When you think of Italian food, pasta is probably the first thing that comes to mind. Pasta can be made in various shapes and include various ingredients. One pasta recipe that’s quickly gaining traction is hemp pasta.
Have you tried it? If not, you’re missing out.
While traditional pasta is high in starch and carbohydrates, hemp pasta is packed with proteins, fiber, vitamins, and minerals to support your healthy lifestyle.
If you still want to enjoy a healthy, delicious hemp pasta dish but are unsure of the facts, here’s a detailed hemp pasta guide just for you.
What is Hemp Pasta?
Hemp pasta is a type of pasta that is made with hemp flour or hemp seeds. Hemp flour is made by grinding the hemp plant’s seeds into a fine powder, which can then be used as a substitute for wheat flour in pasta recipes.
Hemp pasta is often made with a blend of wheat flour and hemp flour, which creates a unique flavor and texture. Hemp pasta can range from light green to brown, depending on the hemp flour used.
Hemp pasta is nutty-flavored pasta made of hemp flour ground from hemp seeds. You can eat hemp pasta with vegetables, meat sauces, fresh herbs, or cheese.
Hemp flour contains 35% carbohydrates, unlike wheat flour that has 80% carbs. Whether you make homemade hemp pasta or buy from the store, this is a good addition to your diet especially if you’re working on cutting extra weight.
How to Make Hemp Pasta
When making hemp pasta, the number one ingredient is hemp flour. This flour is milled, sifted, and defatted to make hemp seed cake – a by-product of hemp seed oil extraction – with a 33% vegetable-based protein concentration.
To make your dough, place the hemp flour in a clean container, crack in some eggs, add hemp seed oil, and mix, preferably using your fingertips.
After mixing, slice the dough in even pieces, wrap it in a film, and put it in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes. Then, roll the dough with a rolling pin and cut it into desired shapes. If you have a pasta machine, you can roll the dough through it.
What are the Different Types of Hemp Pasta?
Hemp pasta is an organic superfood not only known for its delicious nutty flavor but also its creative, eye-catching designs. Here are some hemp pasta types you can find in the market
- Hemp Radiator: Initially named after the old cast-iron steam radiators – Radiatore, this hemp pasta has nooks and ruffled edges that capture more sauce for a tasty bite.
- Hemp Rigatoni: This hemp pasta has hard ridges and a coarse texture, allowing it to cling better to cheese and sauce.
- Hemp Zucca: It’s a plump and round hemp pasta that offers pockets to fill up with a sauce for a juicy bite.
2 Simple Hemp Pasta Recipes You Can Try at Home
There are so many ways you can prepare your hemp pasta dish. There are so many hemp recipes. Here are just a few. It all depends on your creativity, resources, and the time you have on your hands. If you don’t know where to start, here are some easy-to-follow hemp pasta recipes you can try.
Hemp Pasta with Chicken Soup
The ingredients for three servings include:
- 8 oz. hemp pasta
- 1 tablespoon hemp seed oil
- 1 diced leek
- 2 peeled and diced medium carrots
- 3 diced celery stalks
- 1 lb. of chicken breast or boneless drums
- Fresh parsley stems and leaves
- 1.5 cups spinach or nettle leaves
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- Grated cheese
Directions
Heat the hemp seed oil over medium heat. Add celery, carrots, and leeks and cook for 3 minutes while stirring, until the leeks start to soften. Then, add chicken in the pot and cook until it’s golden brown. Season it with pepper and salt, add parsley, and cook in low heat.
In another pot, heat some salted water until it boils. Add hemp pasta and cook for about 6 minutes. Before serving, stir in the pasta and the spinach or nettle leaves. Garnish with extra parsley, pepper, and cheese.
Hemp Pasta with Asparagus and Spring Onion
The ingredients for two servings include:
- 6 oz. hemp pasta
- 2 oz. asparagus
- 1.5 oz. scallion or spring onions
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- 2 tablespoons hemp seed oil
- 2 tablespoons grated cheese
- 1/4 tablespoon chili flakes
- Salt and black pepper
Directions
Heat salted water in a pot until it boils. Add hemp pasta and let it cook for about 7 minutes.
Meanwhile, sauté the onions or scallions and chili flakes in the hemp seed oil on high heat. Next, add some salt, asparagus, and pasta water, so that the onions don’t burn. Simmer for one more minute without letting the asparagus lose their firmness.
Add the pasta, a tablespoon of hemp seed oil as well as the cheese and parsley and turn off the heat. Mix your ingredients and serve with grated cheese.
Can I Use Hemp Seed Oil with Regular Pasta?
You can prepare regular pasta with hemp seed oil. The hemp seed oil will offer added nutritional value to the meal. However, you’ll still take in a lot of carbohydrates and gluten.
When using hemp seed oil with regular pasta, it’s recommended to bake or light-cook the meal. This is because hemp oil is delicate and has a low flash point, meaning it hydrogenates at very high temperatures and smoke at low temperatures.
Is Hemp Pasta Gluten-Free?
The hemp seeds used to make hemp pasta flour don’t have any gluten. If you have celiac disease, this is a safe pasta alternative for you. It can be taken by anybody – young and old.
Does Hemp Pasta Contain Any CBD or THC?
Hemp pasta is made from dehulled hemp seeds which don’t contain any CBD. CBD is only available in the leaves and flowers of the hemp plant.
Unlike cannabis, the hemp plant contains less than 0.3% THC content which is negligible. It can’t make you high.
Is Hemp Pasta Healthier Than Regular Pasta?
Hemp pasta is a nutritious alternative to regular pasta. These eco-friendly noodles contain fatty acids, essential amino acids, and minerals. It’s also rich in antioxidants, high-quality protein, and fiber, helping to maintain low cholesterol levels.
Also, hemp pasta contains no meat or dairy products, so it’s recommended for vegetarians and vegans.
Where to Buy Hemp Pasta
If you haven’t tried hemp pasta yet, it’s about time you enjoyed this nutritious meal. You can find hemp pasta at a local store or health food store. Additionally, there are several online hemp food dealers all around the country that you can order your pasta from.
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