Hemp and Sunflower Seed Vegan Pate

Hemp hearts offer a wide nutrient profile including omega-3 fatty acids, healthy omega-6 fatty acids, magnesium and zinc. They are also a good source of protein, making them helpful for supporting blood sugar levels. This is a plant-based pate recipe, great on crackers, sandwiches, or on its own.

Hemp Heart Nutrition

Fatty Acid Profile of Hemp

Hemp is a great source of healthy fats. Studies that have looked at the fatty acid amounts in different varieties of seeds have found that although the proportion of fatty acids varies by seed variety, in general, the majority of the fat in hemp seeds consists of linoleic (omega-6), alpha-linolenic (omega-3) and gamma-linolenic acids (GLA) (4).

Hemp and Omega-3 Fatty Acids

The omega-3 fatty acid in hemp is the plant-based source alpha-linolenic acid (see post Getting Your Omega-3s) which makes up approximately 20-30% of its fatty acid profile. Omega-3 fatty acids have been associated with inflammatory benefits and cardiovascular health. This recipe for Hemp and Sunflower Seed Vegan Pâté offers almost 3 tbsp of hemp hearts per serving which provides us with our daily needs of omega-3 fatty acids.

Hemp and Omega-6 Fatty Acids GLA

Basic nutrition schooling tells us to “limit omega-6 fatty acids and increase omega-3s”. I have written about Getting Your Omega-3s For in the past, and we know that too much omega-6 can limit the conversion of plant-based omega-3 (linolenic acid) to EPA and DHA. Unfortunately, this doesn’t give credit to gamma-linolenic acids (GLA) which are found in a limited variety of foods including evening primrose seed oil, black currant seed oil, borage seed oil and of course hemp. Hemp’s fatty acid profile contains ~2-5% of this helpful fatty acid (1).

Gamma-Linolenic Acid and Neuropathy

Some studies have demonstrated that gamma-linolenic acid when taken orally for 6-12 months, at doses of 360-480 mg daily, could reduce symptoms as well as prevent deterioration in neuropathy (nerve damage) in patients who have type 1 or type 2 diabetes (2,3). This is likely due to GLAs anti-inflammatory benefit.

Gamma-Linolenic Acid and Autoimmune

Clinical trials have shown that a dose of ≥1400 mg/day for at least six months may be effective in improving some symptoms in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a painful autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the joints. Research is ongoing on its effects on the heart and other inflammatory conditions. (4)

What Else Is This Hemp Vegan Pate High In

One serving of this vegan pate also provides us with 50% (% Daily Value) of our daily needs of magnesium, 25% for zinc and 16% for iron. The sunflower seeds are not to be overshadowed, they are a great source of vitamin E and other nutrients. One serving of this pate provides us with 75% of our daily needs. One serving also gives us 25% of our daily Selenium requirements.

Tips

Soaking the Sunflower Seeds

Soaking the seeds does not only soften the seeds, making them easier to blend, it also helps with increasing the bioavailability of nutrients. The soaking processing helps remove the naturally occurring phytic acid which can bind to minerals, making them less available by the body.

Equipment Needed

I use my Vitamix to make this vegan pâté but have also used a good quality food processor in the past. If you are using a food processor, I recommend soaking the sunflower seeds for at least 6 hours and chopping the dill and garlic up finely. This just helps ensure the smoothest consistency for your pâté.

Notes

Making It Oil-Free

I have made the pate oil-free by replacing the oil with 2 tablespoons of water.

Alternatives to Hemp Hearts and Sunflower Seeds

Try using soaked cashews, which are equally as creamy as hemp hearts and sunflower seeds. Make sure to soak your cashews for at least 6 to help them break down more easily, but also to remove the phytic acid.

Adaptation of the Hemp Pâté

This Hemp and Sunflower Seed Pâté was adapted from Julie Daniluk. I’ve reduced the amount of dill from ½ cup for a more subtle flavour and increased the amount of turmeric for its anti-inflammatory benefit and also for colour. I used unpasteurized apple cider vinegar in place of lemon as lemon does not grow here on the island and apple cider vinegar has beneficial live bacteria cultures.

More Hemp Recipes

• Zucchini Noodle Pasta with Vegan Hemp Pesto
• Vegan Hemp Ranch Dressing
• No Bake Tahini Energy Balls
• High Protein Peanut Butter Hemp Energy Balls
• Raw Vegan Date Chocolate Bars with Hemp
• High Protein Steel-Cut Oats with Peanut Butter and Hemp Milk
• Want to know more about hemp? Check out Chia vs Flax vs Hemp – Which One Is Healthier and Sustainable

References for Hemp and Sunflower Seed Vegan Pate

1) Vogl CR, Molleken H, Lissek-Wolf G, Surbock A, Kobert J. Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) as a resource for green cosmetics: yield of seed and fatty acid compositions of 20 varieties under the growing conditions of organic farming in Austria. J Industrial Hemp. 2004;9:51-68.

2) Keen H, Payan J, Allawi J, et al. Treatment of diabetic neuropathy with gamma-linolenic acid. The gamma-Linolenic Acid Multicenter Trial Group. Diabetes Care 1993;16:8-15.

3) Jamal GA, Carmichael H. The effect of gamma-linolenic acid on human diabetic peripheral neuropathy: a double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Diabet Med 1990;7:319-23.

4) Cameron M, Gagnier JJ, Chrubasik S. Herbal therapy for treating rheumatoid arthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011 Feb 16 [cited 2011 Jul 8];(2):CD002948.