Cooking With Cannabis

Category: Recipe

  • What to do with Sludge (and how to make Basil Pesto)

    What to do with Sludge (and how to make Basil Pesto)

    Sludge.

    It may not sound appealing, but don’t dismiss this often overlooked resource.

    Sludge is the pulp of leftover cannabis flower after Infusing a solvent. Too often thrown out, the clever cannabis cook knows this is a valuable source of fibre and THC, perfect as an addition to your cooking repertoire. 

    Solvent – the liquid in which a solute is dissolved to form a solution. Fats and fatty food, such as butter, oil, MCT and coconut oils, are solvents used to dissolve cannabis terpenes (the solutes), allowing food to become psychoactive and give you a lifted experience. See? There really is a use for high school chemistry.

    Biggest reasons to use sludge? It contains all kinds of nutrients, but I’d say fibre content and residual cannabinoids are the two main benefits. And you’regetting more value for your cannabis dollar. Adding the sludge directly to your recipe is the easiest thing to do. Or you can extract the remaining solvent from the pulp. There are basically two ways to do this:

    1. Press it. Using a French Coffee press or a ricer, maybe even a hydraulic press used for making rosin. 
    2. Simmer in water. The oil will separate allowing you to extract the remaining terpene-rich solvent. This is the technique used in the classical cannabutter method of a crock pot, water, and butter.

    As an ingredient, cannabis is often described as having a gassy or petrol-esque pungency. It pairs well with big flavours, particularly the bitterness of coffee and chocolate and the citrus flavours of fresh fruits like berries, anything citrus, and mangoes.

    On its own, I’d compare it to Marmite or Vegemite in that it is an acquired taste – you can eat it in its own, or use it as an ingredient. (Personally, a nice dollop in a hot cocoa is a welcome addition to a lazy Sunday morning.) Just remember, cannabis is a prodigious bioaccumulator – it sucks-up damn nearly everything in the growth medium, whether that’s heavy metals in the soil of an outdoor grow, or that hydroponic kush didn’t get a final flush before harvest. You will taste that, plus the chlorophyl, which could overpower the terpenes. 

    In the accompanying recipe, I’ve paired an infused olive oil with pesto sauce. The bitterness of the cannabis is balanced with the sharpness of the parmesam cheese, the sweetness of the garlic and the freshness of the basil. 

    As with any infused recipe, start low and go slow. Consume safely in accordance with your own tolerance and local laws. 

    Basil Pesto with Cannabis-Infused Olive Oil

    This simple basil pesto recipe uses cannabis pulp, making it a versatile addition to your meals. Use it as a pasta sauce, spread, or topping for vegetables.

    Please ensure your cannabis is properly decarboxylated prior to cooking – lightly grind flower, spread evenly on a parchment-lined cookie sheet, cover with foil, and bake for 30-40 minutes at 240 F (115 C).

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups (480 ml) fresh basil leaves, tightly packed
    • ½ cup (120 ml) cannabis-infused pulp
    • ½ cup (60 g) grated Parmesan cheese
    • ⅓ cup (50 g) pine nuts or walnuts
    • 2 cloves garlic, peeled
    • Salt and pepper to taste.

    Instructions

    1. Prepare the ingredients: Rinse the basil leaves thoroughly and pat them dry.
    2. Blend the base: In a food processor or blender, combine the basil, nuts, and garlic. Pulse until the mixture is finely chopped.
    3. Incorporate the pulp: Slowly add in the cannabis-infused pulp a tablespoon at a time while the processor is running, blending until smooth.
    4. Add cheese and seasonings: Stir in the Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Blend again until fully combined.
    5. Taste and adjust: Sample your pesto and adjust the seasoning if needed.

    Storage: Transfer the pesto to an airtight container. (I like to use glass.)  Store in the refrigerator for up to one week, or freeze (ice cube trays work nicely) for longer shelf life.

    Notes:

    • Adjust the amount of cannabis-infused oil to your desired potency, replacing a portion with regular olive oil if needed.
    • If freezing, pour a thin layer of regular olive oil over the top to prevent discolouration.

    Enjoy responsibly. Keep cannabis-infused products out of reach of children and pets. Start low and go slow. Respect the cannabis laws of your jurisdiction.

