Do you know about Ghee?

Ghee…a healthy fat, is a type of clarified butter that’s been cooked a bit longer to give it a nutty flavour.

It’s got some fantastic properties that make it both healthy and good to cook with.

It is made by heating butter slowly until all the water cooks off and the proteins coagulate in the bottom of the pan. 

The ghee is poured off and strained, solidifying once it has cooled. Ghee is cooked longer than traditional clarified butter which gives it a nutty, butterscotchy aroma.

When it comes to purchasing or making your own ghee, make sure the butter is from grass-fed, organic cows: If the butter is white or very pale yellow, it’s probably not high-quality.

The fat produced from grass-fed cows is superior to that of grain fed, as is the meat of course.

But, isn’t it dairy?

Technically…. BUT!

The reason why dairy is not great  is because it can cause inflammation, sensitivities and intolerances. (Milk is a complex brew of proteins, carbohydrates and fat of which people are generally sensitive to either the proteins or the carbohydrates, not the fat.)

Ghee is pure butter fat without the components that can make dairy problematic for many people. 

Note: If you’re really dairy sensitive, trace amounts of these proteins—such as casein—may remain and cause issues, but for most people it doesn’t.

So what’s so special about this delicious, golden butterfat?

Cows that feed on grass produce butterfat with more conjugated linoleic acid (a fatty acid), vitamin K2, beta carotene (which is why it’s so vibrant yellow), vitamin A and a better Omega-3 fatty acid ratio than those fed on grain. Try to go with ghee made from grass-fed butter when you can.

And, butterfat is high in saturated fatty acids. In other words, it’s a healthy fat.

Ghee is a fantastic fat to use in the kitchen for these reasons:

It has a really high smoke point: 485°F (252°C), far higher than coconut oil, olive oil, lard, butter, etc. This makes it ideal for high temperature cooking.

It’s incredibly shelf-stable. Ghee will last for months without refrigeration, though it’s recommended that you store it away from direct light and heat and only use clean, dry utensils to remove it from its jar. Keep it tightly covered when not in use.

It has a rich depth of flavour and adds a complexity to many foods that can’t be achieved with other oils or fats. Plus, if you don’t like the taste of coconut oil ghee is a great alternative.

Have you tried it? What do you think?

If not Ghee, then KERRYGOLD BUTTER is a great alternative …. 

YES!!! Really …. Butter is back!!!! ( unless dairy does not agree with you of course).

I’d love to hear your thoughts and opinions!