I Can't Believe It's the Unbutter

Butter! it is one of those condiments that is used on virtually everything and gives a flavor that is quite often missed when we are forced to reevaluate our diets.

It doesn't matter if the change in diet is for health reasons or we get the sudden urge to go on a sabbatical from our unhealthy eating habits.

If you find yourself needing to change your diet for whatever reason, perhaps looking to other cultures and how they prepare their food will help you realize your goals.

If its butter your crave, then take a journey with me to learn how to make your own ghee. What is ghee you ask? ghee is what is called a clarified butter that doesn't contain things like water and solid Milk substances.

Traditionally ghee is churned from Indian yogurt. until all of the water evaporates. From there the newly formed butter is cooked again and strained and left to cool.

If you don't have access to Indian yogurt, then unsalted butter will have to do.

To begin to make ghee you will want to melt the butter in a sauce pan until golden brown. Once the butter has become a golden brown. You will want to make sure you gently scrape the bottom of the pan to bring the milk curds to the surface.

Once the curds begin to caramelize, reduce the heat to a simmer and allow the butter to cook until it forms bubbles.

Use the a cheesecloth to strain the milk solids. Strain the ghee into a clean container.

From this point this is where the your patience comes in. You will have to wait up to twelve hours for the ghee to solidify and settle. However once this process takes place, your taste buds won't be disappointed.

Once prepared ghee will keep for up to a year and as a plus doesn't need to be refrigerated.

Enjoy the rich flavor of ghee without all the health risks of regular butter.

Ghee is known in Ayurvedic medicine to rejuvenate the body as well as the soul. Indians use it daily in their food. So enjoy your own ghee and start of your new year on a healthy note.

http://www.food-india.com/ingredients/i001_i025/i007.htm

http://blog.asmartmouth.com/2008/10/10/homemade-indian-ghee-if-you-dare/