To Ghee...or Not to Ghee?

Or is it? It is for many people so I will fill you in on all the details that you need to know to decide for yourself.

 

What is Ghee?

Ghee is a type of clarified butter that originated in India and is used in an Ayurvedic lifestyle.

 

Ghee Fun Facts:

• Ghee has a higher smoke point than butter at 485 degrees compared to 350 degrees for butter. Why is this important? If you heat an oil past its smoke point, you destroy important nutrients and increase those naughty little free radicals that you definitely want to stay away from.
• The clarification process removes most of the lactose or casein, so it is less likely to aggravate a milk allergy or lactose intolerance.
• It has a more intense flavor so you actually use less than you would regular butter to get the same flavor effect.
• Ghee helps support the digestive tract and a healthy colon while decreasing inflammation in the body.
• It can help with weight loss when eaten in moderation.

 

Ghee is a good source of all the fat-soluble vitamins, A, D, E and K which means that you are supporting healthy hormones, strong bones and a balanced metabolism while protecting yourself from tooth decay and atherosclerosis. That’s a major win-win!

 

Where to find it:

Look for organic ghee in the natural foods section or in the baking section near the cooking oils of your grocery store. You may also try the international foods aisle in the Indian foods section as well. It is shelf stable, so refrigeration is not required.

 

You can even make your own if you would like to try it...here is a recipe: Ghee Recipe | Alton Brown | Food Network

 

Here are some tasty and healthy recipes to try with ghee:

Pan-Seared Lemon and Garlic Scallops Recipe | Allrecipes

Herb + Ghee Roasted Sweet Potatoes | Parsnips and Pastries

Mini Gluten-Free Apple Galettes (culinarynutrition.com)

Carrots and Rutabaga Mash | Paleo Leap

 

Try it for yourself and see what you think!