Ghee is one of the most popular cooking staples in India. Ghee is not only popular in India but also in some Middle Eastern Countries and Southeast Asian Countries too. It is another version of clarified butter. In India, it is mostly used to make sweet Indian dishes/recipes. Some people add it to their rice to get a very unique and unbeatable flavor. It is also used in some Indian ritual ceremonies.
If you are cooking something that calls for Ghee as the main ingredient and you don’t have Ghee right now, you need not worry now. We have a list of amazing Ghee Substitutes for you. You can choose according to what is best for your recipe/dish or available in your kitchen/pantry.
Table of Contents
What is Ghee, Actually?
Ghee is a form of clarified butter. It gives a nutty flavor. It is formed when water evaporates completely from the traditional clarified milk and fat gets eliminated from milk solids. Ghee is good or bad for us, is a subject of a long debate.
Nutrient Profile of Ghee:
- Calories: 130
- Fat: 15g
- Sodium: 0mg
- Carbohydrates: 0g
- Fiber: 0g
- Sugars: 0g
- Protein: 0g
Health Benefits of Ghee:
- Ghee is rich in conjugated linoleic acid.
- Intake of Ghee daily is good for intestinal health.
- It increases the amount of Vitamin A in the body.
- Ghee is a rich source of Vitamin E.
- It may reduce gut inflammation.
- Ghee also supports heart health.
What can I Substitute for Ghee?
Are you cooking a recipe/dish that calls for Ghee and are you stuck in your cooking process due to not having Ghee? If yes, then you are not in the same boat. This thing happens to everyone. It’s normal to forget about the main ingredient or run of out it. We are here to help you regarding its substitutes. We have listed some substitutes for Ghee right here so that you can choose accordingly what you have in your pantry/kitchen.
1. Olive Oil:
Olive Oil is a common pantry item that is always available in most homes. If you run out of Ghee, this can be a great Ghee replacement. Olive oil is found in a liquid state while Ghee is found in an almost solid state. Olive Oil helps to mimic the same nutty flavor of Ghee that’s why it refers to as a ghee alternative in some recipes/dishes. When a recipe calls for 1 cup of Ghee, you need to use 3/4 of Olive Oil to get the same consistency.
2. Canola Oil:
Canola Oil is versatile cooking oil. It is harvested from a yellow color Canola bloom. Canola Oil is healthy and is mostly used in cooking. This oil comes with the same smoke point as Ghee. It is flexible to use in stir fry, pan fry, and deep-fried dishes/recipes. We don’t recommend it for baking due to its lesser fat content. You should use 3/4 cup of Canola Oil instead of 1 cup of Ghee.
3. Coconut Oil:
Coconut Oil is another flavorful oil that adds a new dimension of flavors to any recipe/dish. There are two varieties of Coconut Oil refined and unrefined. The unrefined one has more Coconut flavor than the other one. The structure of Coconut Oil is similar to Ghee or butter. Coconut Oil is not only used in cooking but also used in some medical purposes. It can aid dry skin, and scalp, or even as a hair conditioner. It has a highly aromatic scent that can beat the aroma of Ghee in sweet desserts.
4. Sesame Oil:
Sesame Oil is popular in Asian countries. Sesame Oil has similar health benefits to Sesame Oil. It is extracted from Sesame Seeds. There are a few different types of Sesame Oil such as toasted, cold-pressed, and light. The toasted Sesame Oil replicates the nutty flavor of Ghee.
5. Rapeseed Oil:
Rapeseed Oil is the same as Canola Oil that comes from the Brassicaceae family. It is rich in erucic acid. This Oil can be consumed moderately and used in smaller contents. It works really well with savory dishes/recipes. You can saute your ingredients with a little amount of Rapeseed Oil.
6. Sunflower Oil:
Sunflower Oil is extracted from Sunflower Seeds. Sunflowers bloom perfectly in the summer season. This oil is as highly aromatic as Sesame Oil. You can use this oil as a perfect cooking oil in stir-fries and pan-fried dishes/recipes. It also works perfectly with salad dressing mixed with balsamic vinegar. We recommend not to use it in deep-fried dishes or those that take so much time in frying, Otherwise, your food would taste burnt. This replacement of Ghee is based on your personal choice.
7. Vegetable Oil:
Vegetable Oil is a generic term for any oil extracted from a plant. It is the most common cooking oil used in almost every kitchen. One of the healthiest examples of Vegetable Oil is Olive Oil. This oil is affordable for everyone and easy to use in cooking. Vegetable Oil is perfect for pan-fried and deep-fried recipes. If you are running out of Ghee, you can use any Vegetable Oil with a ratio of 1:1.
8. Butter:
Butter is the most nature Ghee substitute. It’s impossible not having butter in your kitchen. It gives the same nutty flavor and the same texture as Ghee when it is mixed with Olive Oil. This mixture of Olive oil and Butter won’t burn your food. Butter can also replace Ghee in the same ratio of 1:1. Butter has its own specialty when paired with bread, soups, baked dishes, and savory dishes/recipes. This is an easy and always available kind of substitute, using ghee instead of butter is worth using.
Can I Substitute Butter for Ghee?
Yes, you can substitute butter for Ghee. It is the most available substitute in your kitchen.
9. Clarified Butter:
Clarified Butter is more like the liquid form of typical butter. It is processed by separating the milk curd from water. After that, you get beautiful golden clear butter. It is an excellent source of fatty acids such as butyrate. This butter is helpful in reducing intestinal inflammation. Clarified Butter is flexible and used in making cakes, cookies, and other baked products.
10. Soybean Oil:
Soybeans are rich in protein. There are so many products available in the market that is made from soybean such as soymilk, soybean paste, soybean cakes, etc. It is another healthier substitute for Ghee that is perfect for baked products. Soybean is a good source of healthy fatty acids such as Omega-3 fatty acids and polyunsaturated fats. We don’t recommend it for cooking because it has a tendency to burn easily. We suggest using it on low flame. Don’t use excess Soybean Oil because it contains high levels of polyunsaturated fats which are not good for your health if you consumed too much Soybean Oil.
11. Peanut Oil:
Peanut Oil is best for mimicking the nutty flavor of Ghee in recipes. Peanut Oil is an excellent substitute for Indian dishes/recipes such as curries. It is also called groundnut oil in some countries. If you don’t have Ghee in your kitchen/pantry, you can use Peanut Oil in the same ratio of 1:1.
FAQ:-
Is Ghee healthier than butter?
Both contain 100% of calories from fat. Ghee contains a higher concentration of fat than butter.
What is better Ghee or Oil?
Pure Desi Ghee is free of polyunsaturated fats that is what makes it better than oil. Ghee is full of antioxidants that help in cleansing the body. It contains lots of vitamins such as A, D, E, and k. The highest smoke point of Ghee makes it worthy for both cooking as well as frying.
What are the disadvantages of Ghee?
1. Ghee is loaded with lots of fat. It is a laxative. 2. Daily intake of Ghee is not suitable for heart patients. 3. Ghee may reduce extra weight.
Now, you know the best Ghee Substitute. You can choose according to what you have in the kitchen or you can also buy from amazon. Please! comment down below your questions, and let us know how much informative is this article for you. 🙂
