What is Ghee and How Does it Differ from Butter?

Ghee brings all the rich flavor of butter without the risk of burning, making it an essential pantry staple. A little scoop can elevate dishes like homemade pancakes, hash browns, chicken, and more. Here’s why this underrated ingredient deserves your attention:

What Exactly is Ghee?

Ghee is essentially a form of butter. It’s very close to clarified butter, with only a few subtle differences.

Clarified butter is created by melting butter until the milk solids separate and the water evaporates, leaving behind pure fat. This gives you all the flavor of butter, minus the milk solids.

Ghee takes clarified butter to the next level: The milk solids are allowed to brown slightly before being strained, infusing the fat with a rich, nutty flavor from the toasted solids.

This method also eliminates the lactose and casein found in butter, making ghee a great option for those who are lactose intolerant. It won’t affect you the way butter does.

What Is Ghee Made From?

Ghee contains only one ingredient: butter. The process of cooking transforms butter into ghee. Unsalted butter is typically preferred for making ghee, though any butter will work. Higher quality butter yields more flavorful ghee.

Ghee vs. Butter

Butter is about 80% fat, 16% water, and 1% milk solids (salted versions include around 1% salt). Ghee, on the other hand, is almost entirely fat, with the water evaporated and the milk solids removed.

If you’ve ever tasted brown butter, that rich, nutty flavor comes from the milk solids toasting. However, if you heat butter too long or at too high a temperature, those solids will burn, ruining the taste of your dish.

Ghee vs. Oil

Many people choose oils for high-heat cooking or baking because they can withstand higher temperatures without burning. The downside is that most oils lack the rich flavor of butter. By removing the milk solids, as you do when making clarified butter or ghee, you can cook at high temperatures while preserving the butter’s delicious flavor. It’s the perfect combination of both worlds!

What Does Ghee Taste Like?

Ghee has the unmistakable taste of butter, but with an added richness. The browned milk solids infuse it with a deeper, almost caramelized flavor. A small spoonful can intensify the taste and complexity of any dish. With the water evaporated, the flavor is more concentrated, amplifying butter’s signature indulgence. If you're a butter lover, ghee will be your new favorite.

How to Make Ghee From Butter

If you have butter, you're already set to make homemade ghee. Here's how to do it:

1. Begin with the highest-quality butter you can afford. Look for organic, grass-fed options. European or Irish-style butter can contain up to 90% fat, making for an especially luxurious ghee.
2. Place the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Choose a pan larger than necessary, as the butter will sputter a bit.
3. Let it melt gently. Once melted, watch it closely: The difference between browned butter and burnt butter is just seconds. The solids will rise to the surface, then you'll see foam and bubbles. Eventually, the solids will sink, settle at the bottom of the pan, and begin to brown.
4. Once the foam subsides and the sputtering stops, the solids will be perfectly browned. At this point, turn off the heat. The residual heat will continue cooking the solids, so shut off the heat immediately once the foaming ends to avoid burning.
5. Let the butter cool to room temperature, then strain it through cheesecloth into a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Store it at room temperature.

Ghee Substitutes

If you don’t have ghee or time to make it, clarified butter can be a quick substitute:

Melt the butter on the stovetop and gently skim the white milk solids off the surface using a spoon. This method might not remove all the solids, and because it doesn't allow all the water to evaporate, the flavor might not be perfect for high-heat cooking. Any remaining solids could burn, affecting the taste.

Recipes to Try with Ghee

So, you've made your batch of ghee and are wondering, “What’s next?” The good news is that ghee is incredibly versatile. You can use it for roasting, sautéing, frying, or any dish that calls for a rich, buttery flavor with a high smoke point. Ghee is especially popular in Indian and South Asian cuisines, so why not try cooking your favorite Indian recipes at home? If you’re looking for ideas, check out some of our top ghee recipes:

• Curry Stand Chicken Tikka Masala
• Caesar Salad Croutons 
• Gulab Jamun
• Classic Hash Browns
• Indian Naan