Perhaps like me, you didn’t know about ghee. Kindly climb out from the rock we’ve been living under and join me as we explore a cooking fat that Indians have been using for thousands of years.
Ghee is clarified butter and it’s a staple in middle eastern diets. It’s essentially unsalted butter with the milk solids removed. You can make your own ghee by heating unsalted butter and straining it so the milk solids stay behind. The result is almost entirely lactose-free and it has a higher smoke point so it won’t turn brown when it’s used in stir-frys and sautees. It’s easy enough to make your own but it’s less hassle and possibly even less expensive to just buy a jar.
I first learned about ghee on an episode of Dragon’s Den. Former model Lee Dares started her own company, Lee’s Ghees. She offers organic flavoured and plain versions of her product and it’s going gangbusters. She closed a deal with Joe Fresh founder Joe Mimran and changed her company name to Lee’s Provisions. When she expands to retail across the country, I’ll be there to try her wares, but for now, I found another product that I’m using.
You know that wonderful, rich taste butter has when you put it on toast? This ghee doesn’t have that! Not unless you mix it with something or add a bit of salt. It’s a little bit nutty and definitely smooth, but this particular brand is almost flavourless, and it doesn’t dominate the dish. Pancakes turned out with a little something extra, stir-frys have been terrific and my coat has never looked so shiny and healthy! Okay, maybe I made that last one up. It’s added a delicious touch to pancakes and other foods I’ve made.
Ghee comes out of the kitchen in many Indian households. Some advocates recommend using it as a lip balm and a moisturizer for dry skin patches. They claim it contains immune boosters that reduce inflammation, it’s full of antioxidants and Vitamin A. However, it’s still high in saturated fat. Some also claim it helps with weight loss but gee, it can’t possibly do everything!