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Makes
about 500 milliliters
Author Notes
Ghee is perhaps one of the most commonly used cooking fats in Indian cooking, and it’s also one of the easiest and simplest ways to use up leftover cream or butter at home. It is a delicious ingredient to work with, a beautifully fragrant fat infused with the flavors of the browned milk solids trapped in cream (or butter). —Nik Sharma
Ingredients
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1 pound
unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
Directions
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Cube the butter and place it a medium-sized thick-bottomed saucepan. Melt the butter by heating the saucepan on medium-high heat. Stir occasionally with a large spoon.
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Skim off and discard any foam that rises and collects on the surface of the liquid. Continue to cook the liquid, stirring occasionally, until all the water is boiled out. The ghee is ready when the liquid stops making a crackling sound and has transitioned to a deep golden-yellow hue. The browned milk solids will have settled to the bottom of the saucepan. Remove the saucepan from the stove and allow to cool for 4 to 5 minutes.
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Strain the hot liquid ghee into a clean and dry glass jar by passing it through a fine mesh tea strainer or a funnel lined with a layer of cheesecloth. Seal the jar with a lid and store in a cool, dry place at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
Nik Sharma is a molecular biologist turned cookbook author and food photographer who writes a monthly column for Serious Eats and the San Francisco Chronicle and is a contributor to the New York Times. His first cookbook, Season: Big Flavors, Beautiful Food, was a finalist for a James Beard Foundation award and an International Association of Culinary Professionals award. Nik resides in Los Angeles, California and writes the award-winning blog, A Brown Table. Nik's new book, The Flavor Equation will be released in October 2020.
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