Have you heard about CBD oil? Of course you have. This dietary supplement has rocked the world over the past few years, and it’s only becoming more popular as the days go by. Some people predict that the total size of the CBD industry could grow to as much as $22 billion within the next few years as more and more people begin using it for relief from anxiety, poor sleep quality, chronic pain and more. The best part is that many of the anecdotal claims that people have made about the benefits of CBD now have legitimate scientific research backing those claims up.
There’s just one problem with CBD hemp oil. It’s a raw extract made from whole plant materials. Some people simply can’t get around the strong herbal flavors and would rather not take CBD oil at all if they could avoid it.
There is one easy way to mask the strong flavor of CBD oil: Buy edible products such as CBD gummies. The problem, though, is that the more steps there are in creating a CBD product, the more that product will cost – and the less CBD you’ll get for your money. It’s far more efficient to make your own CBD edibles from oil.
The One Rule About Cooking With CBD Oil
Making CBD-rich foods at home is easy. There is only one rule that you can’t ignore: CBD oil isn’t appropriate for high-heat applications such as pan frying. At around 320 degrees Fahrenheit, CBD begins to vaporize. If the oil reaches that temperature, the CBD content will escape into the air – and you’ll lose the benefits of eating the oil. Use your regular high-heat refined oils instead and add CBD oil to the dish when the food begins to cool. Just about any other cooking technique is fair game as long as the CBD oil never exceeds that temperature. Cold foods, room-temperature foods and dishes cooked at lower temperatures are all fine. According to this “Magical Butter review” there are plenty of tools to help you mix CBD oil with your baked goods.
TIP: Don’t waste your expensive CBD oil. Until you’re certain that you’ve got a recipe exactly right, start small when adding the CBD. Ramp up to your desired dose when you’re certain that you like the dish.
CBD-Infused Brownies
Adapted from Bon Appetit.
What You’ll Need:
- ½ cup unsalted butter (shorted slightly; you’ll make up the difference with CBD oil)
- 1 ¼ cups sugar
- ¾ cup cocoa powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
- 1/3 cup flour (all purpose)
- CBD oil
Recipe:
- Set your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Grease a small foil baking pan with shortening or non-stick cooking spray.
- Place the butter in a glass measuring cup and melt it slowly in the microwave. When the butter cools, add CBD oil until you have a full ½ cup of oil. Concerned that your butter might be hot enough to vaporize the CBD? Place the measuring cup in a bowl of hot water until the butter melts rather than using the microwave. Alternatively, you can just add a pinch of powdered CBD isolate to your dry ingredients.
- Add the cocoa, salt and sugar to a mixing bowl. Whisk to blend.
- Add the vanilla and eggs to the mixing bowl. Continue whisking until the mixture is completely homogenous.
- Add the flour and whisk to combine. To minimize gluten development, avoid overbeating the flour.
- Pour the batter into the foil pan and bake for about a half hour. Cracks should appear at the top of the brownies. Insert a toothpick for testing. It should come out slightly damp.
TIP: In a hurry? Feel free to use your favorite high-quality chocolate chip brownie mix instead. Swirl in a bit of almond butter before baking your brownies, and no one will be able to tell that you didn’t make the brownies from scratch. Looking for a vegan alternative? Use coconut oil and egg replacer instead.
CBD-Infused Garlic Aioli
Adapted from Epicurious.
What You’ll Need:
- 2 cloves of garlic, put through a press
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Lemon juice
- Salt
- CBD oil
Recipe:
- Place garlic and a generous pinch of salt in a mixing bowl. Push the ingredients together with a fork to form a paste.
- Drizzle in mayonnaise, olive oil and CBD oil while whisking constantly to ensure smoothness. Using commercial mayonnaise helps to ensure that the aioli won’t break.
- Adjust seasoning to taste with lemon juice, salt and pepper.
- Place aioli in a tightly closed container and store in the refrigerator.
TIP: Looking for something even more versatile? CBD oil makes a great addition to almost any salad dressing. Combine a bit of CBD oil with your favorite olive oil and vinegar in a mixing bowl. Add salt, pepper, chopped fresh herbs and a little mustard. Whisk until the mixture is smooth.
CBD-Infused Coconut Milk Curry
Adapted from Minimalist Baker.
What You’ll Need:
- High-heat oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small knob of ginger, grated
- 1 ½ cups diced vegetables; try snow peas, carrots, cauliflower and zucchini
- 1 tbsp prepared curry paste
- Powdered cayenne or crushed chili peppers, for adjusting heat
- 1-2 cans coconut milk or cream, depending on desired thickness
- 1 cup vegetable stock
Recipe:
- Add oil to large saucepan over medium heat. Alternatively, if using full-fat coconut milk, open a can and scrape some of the solid coconut fat into the pan.
- Add curry paste to pan. Stir, mixing the curry paste with the oil or coconut fat, until the paste begins to bubble and separate.
- Add onion. Stir until the onion begins to soften.
- Add garlic and ginger, stirring until the ingredients become aromatic.
- Add coconut milk and vegetable stock. Stir the ingredients together and bring the broth to a simmer.
- Add the vegetables gradually, beginning with the ones that require the most cooking. As the harder vegetables begin to cook through, add the softer ingredients.
- Continue simmering until the curry thickens. Adjust heat with cayenne or crushed peppers and serve over jasmine rice.
TIP: Virtually any vegetable tastes great in curry. Use whatever is in season and fresh; try string beans in summer or hearty squash in winter. Steam or blanch hard vegetables like squash and potatoes to ensure that they’ll be sufficiently soft in the final curry.