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Looking for a substitute for ghee? Ghee is a type of clarified butter or oil that has a high smoke point (the temperature at which fats begin to break down). It is commonly used in Indian cooking.
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Ghee is also known as “clarified butter” because it contains no milk solids. It is made from butter that has been heated until the water evaporates. This leaves only the fat behind. The remaining liquid is then strained out and discarded.
Ghee is often recommended as a healthier substitute for butter, but it does contain saturated fat, which raises cholesterol levels.
Although, what can you use when you don’t have any ghee available? In this article, we are going to give you a substitute for ghee that you can use in any recipe.
Clarified Butter
Clarified butter is a type of ghee. It’s made by heating milk until it separates into solids (butter) and liquid (cream).
Clarifying butter is done because it contains too much water to make traditional ghee. Although clarified butter is also called “ghee” in India, thus the two products are very similar, and you can use them interchangeably in recipes.
However, clarified butter isn’t the best option if you are watching what dairy you are eating or if you eat a plant-only diet. Yet if you don’t mind the high-fat content in clarified butter, then this is the best and closest substitute to ghee that you can get.
It is also a preferred choice when it comes to deep-frying, as it will give you a crisp coating but it doesn’t interfere with the flavors of the food.
Sesame Oil
Sesame oil is a great alternative to ghee. You can use it in place of ghee in recipes, and it tastes similar to ghee. Sesame oil is considered one of the best alternatives to ghee, due to the nutty flavor that it provides you with.
There are different blends of sesame oil, which can all be used in replacement of ghee. However, we would suggest that you stick with toasted sesame oil because the toasted seeds are exposed to high heat. This then results in the natural flavors being heightened.
Canola Oil
Canola oil has a smoke point similar to ghee, thus this will make cooking times in your recipes be very similar.
Canola oil is much healthier than other oils because it contains less saturated fats. It does still contain some saturated fat, but the amount is very low.
Alongside that, canola oil has a very neutral taste. It doesn’t really have a flavor. For some people, this may be an issue, yet for others who use this oil alongside spices in a curry, you won’t notice that the oil isn’t bringing any more flavor to the dish.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is considered a much more expensive option, so this won’t be the best alternative for everyone.
Ghee is known and used for the nutty flavor that it provides and influences your cooking. As a result, coconut oil is seen as a great alternative, as it offers you a similar taste profile.
The flavor it will provide you with isn’t exactly the same, but it is quite close to being quite convincing.
However, coconut oil is delicious anyway and will blend with all your other ingredients easily.
Compared to some of the other oils on this list, coconut oil is much thicker.
Therefore, you can use it as a direct substitute for ghee. So, the ratio for ghee and coconut oil is 1:1.
Rapeseed Oil
Rapeseed oil is another high-quality oil that can replace ghee in recipes. It has a nutty flavor, but this is overshadowed by the other ingredients in your recipe.
Rapeseed oil has many benefits, such as improving eyesight and boosting immunity.
However, rapeseed contains high amounts of erucic acid. Therefore, we would only suggest using this oil occasionally, as it could cause health problems if consumed in large quantities. The best way to substitute this oil is with a 3:4 ratio.
Olive Oil
This is another substitute that you might already have in your kitchen. You’ll be amazed at how well this simple staple oil works as an alternative to ghee!
Olive oil is known to have a nutty flavor like ghee, while it also has citrus and peppery flavors as well. Yet, these other flavors won’t interfere with the flavor of your dish, but they will add extra depth to it.
Olive oil is definitely more expensive than Ghee, but it’s certainly much healthier, thus olive Oil is an excellent alternative to Ghee. It provides many health benefits and should be used with a 3:4 ratio.
Vegetable Oil
Vegetable oil is a common ingredient in many dishes. You should use it instead of ghee when you want to create a similar effect.
A benefit of using vegetable oil is that it can be used as a replacement for ghee because it doesn’t reduce the amount of water needed by the recipe.
Also, it has a very neutral flavor, which won’t affect your dish. The ratio to use vegetable oil as a substitute for ghee is 1:1.
When To Substitute Ghee
Ghee substitutes are used when people want to avoid having dairy products in their diet. Ghee is made by cooking butter until it separates into two liquids.
This process creates a rich and flavorful product that is high in saturated fat. Hence, if you are on a strict diet then ghee may not be the best ingredient to be used in your cooking.
Dairy allergies are an inconvenience for some people. Some people who have dairy allergies prefer to eat ghee instead of butter, however depending on how the ghee is made this may not be wise.
For the majority of the ghee products, there are still milk solids, so while ghee may contain less lactose, it isn’t completely free of it. As a result, if you are sensitive to dairy or lactose intolerant, then you should be considering a ghee alternative.
Alongside that, vegans will also have to look for a ghee alternative, as ghee contains cow’s milk. Fortunately, the substitutes we have mentioned above are vegan friendly.
Final Thoughts: Substitute For Ghee
Ghee is a beloved ingredient used in Indian cooking, however, sometimes it can be used. Therefore, we have given you the best substitutes that you can use instead of ghee.
These substitutes won’t affect the flavor of your dishes, but allow you to make your favorite dishes even when you can’t use ghee.
Your turn! Will you be trying a substitute for ghee?
For more frequently asked questions, visit our index of food-related questions and answers. Here are a few suggestions for you: