Is ghee vegan? All You Need To Know About Ghee – 2023

Ghee is a unique ingredient that is often used in Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi cuisine as well as in various Ayurvedic treatments. Characterized by a nutty and rich flavor, ghee is used in a variety of recipes from desserts to curries and has become extremely popular in the Western world in recent years.

This ingredient is often used in place of oil or butter and is also famous for its lack of lactose, but is ghee vegetarian? Let’s find out together.

What is ghee?

Nothing but ghee Clarified butter is often made from buffalo or cow’s milk. Considering this, it may already seem pretty obvious to most of you that this ingredient cannot be considered vegetarian. But as is often the case in the vegan world, the answer is a bit more complicated than that. In fact, despite being derived from butter, some people consider ghee suitable for a plant-based diet.

This is mainly because, Technically speaking, this ingredient contains no lactose as most of it is removed during its manufacturing process. Unfortunately, however, ghee should not be included in a vegetarian diet. This is due to various reasons. Although this ingredient may not contain lactose, it is still a dairy product as it is derived from milk and more specifically butter. In other words, unlike glycerin, it is impossible to make real ghee without causing suffering to animals.

So, how is ghee produced?

How is ghee produced?

Ghee is made by boiling the butter which separates the liquid fat and milk solids inside this ingredient. Once this happens, the milk solids are removed, which is why some people consider this ingredient suitable for vegetarians.

However, as we mentioned above, Ghee should not be included in a plant based diet. In fact, there is no way to produce ghee without butter, which is an animal product. This means that cows and other livestock will always be used for their production process. Simply put, like milk and butter, ghee contributes to animal suffering and harms the environment.

Is ghee vegan?

Simply put, no. Ghee is not vegetarian. This ingredient is derived from butter and contains dairy.

Foods that may contain ghee

Ghee is an ingredient often present in Asian recipes. For this reason, it is always important to check with your waiter whether the food you order is suitable for vegetarians or contains ghee.

Some foods that commonly include these dairy products curryEspecially from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, NanA type of flat bread made from curd and ghee, and various types of sweets kaju katli to kheer, and tres leches cake.

Vegan Ghee Alternative

But there is no reason to despair. As with pesto, there are also several vegan alternatives to ghee that you can use in your kitchen. They mostly use vegetable oils and spices to mimic the taste and texture of ghee. You should be able to find this in your local supermarket labeled as such ‘Vegan Ghee’.

If you live in a small area, you may be less likely to find this ingredient. In this case, you can try buying it online or opt for other options. In fact, ghee is often used in place of butter or oil and can easily be replaced by vegan alternatives. For example, you can use coconut and avocado oil in any recipe that calls for this ingredient

Vegan Ghee Recipe

Alternatively, if you want to use real ghee but can’t find a vegan version in your local store, you can always make your own. The process is quite simple and quick.

1. Start by heating your desired amount of coconut oil in a pan and bring to medium heat.
2. Once it starts smoking, turn off your hot plate. You can now take five to six fresh curry leaves along with two guava leaves and grind them on your palm.
3. Add them to the mixture with a pinch of turmeric powder And start stirring your mixture for a few minutes.
4. Leave your ghee to rest for about an hour And then transfer it to a sealable container to store in the fridge. And terrible! Your plant-based ghee is ready to use.

Frequently Asked Questions