3 Delicious Cannabis-Infused Vegan Recipes As veganism continues to rise in popularity, it is obvious that people are becoming more interested in their health, environmental sustainability and animal welfare. Veganism seems to go hand in hand with cannabis use, with many users taking advantage of the health benefits and sustainability of using cannabis as a supplement or therapeutic agent.
The beautiful thing about cannabis is that the culinary aspect is just as creative as the rest of it. While there are many slaving away over producing fine strains of cannabis, there are just as many finding new and creative ways to add it to food. There is an entire subculture of people who prefer to eat cannabis than to smoke it, and from what we know, it’s a much healthier way to consume.
Why eat cannabis? If you’re thinking of trying your hand in cannabis cooking, you’re about to take on a whole new way of consuming cannabis. For the better part of human history, people have really enjoyed smoking marijuana. But now we know that eating it is much better for you and might have more long lasting effects. Firstly, if cannabis is your way of improving your gut health, then eating it is always the preferred method. When you eat cannabis, it passes through your digestive system, meaning cannabinoids can be delivered directly to your stomach and intestines. For those who suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or Crohn’s Disease, edibles should be the preferred method of ingestion. On top of all of this, research suggests that the high from consuming cannabis edibles may be much longer lasting than if it is smoked or vaporized. Most anecdotal evidence suggests the same, where people’s experiences are much more psychedelic after edible cannabis than smoked cannabis. Even if you are consuming pure CBD edibles, the outcome would be the same: longer lasting relief.
Make your own cannabis coconut oil All of the recipes included in this article are made with cannabis coconut oil. Most dispensaries sell a house-made version of this, but if you’d like to make your own, it’s pretty easy. Once you have made your own cannabis coconut oil, you can use it in a myriad of different ways for cooking. You could even use it as a topical treatment if you wanted to! Remember, you can use any kind of cannabis you like. If you are using CBD oil, you simply need to infuse that into your coconut oil. Otherwise, you can use any kind of buds you like, whether they are high in THC content or high in CBD content. The choice is entirely yours! You will need: ● ● ● ●
1 cup ground cannabis flower or 1 bottle CBD oil (you can vary the amount depending on the potency you require) 1 cup coconut oil Double boiler or slow cooker Strainer or cheesecloth
Directions: 1. Melt the coconut oil in the double boiler or slow cooker and then add your cannabis flower to the mix. 2. Keep the heat very low, allowing the cannabis flowers to decarboxylate without scorching them. (Decarboxylation activates your cannabis without destroying the active ingredients) 3. If you are using a double boiler, keep it on low heat for at least 6 hours. If using a slow cooker, keep it on low heat for at least 4 hours. The longer you can keep your buds steeping in the coconut oil without scorching, the stronger your final product will be. Whichever way you are preparing, never let the temperature exceed 245℉. 4. When it’s ready, strain the buds out of the oil using a cheesecloth. Keep your coconut cannabis oil for at least 2 months, or even longer if left refrigerated.
Vegan Cannabis Infused Banana Sundae This recipe is the perfect way to satisfy your sweet tooth while remaining vegan. Plus, it’s a much healthier alternative to traditional ice-cream. Oh, and you’ll get your daily hit of cannabinoids, too. For this recipe, you will need: ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
3 peeled and sliced bananas 2 tablespoons lemon juice 3 tablespoons cannabis coconut oil 3 tablespoons cocoa 2 tablespoons honey or agave nectar ½ teaspoon vanilla extract ⅓ cup toasted coconut flakes
Method: ● ● ● ●
Toss the sliced bananas with the lemon juice, as this will stop them from browning. Put them in the freezer and leave for 4 hours. Mix the cannabis coconut oil, cocoa honey or agave nectar and vanilla extract in a small bowl. Leave aside. When the bananas are frozen, puree them in a food processor or blender until it looks like ice cream. Scoop the bananas into four bowls and top them with your cocoa-cannabis-coconut mixture. Then sprinkle toasted coconut flakes on the top.
Cannabis Infused Coconut Curry
If you’re looking for something to serve up at your next cannabis themed house party, this cannabis infused coconut curry should do the trick. It’s vegan, deliciously creamy and contains a plethora of fresh herbs. With this recipe, you should be able to serve 6 people. You will need:
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3 ½ cups fresh tomato, crushed 1 garlic head, chopped 2 tablespoons ginger, chopped 1 cup cilantro, chopped 1 tablespoon of cumin seeds 1 tablespoon coriander seeds 1 cup dried brown lentils 4 tablespoons cannabis coconut oil 15-ounce can coconut milk
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1 tablespoon turmeric 2 teaspoons sea salt 1 teaspoon cayenne powder 10-12 cherry tomatoes for garnish
The method:
1. Chop the garlic, ginger, and cilantro, and crush the fresh tomatoes using the back of a large spoon or a masher. Set aside.
2. Heat the infused and standard coconut oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the coriander and cumin seeds and toast them until browned. Then add the chopped garlic to the pot and allow to cook until browned.
3. Add the crushed tomatoes, ginger, turmeric, and sea salt to the pot and allow to cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then add the lentils, cayenne powder, and 3 cups of water.
4. Bring to a boil, cover the pot, reduce heat to low, and let simmer for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Once the lentils are cooked and soft, add the coconut milk. Bring the mixture back to a simmer, and add the cilantro and a handful of cherry tomatoes (about 10). Stir,then remove from heat.
Vegan Peanut Butter Fudge This is the kind of recipe you’re going to have to share around with your friends for two reasons: 1. It’s really hard to eat an entire tray of peanut butter fudge on your own 2. You’re going to use the entire cup of cannabis coconut oil that you learned how to make before. So it’s definitely not a single dose! This is the kind of cannabis edible you have to really work on not consuming all in one go. It’s delicious, so when the munchies set in, it can be extremely tempting to devour the whole tray. So here is the disclaimer: don’t eat the whole tray, leave some for your friends. You will need: ● ● ● ● ●
1 cup cannabis coconut oil 3 ½ cups rapadura sugar 1 cup peanut butter 1 cup cocoa powder 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
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Start by greasing a baking tray with a mild-tasting oil such as coconut oil or vegetable oil. In a saucepan, melt the cannabis coconut oil and using a spatula or spoon, mix in the sugar. Keep mixing until the sugar and coconut oil are mixed well. Then stir in cocoa, peanut butter and vanilla extract. Pour the mixture out onto your greased baking tray, being sure it’s evenly spread across the pan. Refrigerate until the mixture is completely hardened! Then cut it into bite sized pieces and share with your friends.
Making cannabis infused food is a great way to share cannabis with friends, especially those who aren’t fond of smoking. This is a fun, delicious and healthy way to consume cannabinoids. All that’s left to say is, enjoy!
