This Bhang ki chutney can be a perfect addition to your Mahashivratri meal

Lord Shiva’s festival of Mahashivratri is here. As some people observe a fast on this day, a tasty menu has to be made for observe the fast. One such addition to the menu can be a bhang ki chutney. Made with hemp seeds, this chutney or dip goes with almost everything perfectly.

Mahashivratri and the days preceding to Holi is always a time when we hear more about ‘bhang’ than the rest of the year. Be it ‘thandai’ laced with bhang or bhang ke pakode, all sorts of recipes do the rounds!

Recently, we stumbled upon this hemp seed recipe on Instagram and decided to share it with you for your Mahashivratri festivities. Chef Pawan Bisht, who often shares recipes from Uttarakhand, came up with this superb recipe of bhang ki chutney and bhang ka namak.

Can’t wait? Here are some bhang recipes for you

1. Recipe for Bhang Ka Namak

Ingredients:

Bhang seeds (hemp seeds) 90 gms
Fresh garlic 5 – 6 clove
Green chilli 2 – 3 no.
Fresh coriander or fresh garlic leaves or
coriander seeds handful
Roasted cumin seeds 2 teaspoon
Salt to taste

Method:

1. Heat a pan, dry roast the hemp seeds and keep aside.

2. Now with the help of a sil batta (mortar and pestle) make a paste out of hemp seeds, fresh garlic, green chilli, roasted cumin seeds and fresh coriander.

3. Take out this paste from the sil batta in a bowl. Adjust seasoning.

5. Your bhang ka namak is ready and can be eaten with chapati, rice and fritters. Sometimes used to enhance the taste of the local dishes.

2. Recipe for Bhang ki Chutney:

Method:

If you want to make bhang ki chutney add lemon juice, mint leaves and water according to the same recipe.
Beside this people add different ingredients and spices to adjust taste and consistency according to their palate.
Roasted tomatoes, dry red chillies, fresh onion can be added which varies from place to place.

Here are some health benefits of bhang, listed by Chef Pawan Bisht:

1. Cures fever
2. Prevents sunstroke
3. Aids digestion
4. Improves speech imperfections
5. Cures dysentery
6. Provides relief in arthritis
7. Increases appetite
8. Rich in Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids
9. Good source of protein and fiber
10. Contains various vitamins and minerals.

Check out the Instagram post here:

Before you go all out and indulge in bhang recipes, let us also tell you that hemp has a ‘bad reputation’ when it comes to the psychedelic after-effects of it. Therefore, it is suggested to be eaten in moderation!