Love Butter? Here Is a Healthy and Tasty Alternative
If you want to add a great aroma, soft and creamy texture, and bring out the flavors in your food, you just need to add one additional ingredient in the mix, butter.
From a condiment to the core ingredient in several cooking processes, butter is a staple in every kitchen!
However, like all wonderful things in the world, butter is only good in moderation. It is a calorie-dense ingredient with high saturated fat content, both of which are linked with heart disease and obesity.
Apart from the health concerns, there are some people who just cannot consume butter because of certain conditions like milk allergy and lactose intolerance.
Ghee – A healthier substitute
The choice between delicious food and health is a tough one to make. But luckily, you don’t have to compromise on either since we have the perfect alternative of butter for you – Ghee.
Ghee, which is Hindi for clarified butter, is a popular ingredient in Indian cuisine and is even used as traditional medicine in the region. Derived from buffalo or goat milk, ghee is made by heating butter to the point when the milk solids separate from the buttermilk and the liquid in it is completely evaporated.
Ghee vs Butter
So how exactly is ghee different from butter? The additional step in the ghee manufacturing process of removing milk solids changes the composition of ghee, making it more suitable in the following ways:
Lactose-free
Due to the removal of milk solids, this silky delight becomes a lactose-free substitute for butter while still not just maintaining but enhancing the aroma and silky appearance of butter.
Higher smoke point
Ghee has a higher smoke point. You can use it for dishes that require high-heat cooking, making it perfect for frying and sautéing food.
Longer shelf life
Unlike butter, you can stock up on ghee all you want since the shelf life of ghee is much longer than regular butter, and if you store it in the refrigerator, it can last up to six months.
Health Benefits of Ghee
Sharing all the best and none of the worst of butter, ghee, on its own, brings a lot to the table. Following are some of the numerous health benefits of this flavorful butter substitute.
- Reduces Inflammation – ghee contains butyric acid, a short-chain fatty acid that may help provide anti-inflammatory properties
- Helps with Weight Loss – Ghee contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), which have been found to support weight loss through energy expenditure and lipid oxidation.
- Helps Promote Cardiovascular Health – Studies show that ghee has been found to help decrease cholesterol and triglyceride levels
- Lowers the Risk of Cancer
- Enhances Stamina
- Lowers risk of Type 2 Diabetes – A 2009 study published in the journal Diabetes showed that butyric acid may help improve insulin sensitivity, which in turn lowers the risk for Type 2 diabetes
Ghee vs. Butter: Know the Difference
In terms of nutritional content, ghee and butter are the most similar.
Since their fat content is almost the same, they’re both beneficial if you’re on a high-fat, low-carb diet. However, ghee is preferable if you have lactose intolerance, as it does not contain casein (milk protein) and lactose, which can be hard to digest if you’re sensitive to dairy.