The ingredient that was picked for me this month by Bec was Hemp Oil by Hemp Foods Australia which is an oil that is virgin cold pressed and immediately packed on the premises. I have never used Hemp Oil, so I was curious to try it.
My research showed that hemp oil is a great source of Omega-6 and Omega-3 essential fatty acids. These are great for metabolizing fat, increasing the immune system and preventing a whole range of modern-day illnesses.
Lara Flanagan
Serves 4 Serves
It had quite a pleasant nutty taste and can be used in ways like how you might use olive oil. It is important to note that it must be used raw or on a very low heat (no more than about 70 degrees Celsius). Hemp oil is also said to be good for the skin and hair!
10 minPrep Time
10 minCook Time
20 minTotal Time
Ingredients
- ¼ cup hemp seeds
- 1 cup raw pistachios
- ¼ cup pinenuts
- 70-gram basil
- 5 cloves garlic – peeled
- 4 tablespoon lemon juice
- Salt
- 1 cup hemp oil
- Punnet of grape or cherry tomatoes
- Seeds from one pomegranate
- 500 grams of your favourite pasta
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients except the tomatoes, pomegranate and pasta in a food processor and process until smooth. Taste and add salt to taste.
- Bring saucepan of water to boil and add pasta and cook to perfection
- Before draining pasta, add ¼ cup of the hot pasta water to the pesto and process briefly
- Drain pasta and then combine in saucepan with the pesto sauce.
- Add tomatoes and pomegranate seeds and combine.
- Serve in your favourite bowl or dish.
Notes
Vegan, dairy-free, vegetarian.
The hemp that is available in edible forms is from the same species of plant as cannabis but is a different variety and is a very safe food with an endless list of benefits.
Hemp seeds are technically a nut, so they have all sorts of potential uses! They are great in sweet and savoury dishes, both raw and cooked, though remember to avoid the heat with the oil.
I have been dying to make a new pesto pasta and I am also currently in love with pomegranate seeds so I thought the hemp oil and hemp seeds would made a great pesto. This was scrummy, devoured by my two taste testers Archie and Rissie, and incredibly easy!
Courtesy of Lara Flanagan.
Lara is the author of My Notes from New England, a blog that takes a humorous look at the adventures of a single mum with two young twins who enjoys cooking, eating well, living in the country and travelling the world looking to inspire and be inspired.