How to host a 4/20-friendly Passover dinner party

Passover is hardly a Jewish holiday I’ve looked forward to—not least of all because it involves eight days of no bread, which isn’t so easy if you’re not gluten-free. The night itself can also be pretty somber. It consists of a long reading to commemorate the liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery. (There’s an entire passage devoted to reciting plagues.)

She managed to find ways to work the plant into pretty much every aspect of her gathering—the matzo ball soup included.

When I moved to Los Angeles, I was excited about the possibility of experiencing the springtime holiday “California-style”, i.e. with the sweet scent of cannabis filling the air. Lucky for me, my new friend and favorite reiki chef, Lauren Unger of Hint of Greens, decided to spice up her seder this year by incorporating the plant into her dinner party plans.

She managed to find ways to work the plant into pretty much every aspect of her gathering—the matzo ball soup included—and says it’s actually super easy to replicate the experience at your next get-together.

Here are her 4 tips for hosting the cannabis dinner party of your dreams—plus a recipe for “potzo” ball soup.

1. Invite your most-friendly cannabis crew

Lauren, who I met at one of my cannabis women’s circles, invited the people in her life who would most enjoy the experience. As a result, we all connected over our mutual love for marijuana and the seder meal.

2. Decorate your table with fresh buds

Remember that cannabis is a flower, so you can use both joints and buds as table decorations. Lauren also offered guests fresh strains to smoke, curating the experience by starting the night by passing around a sativa hybrid (typically considered to be a more invigorating form of marijuana) before moving to an indica (known for eliciting mellow vibes) later in the evening.

3. Be mindful of dosing

Start with microdoses so everyone can be mindful of their individual tolerances. Lauren integrated infused food, vaporizers, and joints so everyone felt comfortable. She also had CBD on hand in case anyone wanted a non-psychoactive experience.

4. Make your guests “potzo” ball soup

Why make matzo balls when you can make potzo balls? The recipe for the chef’s cannabis-infused spin on the classic dish is below. (She also recommends offering guests an un-infused option.)

Potzo Balls

Yields 5–6  servings

Ingredients1 package of matzo ball mix2 large eggs2–3 Tbsp club soda1/4 cup grapeseed oil2 drops cannabis-infused olive oil per ball

1. In a medium bowl mix 2 large eggs with 1/4 cup of grapeseed oil. Add matzo ball mix. To make the balls fluffy, add just enough club soda to moisten the mixture—be careful not over water.

2. Let the mixture stand for 15 minutes. If you have enough broth to cook your matzo balls in, bring it to a boil in a large pot with a tight fitting lid; otherwise, you can use water.

3. Using wet hands, form matzo mix into balls about the size of walnuts,  and place 2 drops of cannabis oil into each one as you roll it.

4. Carefully drop the balls into boiling water, cover tightly, and reduce heat to a simmer Cook for 30 minutes.

5. Serve with chicken or vegetable broth and enjoy—as long as you’re in a state where cannabis is legal.

This post was originally published on April 12, 2017; updated on April 19, 2019.

This spring carrot tartare with hemp seeds is the perfect side dish for your potzo ball soup. And in case you’re new to the conversation, here’s what you need to know about the cannabis wellness trend taking over in 2017.