Ghee (clarified butter)

घी / ghī · ghee

Flavor and role

Pure butterfat made by simmering butter until the water and milk solids are removed, with a nutty aroma. Its high smoke point means it does not burn even over high heat.

Smoke point

250℃

Typical dishes and uses

Chicken biryani, dal tempering (tadka), misir wot (in place of niter kibbeh), Indian desserts

Substitutes

1 tbsp ghee = 1 tbsp half butter, half vegetable oil. You can make it yourself by simmering butter on low heat for 15-20 minutes and straining off the brown solids.

Storage

With no water, it keeps 3 months sealed at room temperature and 6 months or more refrigerated. Never put a wet spoon in it.

Main countries

India · Pakistan · Ethiopia

Used in this book

Chicken BiryaniAloo Paratha (Potato-Stuffed Indian Flatbread)ChebabDal Bhat Tarkari (Nepali Lentils, Rice and Vegetable Curry)Dal Tadka (Tempered Yellow Lentils)Doro WatFeteer MeshaltetGarlic NaanGulab JamunHareesJareeshKheer (Indian Rice Pudding)Kitfo (Leb Leb)Egyptian Konafa with Cream (Konafa bel Eshta)MadroubaMalai Kofta (Paneer and Potato Dumplings in Creamy Tomato Gravy)Malawach (Yemenite Flaky Pan-Fried Bread)MandiMolokhiaMutabbaqNihariPalak Paneer (Spinach with Indian Cheese)Roti CanaiSaleegAloo SamosaSeekh KebabSel Roti (Nepali Rice Doughnut Rings)Shiro WatTandoori ChickenSiga Tibs (Ethiopian Sautéed Beef)Apple-Filled Brown Butter ÆbleskiverDhaba-Style Aloo Gobi with Pan-Fried FloretsLahori Bhuna Lamb Aloo KeemaDhaba-Style Aloo Paratha with Homemade White Butter and Mint RaitaBasbousa bil Ishta with Orange Blossom SyrupBissara Tadka Dal with Mustard Seeds and Curry Leaves (Moroccan × Indian)Clarified-Butter Bratkartoffeln with Caraway, Marjoram and Fried EggDurban Lamb Bunny with Fresh-Ground MasalaChicken Tikka Burrito with Mint RaitaTandoor-Style Murgh MakhaniGajar Halwa Carrot Cake with Cardamom Cream Cheese (British x Indian)Pindi CholeFlaky Ghee ChapatiSoaked-Rice Chatamari with Timur Keema and Roasted Tomato AcharJaggery Banana Chatamari with Cardamom YoghurtOvernight Saffron Chebab with Whipped Cheese and Date SyrupHotteok-Style Stuffed Chebab with Brown Sugar and Pistachio (Emirati × Korean)Mini Chebab Pancake Cereal with Date-Cardamom MilkHyderabadi Chicken Dum BiryaniChicken Biryani BurritoBiryani Chicken Rice BowlDesi Ghee Chicken Karahi with Charcoal SmokeRoyal Chicken Machboos with Saffron Rice, Daqoos and Crispy OnionsCharcoal-Skewered Chicken Tikka MasalaMasala Chin Chin with Ajwain and Curry Leaves (Nigerian × Indian)Amritsari Chole with Paneer-Stuffed BhatureMasala Cornbread with Green Chilli, Cumin and Coriander (American x Punjabi)Thakali-Style Black Lentil Dal Bhat SetDhaba-Style Double Tadka Dal with Coal SmokeSizzling Tadka Lentil HummusDoro Wat Ramen with Berbere Chicken and AjitamaRestaurant-Style Egg Masala with Cashew Tomato GravyEgusi Chicken Korma (Nigerian x North Indian)Smoked Sausage Snert Dal with Cumin TadkaFatteh with Slow-Cooked Chickpeas, Fried Pita and Ghee-Toasted NutsFeteer with Ashta Cream, Honey and PistachiosGochujang Chicken Cheese Feteer (Egyptian × Korean)Cold-Fermented