A Note on Cooking Temperature
You may be concerned with cooking out the active ingredients in cannabis, but most stovetops can’t get hot enough to destroy the THC or CBD in your cannabutter or oil. THC burns off and evaporates at 392°F, and CBD burns off at 150°F. Most cooking oils will smoke or start to burn at 320°F, so you retain most of the THC if you’re just cooking with cannabis. One way avoid this is to add your cannabis infused oil toward the end of the cooking cycle or blend into a dressing or sauce.
Savory Cannabis Recipes
Creamy Herb Mashed Potatoes
This recipe yields 8 servings of fluffy, buttery mashed potatoes with a yummy herbal flavor.
- 4 large potatoes
- ¼ cup cannabutter
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tbsp finely minced rosemary
- 1 tsp parsley
- Salt & pepper to taste
Boil potatoes, then mash with the cannabutter until mixed. Add herbs and heavy cream, stir until incorporated. Add milk a little bit at a time while stirring with a whisk until they’re at your desired consistency.
Lemon Yogurt Sauce
This recipe is for a yummy lemony sauce that’s perfect for dipping chicken fingers or pairing with grilled fish.
- 1-2 tbsp cannabis infused oil
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- Juice of ½ lemon or 1 tbsp bottled lemon juice
- 2 tbsp finely minced bell pepper
- ¼ tsp ground ginger or 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger
- 1 clove or ½ tsp minced fresh garlic
- 1 tsp cumin
- Salt & pepper, 1 tsp each
- A couple green onion stalks
Mince up your bell pepper super fine, mince garlic, and grate ginger. Add to your cup of Greek yogurt, then add lemon juice, then spices. Mix until combined. That’s it! Chop some green onions to sprinkle on top. Spread this over grilled fish or dip grilled chicken in it.
Chill Out Vinaigrette: Cannabis Infused Salad Dressing
Use fresh herbs to make this yummy and healthful salad dressing. Makes about two cups.
- ½ cup canna-oil
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp minced shallots or red onion
- 1 tsp minced garlic or one small clove, minced fine
- 2 tsp basil
- 2 tsp oregano
- Salt & pepper to taste
To properly blend this dressing, use a food processor or blender. First add the vinegar and the herbs and blend to combine and get the herbs chopped up finely. Mix your olive oil and cannabis oil together by hand. Keeping the processor going, start pouring in your oil mixture. Add the oil very slowly to ensure that it blends with the other ingredients to make a thick dressing.
Cannabis Kettle Corn
This cannabis infused popcorn is the perfect party snack or a good snack to have at home for inspiring and curing your munchies at the same time! Just be careful you don’t eat too much.
- ¾ cup popcorn kernels
- ¼ cup oil
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 3 tbsp melted cannabis butter
- Salt to taste
You’ll need a pot with a lid for this sweet and salty popcorn. Pour your oil into the pot and add one single popcorn kernel before turning your stove to medium-high. When this one kernel pops, you know the oil is hot enough. Then add the rest of the popcorn, sprinkle the sugar over the kernels, and then put on the lid. Shake the pot frequently to keep the corn moving in the oil so it pops evenly. Just like with microwave popcorn, listen for when the popping slows, then take it off the heat and pour into a large bowl. Melt your cannabutter in the warm pot or in the microwave before pouring it over the popcorn, stirring as you go. Sprinkle with salt to offset the sugar.
No matter what kind of edibles you like to make, you need to protect them with the right kind of packaging. At greenrushpackaging.com, you can find unique packaging that’s specially designed for cannabis products. The packaging experts at PBFY developed pouches, bags, and other containers to keep your cannabis buds and cannabis edibles fresh, fragrant, and secure.
