6 ways to fuck with CBD cooking
Words: Shamim de Brún
Artwork: Paul Smith
CBD’s loudest advocates make health claims far beyond the current scientific evidence, and its harshest critics dismiss it entirely as just another snake oil. But cooking with CBD has been an online trend for a while now. Enthusiasts evangelise it. It’s on Vice, Bon Appetite, and Food and Wine; so it looks like it’s here to stay.
Over the past two-ish years, CBD in the form of oils, topicals, and supplements has become widely distributed across Dublin. Mainly in specialist shops, but it’s creeping into mainstream health food outposts too. At best, CBD in Ireland exists in a confusing state of quasi-legality and yet-to-be-realized potential. These CBD foods thread the line between legal and illegal. But do they taste good? The answer is yes, yes they do.
If you have ever had a friend who sucks the plant, you’ll know the etiquette is often you can smoke inside if it’s herbaceous but outside if it’s tobacco. This is because CBD is full of terpenes. These are a class of aromatic compounds responsible for the scent of a plant. They’re mainly found in the essential oils of vegetation, especially in citrus fruits. These chemicals objectively smell and taste good. While for years citrus has dominated culinary experiences, CBD was left on the shelf. Cold, alone and clouded in taboo. Well, not anymore.
If you’re concerned about losing any CBD potency during the cooking or baking process, fear not. After much research and consideration, I’ve included some options that don’t require any heat but still allow you to play with CBD in your diet.
Butter
OG Cannabutter is more of an ingredient than anything else. You can get it online from Little Collins CBD Dispensary. If you’re into making your own, you can use it instead of CBD oil in any of these recipes. The best cannabutter step by step I’ve found is this one here if you fancy taking up making your own. Not that I am in any way recommending you do that.
Salad dressing.
Citrus gives life to many recipes, but salad dressing without citrus is as sad as a wilting lettuce leaf. Dressings are used to provide life to salads. Without a good saucing, salad feels like you’re trying to be healthy instead of the flavourful joy they can be. CBD oil salad dressing recipes are a wonderful place to start if you’ve never dipped your toe into herbaceous cooking, primarily cos they’re dead easy. You can buy a batch of mixed salad and add your own dressing from one of the three here. Or you can start from scratch with a full-on chicken CBD salad here.
Guac
Avocados have made their green mark on the culinary world, same as us here. When they arrived on our shores somewhere at the edge of the recession, we took to them like children take to walking, gingerly at first and then with a flying leap. Sure aren’t they the reason no one can afford a house in Ireland? Guac is the ideal way to consume the vilified avocado. The perfect accompaniment to tacos, or just as a dip. Guac works particularly well with CBD because the original recipe is full of herbs. The option to customise your guac with other ingredients is always a runner, like jalapenos for spice or mangos for sweetness, so why not CBD for tang. This recipe is exceptionally well thought through, but Pintrest and Google are full of variations to take a run at.
CBD in smoothies
This one has come into its own. As the Nutribullet invaded the world and all of the knockoffs gained momentum, smoothies became more of a thing you could make at home. Thank you for affordable Lidl frozen berries. There’s a million ways to fuck with this one, but the big winner I found was from the lads at Bon Appetite. This juicy mango number with crushed red pepper flakes is a sweet-savoury smoothie I would pay good money for. It’s super vegan, too, if that’s what you’re into.
CBD Apple Pie Cupcakes
So we all know brownies and cookies. They were around before CBD oil, and if we’re honest, they go much better with butter than oil. However, these CBD apple pie cupcakes taste as delicious as they look.
Although this recipe takes a touch more effort than some of these other options here, they are worth the effort. Follow the recipe from start to finish with no deviations, and you’re in for a hell of a treat.
Rice Krispie Treats
Crispy crunch seekers, this one is for you. Rice Krispie edibles are classic edible. The CBD bitterness merges with the sticky marshmallowy sweetness like how Rice Krispie treats were designed. This CBD rice Krispie recipe makes rice Krispies treats are gooey and moist while still keeping it crispy. This one is as easy as it sounds. It’s all ingredients in a bowel style and can be eaten warm or left to cool. They’re an easy single-serve to add to your meal prep routine or share with friends.