Roasted Garlic NaanOven-Braised Lamb Shank Ghormeh SabziHomemade Khoya Gulab Jamun with Pistachio FillingGulab Jamun Tiramisu (Indian × Italian)Shahi Haleem with Bone-In Shank and Ghee BagharChicken Haleem Rice BowlOven-Slow Lamb Harees with Cumin GheeSaffron Lamb Harira with Egg RibbonsIndian Tadka Hummus with Curry-Leaf GheeTiffin-House Idli with Fresh-Roasted SambarPodi Idli Fries with Coconut Yogurt DipOven-Stacked Döner İskenderLamb Shoulder Jareesh with Garlic TashaLamb Kabsa with Toasted Spices and DaqqusClarified-Butter Kartoffelpuffer with Smoked Salmon and Horseradish CreamGhee-Seared Beef Pilau with Crispy OnionsShahi Saffron Pistachio KheerFried Kibbeh Footballs with Pine Nut Filling and Tahini SauceCoconut Kik Alicha with Mustard Seed Tadka (Ethiopian × Indian)Mitmita Butter Kitfo Bibimbap (Ethiopian x Korean)Kitfo Smash Sliders with Whipped AyibKontomire Saag Paneer (Ghanaian × Indian)Khichdi-Style Koshari with Ghee TadkaBrined Bone-In Schabowy with Soufflé Crust and Kapusta ZasmażanaSaffron-Rose Syrup Luqaimat with PistachioSaffron Madrouba with Bone-in Chicken and Crispy OnionsCrispy Madrouba Patties with Dried-Lime Yogurt DipShahi Malai Kofta in Saffron-Cashew GravySwahili Coast Yeasted Coconut Mandazi (Mahamri)Slow-Roasted Lamb Mandi with Lamb-Juice BasmatiSmoky Mandi Chicken Rice BowlMysore Masala DosaDouble Ta'leya Molokhia with Roast Chicken and Vermicelli RiceMolokhia Ta'leya Fried Rice with a Crispy-Edged EggJuicy Pork Jhol MomoLamb Seven-Vegetable Couscous with TfayaKefta-Stuffed Msemen with Ghee LayersLamb and Leek Mutabbaq with Freshly Toasted Spices and Spicy Tomato SalsaNalli Nihari with Homemade Spice BlendNihari Puff Pastry Pot Pie with Lemon-Chilli YogurtGhee-Crisped Filo Om Ali with Cardamom MilkSeared Paneer Palak with Garlic TadkaBrown-Butter Buttermilk Pancakes with Whipped Whites and Maple ButterCharcoal-Smoked Paneer Tikka with Mint ChutneyKeema Pastel de Choclo (Indian-Spiced Beef under a Sweet Corn Crust)Keema Pastitsio with Garam Masala BéchamelOvernight Buckwheat Poffertjes with Brown Butter and Flaky SaltRaggmunk with Oven-Crisp Pork Belly and Brown ButterDhaba-Style Rajma Masala with Ghee Jeera RiceSlow-Braised Lamb Shank Rogan JoshRogan Josh Keema Loaded FriesCrisp Raw-Grated Rösti with Bacon, Shallot and GruyèreMasala Rösti with Mint-Yoghurt ChutneyOvernight-Rested Roti Canai with Malaysian Chicken Curry (Kari Ayam)Saffron Saleeg with Ghee-Basted Chicken and Crispy OnionsHalwai-Style Punjabi Samosas with Two ChutneysTihar Ghee Sel Roti with Aloo AcharCinnamon-Sugar Sel Roti with Spanish Hot Chocolate DipBanana-Cardamom Sel Roti Waffles with Honey YoghurtKeema Shepherd's Pie with Bombay MashSaag Feta Phyllo SamosasSaag Aloo Stamppot with Tadka and PaneerSaag Stoemp with Masala Fried Eggs (Belgian × Indian)Ghee-Seared Syrniki with Warm Berry CompoteSaffron-Yogurt Tahdig with PistachiosCharcoal-Smoked Tandoori Chicken with Mint ChutneySaffron-Cardamom Thiakry Shrikhand (Senegalese × Indian)Sukuma Saag Paneer with UgaliEgg-White Whitebait Fritters with Caper-Lemon Butter on Sourdough

Updated 2026-10-10