When it comes to hemp - and the seeds it produces - the possibilities are endless. And that's no hallucination.
This week, local Missoula business owners tested the limits of hemp seeds in various culinary delights, from hemp milk lattes, to pizza and breakfast muffins. Highlighting the high-nutrition ingredient at local eateries is all part of Hemp Food Week, an event building up to this weekend's 13th annual Hempfest at Caras Park.
Although hemp and marijuana come from the same type of plant, they are different varieties. Hemp contains less than 1 percent of the ingredient that makes pot users “high.” Still, neither is legal to grow in the United States.
“(Hemp) has 25,000 uses,” said Andrea Behunin of the Montana Hemp Council. “It's not marijuana. You're not going to get
high from it. It is good for you.”
Hemp seeds remind Bob Marshall, owner of Biga Pizza in downtown Missoula, of sesame seeds. Or more specifically, tahini, which is made from sesame seeds and used to make hummus.
That was his inspiration when creating this week's pizza special. Using coconut milk, brown sugar and Montola oil, and hemp seeds, of course, Marshall created a spread similar to a Thai peanut sauce. Throw that on top of a pizza full of classic food combinations, like peppers, roasted eggplant, olive oil and mozzarella, and you have a perfect example of well-balanced hemp meal.
“It tastes like a Thai curry bowl,” he said
Biga Pizza began serving the hemp specialty Wednesday evening and will continue to do so through Sunday.
Nearby, at Front Street Pasta & Wraps, owner Jana Jackson substituted hemp seeds in her lemon and poppyseed muffins. During this weekend's events, the eatery will also sprinkle hemp seeds on top of the stir fry.
“Hemp seed is really good for you,” she said.
Jackson compares hemp seeds to sunflower seeds. They are small and salty.
At the Good Food Store, the special is hemp milk lattes. The Red Bird is going to prepare their bread using hemp seeds and use it in one or two appetizer specials.
Neither Marshall nor Jackson typically use hemp seeds when cooking.
Jackson doesn't usually bake breakfast muffins, as the restaurant focuses on lunch and dinner. Marshall doesn't use hemp seed because he considers his pizzeria a traditional Italian-style eatery and hemp seeds fall outside that realm.
So why did they agree to participate in Hemp Food Week?
“It's a viable commodity that grows like weeds, with minimal environmental impact,” Marshall said. “Renewable, sustainable products are good. It can save us.”
Hempfest Saturday
The 13th annual Missoula Hempfest is Saturday, noon-10:30 p.m., at Caras Park. Features include speakers, a fashion show and live music by Eric Solomon, and special musical guests the iNHUMANS, Miller Creek, MudSlide Charley, Secret Powers and Jessica Kilroy.
|
 |
 |
Add your comment now! Write your comment in the form below.
(Email address is for verification only. If you'd like to email a story, look for the link above)