05 Apr The wonders of clarified butter/ghee and why I love it plus video on how to make your own
As a child, I didn’t really know much about clarified butter. My parents never used it because there were so many other cooking fats to choose from. I always thought of it as something fancy and French, like a distant relative I only read about in cooking magazines. It wasn’t until my early twenties that I finally got to try it. My true adventure with clarified butter, or ghee, began when I started studying Ayurvedic medicine as part of my journey towards a healthier life. This golden nectar is a highly prized and famously used in cooking but not limited to. Ghee is one of the most ancient and sattvic ( pure ) foods known with its specific action known as prabhava for healing and repairing the body. It synergizes with the food nutrients and nourishes the body constituents. It may be used as a base for herbal salves to treat skin rashes, burns and other conditions. It promotes lubrication of body tissues and helps in transportation of toxins out of the body. During preparation, the butter undergoes a process that removes most of the lactose, casein and milk solids that anyone with dairy intolerance struggle with and in result we have a form of butter that is much easier to digest. When you take out the milk solids and water from butter, ghee ends up with a more robust and intense flavor compared to regular butter. People often say it has a nuttier, richer, and deeper taste than butter. When using ghee in your cooking, you might notice that you require less of it to achieve that delicious, buttery flavor. Clarified butter is ideal for cooking as it does not burn easily ( it has high smoking point ).
Here are some other wonderful benefits coming from consuming Ghee:
- Great source of fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and small amount of vitamin K ( especially grass fed butter ) so important for maintaining good vision and healthy skin. If you have conditions like leaky gut syndrome, IBS, or Crohn’s, it’s important to pay extra attention to this. Your body might struggle to absorb fat-soluble vitamins, which is where ghee comes in. It can give you a much-needed dose of these nutrients to support your overall health and meet your daily requirements. Furthermore, it contains butyric acid and conjugated linoleic acid, which are linked to various health advantages like decreased inflammation and enhanced weight loss.
- Ghee is rich in conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a fatty acid that has been linked to numerous health benefits. Several studies have shown that CLA can help decrease body fat, protect against cancer, reduce inflammation, and even lower blood pressure. It’s worth noting that grass-fed dairy products contain a higher amount of this beneficial fatty acid. So, whenever you can, choose grass-fed ghee or make your own ghee using grass-fed butter.
- Adding some ghee to your meals on a regular basis can assist you in fulfilling your vitamin K requirements. Vitamin K plays a crucial role in various health functions, including blood clotting, heart health, and brain function. Moreover, it plays a vital role in maintaining strong and healthy bones and when paired with a nutritious lifestyle, can have a significant impact on your overall health.
If you’re interested in giving ghee a try, there are plenty of brands to choose from both online and in stores these days. To get the most health benefits, I recommend looking for an organic variety that is preferably made from grass-fed cows. Personally, I used to purchase ghee online because I couldn’t find any organic options at my local store. However, I eventually decided to give making my own a shot. Once I realized how simple the process was, I started using my own homemade clarified butter exclusively. Check out the video below where I share my easy step-by-step guide. I hope you find it helpful and enjoy making your own ghee!
with love,
Basia