Cannabis Pesto Pasta
A vibrant basil-pine-nut pesto blended with infused olive oil. Bright, fresh, and ready in 20 minutes.
Ingredients
- 12 oz linguine or trofie pasta
- 3 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
- 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1/2 cup parmesan, grated
- 1/3 cup cannabis-infused olive oil (~20mg THC total / ~5mg per serving)
- 1/4 cup regular extra-virgin olive oil
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
How to make it
- 1
Cook pasta in well-salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining.
- 2
In a food processor, pulse basil, pine nuts, garlic, parmesan, and lemon juice until finely chopped.
- 3
With the motor running, drizzle in the regular olive oil first, followed by the cannabis-infused oil to keep things at a gentle temperature.
- 4
Season the pesto with salt and pepper to taste.
- 5
Toss hot pasta with pesto in a warmed bowl, loosening with reserved pasta water until silky—do NOT cook the pesto in a hot pan.
- 6
Top with extra parmesan, a few whole basil leaves, and toasted pine nuts.
Cooking tips
- Tossing—rather than cooking—the pesto preserves the cannabinoids in the infused oil.
- Pinene-rich strains harmonize with basil and pine nut; Dutch Treat is a classic pairing.
- Leftover pesto freezes beautifully in ice cube trays for single-portion dosing.
Dosing calculator
Start low, go slow. Adjust the THC per serving below to plan the right total infusion for this recipe.
Edible onset is typically 30–90 minutes. Wait 2 hours before re-dosing.
Start Low, Go Slow
If new to edibles, begin with 2.5–5mg THC per serving. Effects may take 30–90 minutes to onset and can last 4–8 hours. Do not drive or operate machinery. This is not medical advice. Full disclaimer
Best paired with
Pair with these strains
Each one matches the pinene story of this dish.
Blue Dream
Hybrid
Relaxing • Creative • Happy
Dutch Treat
Hybrid
Uplifting • Focused • Calming
Jack Herer
Sativa
Focused • Creative • Energizing
Why this pairing works
Pinene — in your strain and on your plate
Pinene is the terpene of the forest. It famously sharpens focus and counteracts the foggy edges of THC, making pinene-forward strains a great match for herb-driven, woodland-style cooking.