Cooking with Superfoods: 3 Hemp Seed Recipes

Hemp seeds are a gift of Mother Nature and often underestimated as a source of nutrients. They offer a natural blend of easy-digestible proteins, essential omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, and enzymes with a relative absence of sugar, saturated fats, and starches. About 33% of a hemp seed consist of proteins, the essential building blocks of the human body. Potential health benefits of eating hemp seeds include lowered cholesterol and blood pressure, increased and sustained energy, weight loss, quick recovery from disease, reduced inflammation, and improved circulation of the immune system. Additionally, hemp seeds have a nutty flavour profile that allows the creation of many delicious snacks and dishes. Here are three hemp seed recipes that will get you through an entire day without having to comprise on your protein uptake – Bon appétit!

1. CRUNCHY HEMP SEED GRANOLA (BREAKFAST)

Crunchy granola is always a good start into the day, but many commercially available brands tend to exaggerate when it comes to sugar, even the ones marketed as healthy products. This recipe for crunchy hemp seed granola offers an alternative with long-lasting effects, meaning that you won’t feel hungry again before lunch-time.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/4 cups Hulled Hemp Seeds

• 4 cups Rolled Oats

• 3/4 cups Rye Flakes

• 3/4 cup Almonds

• 1/3 cup Hazelnuts

• 1/2 cup Sunflower Seeds

• 1/2 cup Sesame Seeds

• 1/4 cup Flax Seed

• 1/3 cup Hemp Seed Oil

• 1/2 cup Honey

• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract

• 1/2 tsp Cinnamon

• 1/2 tsp Salt

INSTRUCTIONS

First, you need to get a large bowl and mix all the dry ingredients in it. Always feel free to customize your granola and this recipe by choosing the ingredients you like. The next step is mixing the “wet” ingredients in a separate bowl, meaning oil and honey, and giving this blend a nice flavour using vanilla, cinnamon, and a hint of salt. Now, you simply pour your wet mix (oil & honey) over your dry mix (all the other stuff) and mix it thoroughly. Preheat your oven to 120 C° and place your mixture in a roasting pan. Let it bake for 2.5 to 3 hours and stir every half hour. Your home-made granola will be ready when it’s mostly dry and evenly light brown in colour. As a final step, simply let it cool down and place it into a sealed container in your fridge.

2. HEMP PESTO (LUNCH)

Lunch-time is getting closer, and we used most of the energy our hemp seed granola provided for us in the morning. Now it’s time to think of something to eat that restores our energy without promoting a feeling of drowsiness in the afternoon. The next thing on our menu is Hemp Pesto, which can be enjoyed either in combination with pasta, rice or salad, as an additional topping on a homemade pizza or simply as a spread to make sandwiches. What makes hemp seed pesto great for lunch is its high amount of proteins and the fact that it only takes a couple of minutes to prepare.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup fresh Basil Leaves

• 1/2 cup Hulled Hemp Seed

• 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese

• 2 cloves Garlic

• 1/2 tsp Salt

• 1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

INSTRUCTIONS

Making pesto is one of the easiest and quickest things to do. You simply have to wash and dry basil leaves and place them in a blender together with hulled hemp seeds, Parmesan cheese, garlic, and salt. Now, you blend all your ingredients and slowly add olive oil to create a smooth paste. Make sure to keep your pesto refrigerated, stored in a sealed container, and use it within the next couple of days. Note: If you don’t like basil you can also use sun-dried tomatoes to make a red pesto.

3. HEMP SEED SUMMER SALAD (DINNER)

Eating a fresh hemp seed salad for dinner comes with the advantage of giving the stomach something to process without becoming too sated, which is sometimes the cause of insomnia and restlessness at night. This summer salad is a vitamin bomb enriched with a good amount of protein coming from hulled and raw hemp seeds.

INGREDIENTS (VEGETABLES)

• 1 cup Corn

• 1 Tomato

• 2 Onions

• 1 & 1/2 cups Cucumber

• 1 Red Pepper

• 1 tbsp Dill Weed

• 3 tbsp Hulled Hemp Seed

INGREDIENTS (DRESSING)

• 1/2 cup Avocado Flesh

• 1 Garlic Clove

• 2 tbsp Lemon Juice

• 3 tbsp Water

• 1 tbsp Hemp Seed

• 1/4 tsp Salt

• 1 tbsp Yeast

INSTRUCTIONS

The first step to prepare the hemp seed summer salad is chopping your vegetables and placing them into a large bowl. For the dressing, you can either use a blender or simply mix all the ingredients by hand in a smaller bowl. The last and final step is adding your dressing to the vegetable salad and sprinkling raw, non-hulled hemp seeds on top. You’ve just created a refreshing, healthy, and hemp seed enriched dinner. Enjoy!