6 Easy and Delicious Bhang Recipes You Must Try

Have you ever thought about what makes bhang such a buzz-worthy topic in India? Bhang is a traditional preparation made from cannabis leaves, and it’s been a part of Indian culture for centuries. And well, it’s kind of legal in India too.

Bhang is especially popular during festivals like Holi and Mahashivratri, where it’s enjoyed for its unique flavors and blends well with the festive vibes.

And to add a delightful twist to your festivities, we’ve come up with some great bhang recipes for you to try. They’re easy, quick to prepare, and a great way to enjoy your favorite snack or food with a buzzy twist. So, let’s gather the ingredients and bring forth the cooking.

Get Set Going With These Bhang Recipes

1. Classic Bhang Thandai

There’s no way you haven’t heard about bhang thandai if you live in India. Bhang Thandai is your quintessential Holi beverage that blends the rich flavors of nuts and spices with the smoothness of milk and a hint of bhang.

What You Need

• Bhang leaves
• 10 almonds
• 10 cashews
• 10 pistachios
• 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 4 cardamom pods
• A pinch of saffron
• 1-liter milk
• 1/2 cup sugar or jaggery powder

What You Need To Do

1. Soak the nuts and poppy seeds overnight.
2. Next morning, grind them into a paste with bhang leaves.
3. Mix the paste you’ve got with milk and then add the black pepper, cardamom pods, saffron, and sugar/jaggery powder.
4. Keep the mixture in the fridge.
5. Now, whenever you and your buds are ready, serve it cool.

2. Bhang Lassi

Now, Bhang Lassi is not unheard of, but a little less talked about than Thandai. It’s a creamy drink that’s oozing with the tanginess of yogurt and the herbal notes of bhang. And when the hot Indian summer hits, that’s when you need bhang lassi to cool down with just a pinch of buzz.

What You Need

• Bhang leaves
• 2 cups yogurt
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon cardamom powder
• 1 tablespoon rose water

What You Need To Do

1. Blend the bhang leaves to get a fine paste.
2. Mix yogurt, water, sugar, and cardamom in a blender until it’s smooth.
3. Now, it’s time to add that rose water.
4. That’s it, serve it bhang lassi on the rocks.

3. Onion Bhang Pakoras

Like your usual pakoras (fritters), Bhang Pakoras are also crispy, savory fritters that are loved by most Indians. So much so, that as Indians, we often find ourselves daydreaming about onions dipping themselves in besan (gram flour) and jumping into hot oil to become crispy pakoras the moment the monsoon rains start to pour. And what’s better? They’re infused with bhang!

What You Need

• Bhang leaves
• 1 cup gram flour (besan)
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 2 green chilies, chopped (optional)
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon red chilly powder
• Salt to taste
• Water (as needed)
• Oil for frying

What You Need To Do

1. Mix the gram flour with water to form a thick batter.
2. Add the onion, green chilies, cumin seeds, chilly powder salt, and finely chopped bhang leaves.
3. Heat oil in a pan.
4. Drop spoonfuls of the onion and besan batter into the hot oil and fry until golden brown.
5. Serve hot with chutney or tomato ketchup.

4. Bhang Goli

Bhang Goli is a small, potent treat that’s easy to make and consume. These bhang-infused balls are perfect for those looking to experience bhang in a more controlled and compact form.

What You Need

• Bhang leaves
• 1 teaspoon ghee
• 1 tablespoon jaggery (or honey)
• A pinch of cardamom powder

What You Need To Do

1. Grind the bhang leaves into a fine paste.
2. Mix the paste with ghee, jaggery, and cardamom powder.
3. Shape the mixture into small balls with your fingers.
4. Store in the fridge and consume as desired.

5. Bhang Chutney

Chutney has been a staple condiment in India. Goes with your pakoras, paranthas, and more snacks. The spicy and flavorful chutney is a perfect accompaniment to any meal with a zesty kick with the unique flavor of bhang. It’s great as a dip or a spread.

What You Need

• Bhang leaves
• 1 cup fresh coriander leaves
• 2 green chilies
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• Salt to taste

What You Need To Do

1. Blend the bhang leaves, coriander leaves, green chilies, lemon juice, and salt into a smooth paste.
2. Adjust seasoning as per your taste.
3. And voila! It’s ready to savor now.

6. Bhang Ice Cream

While the millennial generation would love the bhang recipes we’ve talked about so far, we wanted a Genz-loving recipe too. Hence, Bhang Ice Cream—a modern take on a traditional ingredient. Let’s turn bhang into a cool, creamy dessert that’s perfect for a summer day. 

What You Need

• Bhang leaves
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 2 cups milk
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• A pinch of saffron (optional)

What You Need To Do

1. Infuse the milk with bhang leaves by heating them together and then straining out the leaves.
2. Whisk together the cream, infused milk, sugar, vanilla extract, and saffron.
3. Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and churn until it reaches the desired consistency.
4. Freeze for a few hours before serving.

So, which one of these recipes are you going to try first? We’ve tried to keep the ingredients and the cooking process really simple. Even if you’re a beginner-level cook, there’s still scope for you to enjoy the good things in life.