Nuts & seeds · Seeds
Hemp seeds
Small, grey-green hemp seeds; roasted and ground for Kumaoni bhang ki chutney and other Himalayan dishes.
Also called: bhang seeds, bhangira, bhang ke beej, hemp hearts, whole hemp seeds
Around the world: भांग के बीज (hi)
A kind of seeds
What it is
The seeds of the hemp plant, sold whole (with a crisp grey-green shell) or hulled as soft 'hemp hearts'. In the Kumaon and Garhwal hills of Uttarakhand, whole seeds are dry-roasted and ground into chutney, and added to spice mixes. The food seeds contain only trace amounts of THC and are not intoxicating.
Cannabis sativa (seed)
How it’s used
- Roasted and ground for Kumaoni bhang ki chutney
- Ground with salt as a seasoning in the hills of Uttarakhand
- Hulled seeds sprinkled on salads and breakfast bowls
Characteristics
- Taste
- Nutty and grassy, like a cross between sunflower seeds and pine nuts; deeper when roasted.
- Aroma
- Toasty and nutty when roasted.
- Texture
- Whole seeds are crunchy; hulled hearts are soft.
- When cooked
- Whole seeds pop and crackle in a dry pan when roasted; ground seeds release oil.
- Sold as
- whole, ground
- Cooking uses
- Mainly a seasoning, Usually eaten raw
- Common in
- Indian
Storage
Refrigerated. Keep in an airtight jar in a cool place for a few months, or in the fridge once opened; the oil turns rancid with warmth and light.
Diet, allergens and safety
No major allergens in typical versions.
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Dairy-free
- Egg-free
- Gluten-free
- Nut-free
- Soy-free
- Caffeine-free
- Legal status of hemp products varies by country; food-grade seeds are sold freely in most places but check local rules.
Nutrition per 100 g
- Energy
- 553 kcal
- Protein
- 31.56 g
- Carbohydrate
- 8.67 g
- Fat
- 48.75 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
- Sugars
- 1.5 g
USDA FoodData Central: Seeds, hemp seed, hulled (a close stand-in).
Substitutes
Optional — what works if you don’t have it, and how it changes the dish.
- Sesame seeds — Use the same weight of white sesame, roasted; the chutney will be paler and sweeter.
Related ingredients
Recipes with hemp seeds
Bhang ki chutney (Kumaoni hemp seed chutney)
Indian · 21 min · 62 kcal · Vegan
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