About The Recipe
Well this recipe is no surprise for those who know me: cannabis infused olive oil. It's a daily kitchen essential for me, a Mediterranean touch that finds its way into almost everything I cook. The twist? I've decided to add a dash of cannabis goodness to the mix.
Interestingly, finding cannabis infused olive oil on the market has been a bit of a challenge, so, naturally, I decided to whip up my own. Cooking with olive oil is second nature to me, and infusing it just seemed like the logical next step.
Why Olive Oil?
Olive oil, a kitchen cornerstone with ancient roots in the Mediterranean, stands as a culinary powerhouse. Praised for its rich, fruity flavour and health benefits, it's a monounsaturated fats and antioxidants powerhouse. Beyond being a culinary indulgence, olive oil promotes heart health, reduces inflammation, and aids digestion.
In its raw form, extra virgin olive oil elevates salads, bruschettas, and cold dishes. Refined versions shine in sautéing, roasting, and baking, enhancing the flavours of vegetables, meats, and desserts. Whether drizzled over a salad or used as a stew base, olive oil is the golden elixir that enriches meals and nourishes well-being.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Monounsaturated fats and antioxidants powerhouse
- Promotes heart health, reduces inflammation, and aids digestion
- Enhances the flavours of vegetables, meats, and desserts
- Can be used in sweet or savoury dishes, food or beverage recipes
Ingredient Substitutions
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: This fatty ingredient is very popular amongst cannabis enthusiasts because it’s high in fat which compliments cannabinoid absorption. Olive oil generally is known to have a lower smoke point with somewhere around 325-375F. Whenever I cook with olive oil, I stick with low-medium heat to prevent it from smoking or burning. I recommend using a high quality olive oil, one that is organic and cold-pressed to maximize the health benefits and nutrient profile. Don’t like olive oil? Try cannabis coconut oil or cannabutter instead.
- Dried Cannabis Flower: You can infuse any kind of cannabis into olive oil — concentrates or flower, both work! Any strain of cannabis will work, whether it is THC dominant, CBD dominant, or a balanced THC:CBD flower. It ultimately depends on what you want to use the olive oil for. Concentrates will generally be higher in terpene and cannabinoid percentage so you may want to keep that in mind when calculating the potency of your oil.
TIPS & TRICKS
- Investing in a cannabis decarboxylating and infusing machine was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! I have both the LEVO II & LEVO C and the Ardent Fx. They are both are great options for decarbing and infusing cannabis. Both of these devices are simpler and modern ways to decarb and infuse cannabis and turn them into delicious canna infused oils, butters, and much more. They’re alot easier and cleaner to use than the traditional oven or stovetop or crockpot methods, which I find can leave a lingering odour in your home for many days. Get 10% off the LEVO oil infusion machine here.
- I recommend investing in the tCheck Cannabis Potency Tester so that you can test the potency of your canna olive oil. Whenever I make cannabis infusions, I will always use dosage calculators to determine the approximate range of cannabinoids in my infusion in tandem with my tCheck to physically test the oil just so that I have a second point of reference. Get $25 off the tCheck cannabis potency tester here.
- Decarboxylation and storage of your cannabis infusion are two very important components of the entire infusion process. Read this post on why you need to decarboxylate and what are the best ways to store your cannabis infusions.
Recipe
SERVINGS: 12
TIME REQUIRED: 3 hours
Ingredients:
- 2 cups extra virgin olive oil
- 2.5 grams dried cannabis flower
Instructions - LEVO II or LEVO C Method
- Break up your cannabis flower into small pieces or gently with a grinder.
- Add the cannabis flower to the LEVO herb pod.
- Decarboxylate the cannabis using the ‘Activate’ Setting on your LEVO for 45 minutes at 240°F. Your cannabis flower is ready when it turns into a medium rich brown colour.
- Once the cannabis is finished decarboxylating, add the olive oil into the reservoir.
- Select the ‘Infuse’ Setting on your LEVO for 1.5-2 hours at 170°F.
- After the infusion is complete, transfer the infused coconut to a glass container. Allow the olive oil to full cool before storing away.
- Store your canna olive oil in a dark cool cupboard for up to 1 year.
Instructions - Oven & Stovetop Method
- Preheat your oven to 240°F and ensure that the wire racks are placed on the middle level of your oven.
- Break up your cannabis flower into small pieces or gently with a grinder.
- Lay a piece of parchment paper onto a baking tray.
- Spread the cannabis flower evenly onto the parchment paper.
- Once the oven is preheated to the desired temperature, place the baking tray into the oven for 30-45 minutes. Check on the cannabis flower periodically to ensure that it does not burn. Your cannabis flower is ready when it turns into a medium rich brown colour.
- Using oven mitts, remove the baking tray from the oven and set aside.
- Heat up a small pot on your oven to medium heat.
- Add the olive oil and decarboxylated cannabis flower to the pot.
- Allow the cannabis olive oil to simmer on low-medium heat for at least 30 minutes, up to 2 hours. Ensure you periodically check in on the oil to ensure that the cannabis flower does not burn.
- After the infusion is complete, use a mesh sieve to separate the cannabis flower from the infused olive oil.
- Transfer the infused olive oil to a glass container.
- Allow the cannabis infused olive oil to fully cool before storing away.
Notes:
I used 2.5 grams of dried flower (Oaxacan Landrace Sativa x Maze Kush) that contained 24.8% THC and 0% CBD. Using my cannabis dosage calculator, I determined that the approximate cannabis potency would be 17 mg of THC per teaspoon.
FAQ
Q: Is olive oil good for cannabis?
A: Olive oil is an excellent choice of medium for cannabis infusions. Not only is olive oil a healthy oil and loaded with monounsaturated fats (aka healthy fats), antioxidants, and can help with reducing inflammation, it’s fat content and versatility of use makes it a great ingredients of infusing cannabis with.
Q: What is the best oil to infuse cannabis in?
A: There is no “best” oil when it comes to cannabis infusions because different oils and mediums serve different purposes. For example, cannabis olive oil may be a better infusions to use for a salad dressing, while a cannabis coconut oil may be better for a muscle cream or topical.
Q: Why is my canna oil so dark?
A: Your cannabis oil may be very dark for two reasons: either you’ve burnt your cannabis flower or oil during the decarb or infusion process, or your dried cannabis flower is very rich in chlorophyll.
Hey I’m Anna, also known as Cannabinista™
I’m a cannabis content creator, recipe developer, and enthusiast for the ancient plant. I’ve dedicated my platforms to helping you create a healthy relationship with cannabis through mindful consumption and providing education that resonates with the modern consumer.
My ultimate goal is to debunk traditional stoner stereotypes and myths, by showcasing the world of cannabis through my POV.
