8 reasons why ghee is good

Ghee also known as clarified butter is an ingredient that is indigenous to India.  Right from Kashmir to Kanya kumara and Gujarat to Assam, ghee finds use in culinary tradition in every part of the country. Ghee (in Hindi) or gheeo (in Punjabi) or toop (in Marathi) is an all important part of Indian cooking. Ghee is nothing but clarified butter that is prepared by boiling butter and removing the residue. Ghee is healthy fat and is a natural byproduct of milk. It is used in several recipes across India and in some other parts of Asia and the Middle East. Ghee is to India what blood is to your veins. The aroma and taste of ghee are very characteristic and automatically makes the dish richer and heavier. Ghee can be easily made at home or you can buy it from several brands available in the market. It can be filled in an airtight container and be stored for several months without getting spoilt.

World Wide Fame

However you might be surrised to know that several parts of the world also use ghee in their cooking, albeit calling it by different names. It is known as samna baladi in Egyptian Arabic and is an important ingredient in not only Egyptian cuisine but also in Ethiopia. Where it is known as  niter kibbeh and used in much the same way as ghee, but with spices added during the making process that result in a lovely distinctive taste. The Moroccans take the trend of flavoring ghee, which they call smen, even further by aging the spiced ghee for months and sometimes even years. In Northeastern Brazil, a non-refrigerated butter very similar to ghee, called manteiga-de-garrafa (butter-in-a-bottle), is extremely popular too.

Myth Busted

Coming back to the desi ghee we are familiar with you should know that it has several uses and benefits listed in Ayurveda and the western world is just opening up to it. For the longest time ghee has been thought to be unhealthy, in the recent past however this myth has been busted. Ghee is rich in butyric acid which is great for cleansing the gut and keeping away digestive problems. It is believed that ghee helps to balance excess stomach acid, and helps to maintain and repair the mucus lining of the stomach. Ghee does not contain salts and can be eaten by people who are on a low sodium diet.

While ghee does contain fats, but the fats in ghee are much better than those in butter or vegetable oils. However those who suffer from obesity or have high cholesterol should stay away from ghee. Otherwise there is nothing wrong with including moderate amounts of ghee in your diet. There must be something beneficial about it because of which our dadi’s and nani’s are constantly layering our breakfast paranthas with Ghee. Let’s find out what it is.

Benefits of Ghee

·         High smoking point: Ghee has a high smoking point. It has stable saturated bonds because of which it is less likely to make harmful free radicals when being cooked at high temperatures. Ghee also has short chains of fatty acids and is easier to digest as compared to other forms of fat.

·         Vitamins: Ghee contains high amounts of Vitamins A, D, E and K. These are fat soluble vitamins i.e. vitamins that enter our blood stream through a medium of fat. Ghee has lots of dietary fats which enable our body to absorb and make use of these vitamins.

·         Digestive: Ghee aids the smooth functioning of the digestive system.  Having one teaspoon of ghee in the morning followed by warm water is said to stimulate bowel movement.

·         Heals wounds: According to ayurveda ghee mixed with honey can be applied on wounds, blisters and inflammation to effectively cure them.

·         Good Cholesterol: Ghee is free from trans-fat and hydrogenated fats which are very unhealthy. Ghee promotes the increase of HDL or good cholesterol in the body.

·         Salt & Lactose free: As the milk proteins have been removed during the clarifying process, ghee gains further nutritional value for being lactose free and a much safer alternative for those who have milk allergies or lactose intolerance. 

·         Good for Brain and Immunity: Ghee boosts the activity of the brain as well as the immune system. Including ghee regularly in your diet can make your brain more active and increase immunity.

·         Other benefits: Ghee also helps to remove impurities from the body, makes gums and teeth strong, improves eyesight and makes muscles strong.

Recipes and uses galaore

When it comes to uses in the kitchen there are numerous. You can use it to add an extra hint of richness to literally anything. . It can be used as a medium to deep fry, shallow fry, for tempering certain dishes or just added on top of some dishes for the unique earthy flavor it provides. Besides the fabulous flavour, another reason why cooking with ghee is great is because of its high smoking point which doesn’t allow the food to burn easily. Right from pulaos and biryani which are incomplete without the earthy taste of ghee to a Punjabi style chicken curry – everything tastes better when made with ghee. A dollop of ghee melting on a hot parantha is one sight that is sure to make your mouth water. Another recipe that you should try is a South Indian style ghee roast to enjoy the flavour of ghee. Even when it comes to Indian mithais and sweets ghee is the best way to go. Whether you are making a batch of simple halwa with just a small spoon of ghee or a more complicated indulgences like a Ghevar or jalebis, which are deep fried - using ghee as the fat in the recipe will ensure a great taste.

Here is a how you can make desi ghee at home

To make desi ghee you need 1 kg of unsalted butter or white makkhan and a muslin cloth. You also require a nonstick pan or kadhai.  To begin transfer unsalted butter in a non-stick pan. Clean it under running water and throw away all the extra water keeping the unsalted butter. Then heat the unsalted butter in a non-stick pan for 45 minutes on low heat or till the moisture evaporates and the milk solids settle. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. Strain the ghee using a muslin cloth. Bring down to room temperature, store and use as required.