Ghee is one of those ingredients that can really transform the taste and flavors of the dish.
For those who don’t know, it is also known as clarified butter.
And it has been used in Indian food for thousands of years.
However, if you are new to cooking, you might not be sure how to use Ghee in your recipes.
So, here’s a quick and easy guide on the ways you can use this ingredient for cooking.
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What Is Ghee Used For? – 5 Ways To Use It In Indian Cooking
Check out the following suggestions –
1. You Can Use Ghee In Rice Dishes Like Biryanis & Pulaos
Ah, the Biryanis!
No Biryani is complete without Ghee.
And if you’ve not been using this ingredient in your preparation, you are probably doing it wrong.
That’s not how the authentic Biryani is made!
And if you take it to food connoisseurs, they won’t even call it a Biryani.
It will all just be masala rice with pieces of meat in it.
So, why does Ghee plays such an important role in this delicacy?
Firstly, it brings richness to the dish.
It adds its unique flavor and aroma to the rice and meat, which makes you want to relish this dish even more.
And finally, it helps in reducing the sharpness of spices.
This is the most important reason why you must Ghee in this type of rice dish.
The calming and soothing effect of this ingredient really helps in balancing the heat produced by the masalas and other ingredients.
Similar to Biryanis, you can also use Ghee for other rice dishes prepared in the country.
It also tastes amazing with plain rice and dal.
2. It Goes Well With Indian Curries
Yes, it does!
If you want to take your curries to the next level, you should use Ghee.
That’s as simple as that.
You don’t want to use a lot of spices or ingredients to transform the dish.
Just add a couple of tablespoons of Ghee to it, and it will do the job for you.
But when do you add Ghee to these dishes?
Well, you can use Ghee as an alternative to oil and cook the veggies or dals in it.
If you don’t want to use it this way, you can cook these ingredients in oil like the way you do.
And once the veggies are cooked, you can add Ghee at this stage.
Alternatively, you can also wait for the dish to cook completely.
Once it reaches a point where it’s almost done, you may just top it up with some Ghee.
The only difference between these two techniques is the smell.
Some people don’t like the sharp scent of Ghee in their food.
So, if you add it at the end of cooking, you will have to deal with the smell.
There is no other option here.
But if you don’t want to experience this smell, you can add it in the beginning.
3. Use It For Deep Frying
You can also use Ghee for deep frying!
It works really well for this type of cooking method.
In fact, many traditional snack makers prefer Ghee over anything else.
As I mentioned in the first point, it’s the one ingredient that makes all the difference.
Without this element, you won’t experience the same magic in your deep-fried food.
For e.g.,
Samosa!
The Samosas taste a lot different when you deep-fry them in the oil.
But when you make them in the Ghee, it just takes the whole experience to a new level.
The crispiness (khasta-pan) you get to the outer layer of Samsaos can’t be achieved with other Ghee substitutes.
This is also the reason why Samosas from traditional halwais taste a lot better than the ones you get on some of the modern snack shops.
Talking about Ghee, it has a high smoke point.
Therefore, it makes a perfect ingredient to use for the deep-frying technique.
It won’t burn easily, and your food will remain in good condition.
4. You Can Use It For Making Rotis And Other Flatbreads
Yes, you can use it while making homemade Rotis.
Here, you will have to use it at the time of kneading the dough.
When you use Ghee while kneading, it helps in making the flatbreads soft.
Don’t believe it?
You can read the detailed guide on how to make Chapatis soft here.
There is one more guide on the blog to make your Parathas soft.
You can read that as well to know more about the kneading process.
Overall, Ghee works best for making most of the Indian flatbreads.
You can also smear it on the top surface, as it also helps in softening these flatbreads.
Note: You should melt Ghee before using it on your flatbread.
It helps a lot in spreading it quickly.
As for Parathas, you can also use Ghee on your pan.
Simply add a spoonful of it to the center of the surface and place your Paratha on it.
It will add a nice touch to your Paratha.
5. Try It In Sweets
Yes, it’s not just about the savory items!
You can use this ingredient in sweets too.
Ghee is an integral part of the traditional sweets-making process.
And we use it in these delicacies for a reason.
It helps in adding a nice flavor and satiating taste to such food items.
And not just that!
You will always find the sweets made in Ghee a lot softer than those made with oil or some other substitutes.
That’s the magic of this ancient ingredient!
So, if you are making sweets for a special occasion at home, try to make them with Ghee.
You will surely experience the difference in taste, flavor, and texture.
Alright, so, these are the ways through which you can make use of Ghee in your cooking.
Use Ghee As An Accompaniment
That’s right!
Some of the traditional dishes require you to serve Ghee along with them.
For e.g.,
Puran Poli, Modak, Litti Chokha, Varan Bhat, Southern Vegetarian Thalis
And there might be many more to this list.
So, for these dishes, you can serve Ghee in a small bowl along with other respective accompaniments.
What Is Vegetable Ghee Used For?
Vegetable Ghee is known as Vanaspati Ghee.
It is often used to make deep-fried sweet and savory items.
Many snacks shop use this ingredient as an alternative to pure cow Ghee.
It is a cheaper variant.
Therefore, it makes it a viable option for such small businesses.
In the next section, I have shared answers to the FAQs around this topic.
Please have a look at them below.
FAQs
It is made from milk.
No, it doesn’t taste like Butter.
Ghee has a distinctive taste to it, and it’s quite different from Butter or similar milk byproducts.
You can use it as the main frying ingredient for your curries, rice dishes, etc.
Or you may add it as a topping on some of the dishes.
Yes, you can use it on toast.
It just tastes different than the regular butter, though.
You can simply mix Ghee in black coffee and stir it well.
You may add 1-2 tablespoons of Ghee, depending on your choice.
Over To You
So, there you go!
Ghee is a versatile ingredient and can be used in many ways.
I hope the above guide helps in understanding the ways you can use this useful ingredient effectively.
If you liked this guide, please consider sharing it with your friends and family.
You can also leave your comments below if you have any questions.
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