Hemp seed oil has become extremely popular in the food and beverage industry, so much so that it can be used instead of coconut oil. Both are known to offer tremendous amounts of benefits, but hemp seed oil has only recently gotten the attention coconut oil has received for decades.
Hemp seed oil has several uses, including skincare benefits. You can also use it as a carrier oil for various essential oils. Today we are going to see how you can use this miraculous product for cooking.
You need to have a knack for experimentation if you really want to add hemp seed oil to your recipes. If you get it right, you will be able to extract several benefits from it.
Why Use Hemp Seed Oil for Cooking?
Before going through the recipes, it is essential to understand why it is a good idea to use hemp seed oil as a cooking ingredient. The oil is known to offer plenty of health benefits. Let’s look at some of the benefits –
- Hemp oil is known to contain sitosterol, which is known for reducing cholesterol levels in our bodies.
- It contains essential fatty acids that are useful in treating many skin conditions, such as psoriasis, eczema, and acne.
- Hemp seed oil has properties that could be useful in healing skin cells and preventing skin cancer.
- Hemp seed oil also contains a good amount of Omega-3, Omega-6, and Omega-9, all of which contribute to reducing cholesterol.
Using Hemp Seed Oil as a Cooking Ingredient
When we talk about cooking with hemp seed oil, you don’t actually have to heat the oil. If you do so, it will deplete the nutrients and change the taste. You can apply a little bit of heat only for the lukewarm temperature.
However, you shouldn’t get disappointed because of this reason. You could still use hemp seed oil in many ways to enhance the flavour of your meals.
Various foods that could taste better with hemp seed oil include –
- Pesto
- Cold soups
- Sauces
- Sandwich spreads
- Dips
- Protein shakes
- Hummus
- Smoothies
- Salad dressings
Apart from these, you could also use it in a variety of recipes. You should never stop yourself from being creative, especially when it comes to incorporating hemp seed oil.
Please remember that it is best to buy unrefined and cold-pressed hemp seed oil. It would mean that the oil contains a decent amount of nutrients. It also means that the oil is vegan, which is just the best kind. If you want to buy hemp seed oil, you can take a look at IHF to find a plethora of options there.
Taste of Hemp Seed Oil
Hemp seed oil has a flavour to it, quite similar to olive oil. You will be able to notice it, but it won’t be overpowering. Hemp seed oil has an earthy and nutty flavour, which is an excellent addition to many recipes.
Hemp Seed Oil Recipes
Let’s take a look at some of the recipes where you can incorporate hemp seed oil.
1. Garlic Hemp Oil Salad Dressing
It is an excellent addition to your diet. It is just as yummy as a regular salad, and probably a little bit more. A dressing of a salad gives it the flavour that makes it so mouth-watering. In order to make a garlic hemp seed dressing, you will require four ingredients. Raw garlic is also a great ingredient in a dressing. With health benefits and a bomb of flavours, you are going to love the culinary experience.
Along with garlic, you will also need white wine vinegar. If you don’t have it, you can try experimenting with other types of vinegar. Finally, you will need some pepper and hemp seed oil.
You will have to whisk everything together till it is fully incorporated. You have to wait for an hour to allow the flavour of the garlic to come through. Shake it in the end and drizzle it all over your salad.
2. Hemp Hummus Dip
If you want to prepare a hummus dip with hemp, you are going to need a few ingredients. You will require hummus, hemp seed oil, garlic, shelled hempseeds, and lemon.
Try to get your hands on ordinary store-bought hummus leaves. Mix some shelled hempseeds and hemp seed oil along with some lemon juice to enhance the taste. You can also use this concoction on your sandwich instead of mayonnaise.
It could also be used in the form of a hummus dip. You could add some garlic if you want to enrich the taste further. It is a very simple recipe, hence you couldn’t possibly do anything wrong.
3. Hemp Oil Chickpea Spread
In order to make this taste spread, you will need to add sesame oil, hemp oil, and some chickpeas into a blender to make it smooth. Make sure that it is not thick. In that case, you could increase the quantity of hemp seed oil. Later, you have to add some garlic cloves and salt to enhance the flavour.
Closing Thoughts
You can use hemp seed oil in so many different recipes. Use your creativity, and you will be able to discover a world of snacks and meals that could benefit from this miraculous oil.