  • Brownies and Ice Cream

    Brownies and Ice Cream

    Chocolate brownies and vanilla ice cream. Is there anything better? Not really.

    As with all edibles, dosing is approximate and not guaranteed. Know your own tolerance. Start low and go slow. Respect the laws of your jurisdiction and consume at your own risk.

    Ice cream

    This is a basic recipe for vanilla French custard-style ice cream. Feel free to experiment with adding different flavours.

    Makes approximately 3 1/2 cups (850 ml) of ice cream.

    Ingredients

    • ½ oz (15 g) decarboxylated cannabis
    • 1 ½  cups (360 ml) whole milk
    • 1 ½  cups (360 ml) heavy cream
    • 1 tsp (5 ml) Vanilla
    • ¾ cups (95 g) sugar
    • 6 oz egg yolk (about 9 large eggs)
    • Salt (pinch)
    • Heavy bottomed pot
    • Whisk
    • Spatula
    • Two mixing bowls, one for the infused milk and the other for ice water
    • Strainer
    • Cheesecloth

    Directions

    Step 1 – Decarboxylate your cannabis

    1. Pre-heat your oven to 240°F (115°C). 
    2. Grind your herb to desired consistency and spread on the parchment paper covering the cookie sheet. 
    3. Cover with Tinfoil and crimp around edges. Bake for 30-40 minutes. This changes THCA into THC, which makes the raw flower psychoactive. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place until ready to use.

    Step 2 – Infuse the milk and cream

    1. Steep the decarboxylated  cannabis in the milk and cream over a medium heat for about an hour in a double boiler, refilling the water in the lower pot as necessary. 
    2. Pour milk through the strainer and cheesecloth when done. Set aside to cool. Label and store in the fridge in a sealed container. Milk should remain fresh for 3-5 days.
    3. Dosage – when using 15% cannabis flower, total recipe has about 1,582 mg THC

    Step 3 – Ice cream

    1. Combine 3-4 tablespoons of infused milk to the milk and cream and simmer gently in a heavy bottomed pot.
    2. Whisk egg yolks and sugar together in one of the mixing bowls until sugar dissolves and mixture is creamy.
    3. Start tempering the two by slowly pouring milk into yolks, then the yolk-milk mixture back into the milk. Repeat this, mixing small amounts at a time,, until all the milk and all the yolks are combined.
    4. Reheat mixture and stir until thick enough to coat a spoon, but remains pourable (you can drag a spoon through it and leave a line). Remove from heat. 
    5. Fill one of the other two bowls part way with ice and water. Place the pot into the bowl of ice water and stir. Use the spatula to scrape down the dies.
    6. Once thickened, chill mixture in the fridge for 2-4 hours.
    7. Churn the ice cream. BY MACHINE – If you have an ice cream maker, follow the manufacturer’s direction. BY HAND – Scoop the frozen ice cream base into a blender or food processor. Mix thoroughly and put back into the freezer. 

    Brownies

    Ingredients

    1. 1 cup (125 g) flour
    2. 1/2 cup (60 g) cocoa powder
    3. 1 cup (125 g) sugar
    4. Pinch of salt 
    5. 2 tsp (10 g) baking powder
    6. 1 cup (125 ml) milk
    7. ½ cup (60 ml) cannabis infused milk
    8. 2 large eggs
    9. ¾ ups (180 ml) of butter, shortening, or vegetable oil
    10. 2 mixing bowls
    11. Spatula
    12. Cooking spray, butter, or oil (to grease the pan) OR parchment paper
    13. 9- inch (23-cm) pan

    Directions

    1. Preheat the oven to 350 F (175 C). 
    2. Grease a 9-inch (23 cm) baking pan and dust with flour, or line it with parchment paper. 
    3. Mix all the dry ingredients in one bowl and all the wet ingredients in the other. 
    4. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet. Mix until the two combine. Do not overmix.
    5. Bake 25-30 minutes until a knife inserted in the centre comes out clean.
    6. Let cool and serve. Dosage when made with the cannabis milk, about 49.2 mg THC per oz.

    Tags: Brownies, Ice cream, cannabis milk, staples, dessert