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Nobody Told About This Plant Protein With 9 Essential Amino Acids



What if your everyday salt could also add a boost of complete plant protein, healthy fats and minerals? That's exactly what this hemp seed protein salt (bhang ke beej ka namak) does. It's a simple seasoning premix that swaps in for regular salt in your cooking — and it's especially useful for vegetarians looking for easy plant protein. Let's clear up one big myth first, then make it.

 First: Hemp Seeds Are NOT Bhang (and Won't Get You High)

This is the confusion that gives hemp seeds a bad reputation. Hemp seeds (bhang ke beej) come from the cannabis plant — but the seeds are completely different from the plant's leaves. The intoxicating compound (THC) is concentrated in the leaves and flowers (that's what "bhang" is made from), not in the seeds. The seeds themselves contain virtually no THC — they're simply a nutritious food.

Eating hemp seeds will not get you high, and cleaned hemp seeds are sold legally as food in India.

Why Make Hemp Seed Protein Salt?

- It's a complete plant protein. Hemp is one of the few plant foods with all nine essential amino acids — rare for a vegetarian protein.

- It upgrades plain salt. Instead of just sodium, each sprinkle also delivers hemp's healthy fats and minerals, plus the digestive spices.

- It's versatile. Use it anywhere you'd use salt — sabzi, dal, salad, raita,  chaas, roasted snacks and more.

 Ingredients

- 1/4 cup hemp seeds (bhang ke beej)

- 1/4 cup iodised pink salt

- 1 tbsp roasted jeera (cumin) powder

- 1 tbsp coriander (dhaniya) powder

- 1 tsp red chilli powder or black pepper

How to Make It (Step by Step)

1. Dry-roast the hemp seeds on low heat for a couple of minutes until lightly fragrant — don't over-roast, to protect their healthy fats. Let them cool.

2. Grind the cooled hemp seeds to a coarse powder.

3. In a bowl, mix the hemp powder with the pink salt, roasted jeera powder, coriander powder and red chilli or black pepper.

4. Store in a clean, airtight jar. 

5. Use it in place of salt in your everyday cooking.

The Science: Why Hemp Seeds Are So Nutritious

Hemp seeds genuinely earn their "superfood" label:

- Complete protein: around 25–30% protein, with all nine essential amino acids and easy-to-digest proteins — unusual and valuable for plant-based diets. 

- An ideal fat balance: mostly unsaturated fats with a favourable omega-6 to omega-3 ratio (around 3:1), plus GLA, a rare anti-inflammatory omega-6 fat found in few foods.

- Minerals: a notable source of magnesium, zinc and copper.

The spices pull their weight too: cumin (jeera) and coriander (dhaniya) are traditional digestive aids and add antioxidants and flavour.

A sensible note: this is a seasoning, so you use it in small amounts — think of it as a steady boost of protein, good fats and minerals on top of your food, rather than a full protein serving. And because it's salt-based, use it in place of your regular salt (not in addition to it), and go easy if you're watching your sodium.

How to Use Hemp Seed Protein Salt

- Sprinkle on sabzi, dal, khichdi or rice

- Stir into raita, chaas (buttermilk) or curd

- Season salads, roasted makhana, nuts or popcorn

- Finish chaat, fruit or roasted veggies

Basically, anywhere salt goes, this can go — with a nutrition upgrade.

Storage

Keep it in an airtight jar in a cool, dark place. Because hemp's oils can turn rancid over time, make small batches and use within a few weeks; refrigerate for longer freshness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do hemp seeds (bhang ke beej) get you high?

No. The seeds contain virtually no THC. The intoxicating part of the plant is the leaves and flowers (bhang), not the seeds.

Are hemp seeds a complete protein?

Yes — they contain all nine essential amino acids, which is rare for a plant food, making them great for vegetarians.

Are hemp seeds legal in India?

Yes, cleaned hemp seeds are sold legally as food in India.

How much hemp seed protein salt should I use?

Use it in place of your normal salt, in the same small amounts. It's a seasoning, not a protein supplement.

What can I use it on?

Anywhere you'd use salt — dal, sabzi, salad, raita, chaas, roasted snacks and more.

Does roasting reduce the benefits?

Light roasting is fine and brings out flavour. Avoid over-roasting on high heat, which can damage the delicate healthy fats.

Bottom Line

Hemp seed protein salt is a smart little upgrade to an everyday staple: in place of plain salt, you get a seasoning that also carries complete plant protein, healthy fats, minerals and digestive spices. It's easy to make, keeps well in small batches, and — to be clear — won't get you high. (This is general information, not medical advice.)

This is part of my protein salt premix series. Do check my salt premix ebook free for download here.

REFERENCES (NIH / PubMed / PMC):

• Hemp as food & nutritional supplement (review): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7891210/

• Hemp seeds as functional-food ingredients (review): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11085560/

• Hemp seeds, THC & safety: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5665515/

• Cannabis sativa in food — from prohibited drug to supplement: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8708517/


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