Ghee
Also indexed as: Clarified Butter
Garlic, ginger root, spices, and seasonings are often sautéed in ghee
at the start of a recipe to bring out their flavors.
Ghee is clarified butter—butter from which the milk solids and protein have been
removed. This staple of traditional Indian cooking is rapidly assuming a place in contemporary
Western cooking. It provides a useful medium for sautéing because it does not burn as
easily as regular butter, while retaining much of the flavor of butter.
Varieties
Ghee is sold as traditional clarified butter, and as a blend of 50 percent clarified butter
and 50 percent vegetable oil.
Buying and storing tips
Because the protein and milk solids have been removed, clarified butter is quite stable. It
can be stored in the refrigerator for months.
Availability
Clarified butter is available in many natural foods and East Indian grocery stores, as well
as some grocery stores.
Preparation, uses, and tips
Ghee can be cooked at higher temperatures than other fats or oils without burning.
You can purchase ghee or make it at home. To make your own, begin by melting unsalted
butter over moderate heat. Stir the butter, and don’t let it boil. The milk solids will
separate into three distinct layers: foamy milk solids on top, clarified butter in the middle,
and protein milk solids on the bottom. As the butter becomes warmer, skim the froth from the
surface with a spoon, and discard it. Then carefully pour the clarified butter into a
container. Discard the milk solids. The clarified butter can be used immediately, or kept in
an airtight container in the refrigerator for three to four weeks or longer. To use, simply
re-melt.
Nutritional Highlights
Ghee, 1 tsp (5g)
Calories: 45
Protein: 0.0g
Carbohydrate: 0.0g
Total Fat: 5.0g
Fiber: 0.0g
The information presented in this website is for informational purposes only and was created by a team of U.S. registered dietitians and food experts. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements, making dietary changes, or before making any changes in prescribed medications.
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