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All You Need to Know About Ghee and the Paleo Diet you will find here. After reading this article, you’ll be able to know the following:

What ghee is
Why add it to Paleo dishes/recipes
How it relates to the Paleo Diet
How to use it
Where to buy it
How to prepare it

So without further ado, let’s dive right in.

WHAT IS GHEE

Clarified butter ghee or just “ghee”, as it is called, is an important part of any Paleo diet. If you are not familiar with the Paleo basics, and have never tried clarified butter, then read on, as I’m going to tell you all about ghee and its wonderful benefits.

You will probably find the two simple methods given at the end of the article for preparing clarified butter pretty useful, in case you would rather prepare ghee yourself instead of buying it off the supermarket shelves.

Clarified butter, or ghee, as it is referred to in Indian cuisine, is butter without the milk proteins, sugar and water. It is gluten free and can fit into any primal lifestyle inspired by Paleo guidelines.

Why take it

It is recommended to those who want to stick to a 100% Paleo diet, but want a better alternative to butter, which has lactose and casein, and some people cannot tolerate. Clarified butter is an excellent addition to your Paleo recipes, especially if you are suffering from autoimmune problems or a leaky gut issue. It helps you stay safe.

Some of its benefits

One of the biggest benefits of clarified butter ghee is that it can be heated to a much higher temperature than butter, as it consists of highly saturated fat and there is no risk of burning up any of the milk solids contained within.

Ghee is considered ideal for roasting, frying and sautéing, and is used in Paleo recipes that require high-heat to be applied. It has a delectable nutty taste which you will certainly like if you are used to butter. Ghee works well with any Paleo recipe, which is why it is recommended by any Paleo diet 101.

6 REASONS TO ADD GHEE TO YOUR DISHES

Let’s look at why you might want to add ghee to your meals.

Reason #1

Ghee is solid at room temperature and is shelf-stable, which means it has a long shelf-life. Ghee does not have to be stored in the refrigerator, and does not get spoiled easily. It is long lasting.

Reason #2

Ghee consists of healthy fats. About 60 percent of ghee is comprised of saturated fat, which means it is resistant to oxidation. Ghee is high in conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which prevents diabetes, cancer and heart disease.

Reason #3

Ghee can be hearted to very high temperature. So while butter has a smoke point of 350°F, ghee has a smoke point of 485°F. So this goes well with any fried dish.

Reason #4

Ghee is rich in Vitamin K2. Vitamin K2 is considered essential for health. It helps with the proper growth of the body, mineral absorption and boosts metabolism. You can read more about the benefits of vitamin K2 in this article.

Reason #5

Ghee does not contain any milk proteins such as casein. Casein and other milk proteins should be avoided by those who are suffering from leaky gut and other digestive conditions. Ghee makes for an excellent alternative to butter and other dairy products.

Reason #6

Clarified butter adds taste to any meal. It has a buttery taste and a nutty flavor, and is very delicious.

HOW GHEE RELATES TO THE PALEO DIET

There has been a lot of debate in the Paleo community about Ghee. But is clarified butter really Paleo? After all, we know that dairy is not Paleo- the Paleo guidelines are pretty strict about that.

Why is Ghee Different?

Ghee is different because the milk solids are removed from the butter. Which is why it can be tolerated even by those who are otherwise lactose intolerant.

The fact is the major allergens that are found in dairy products such as whey and lactose are present in the protein and carbohydrate content, not in the fat portion. This is an important point.

Even so, some people who are very strict about following the Paleo basics make it a point to completely avoid all dairy products, including clarified butter. This is especially true with those who are suffering from allergies, autoimmune disorders and lactose intolerance. It can be said that trace amounts of milk solids are present even in the most carefully prepared ghee. That’s why their caution is justified.

But a lot of people, we feel, consider themselves to be sensitive to certain foods without actually trying it out. So, our advice is to go out of your way and try ghee and find out for yourself whether you like it or not.

Is Ghee right for you?

You can, for example, remove all dairy products from your diet, including butter and ghee and start taking them again a month later, to see if you have any sensitivity towards these foods.

When you take a complete break from the dairy, it gives your body a chance to reset the system. So when you reintroduce the dairy products later, it gives you a proper idea on whether you have any sort of sensitivity or not. This way, you can identify whether you have any food allergy of any sort.

So it’s hard for us to tell you whether you should make clarified butter a part of your diet. This depends on a number of factors such as your sensitivity to dairy products. Use the technique given here to check your sensitivity to ghee, and whether it is something you can take on a long-term basis.

Ghee is a nutritious source of fat and a very versatile one as it can be used with virtually anything. High quality ghee made from pastured or grass-fed butter is a quality addition to your Paleo recipes – but only as long as you have not exhibited any sensitivity to it.

GHEE AND PALEO RECIPES

If you find that you are not too sensitive to ghee, you can go ahead and made it a part of your Paleo Diet 101 and add it to your favorite Paleo dishes. If you find that you are sensitive to ghee, you can instead substitute it with another Paleo-friendly fat, such as coconut oil or lard.

Ghee can be made a part of your gluten free primal lifestyle – it adds variety to your Paleo diet and makes it more fun and interesting. It is certainly a healthy option.

BUYING GHEE

You sure can; you can always buy ghee directly from online stores that specialize in Indian food or from your local Indian food store. The important thing to be kept in mind when buying clarified butter is to make sure that it is of a high quality and unsalted, and comes from grass-fed or pasture-raised cows.

The quality of the ghee will be much higher, as is the nutritional value in such butter. The color of the ghee is far better as well. The butter obtained from cows that eat fast growing green will have orange undertones, which shows that it has a high concentration of carotenes.

PREPARING GHEE

There are two simple ways of preparing clarified butter.

Method #1: Clarifying butter by slowly melting the butter

You will need the following:

1 pound of butter
Dutch oven or any heavy bottomed pot
A large stainless spoon
A mesh strainer
A slotted spoon for removing the froth
A paper towel or cheese cloth
A jar for holding the clarified butter

Place the butter in the heavy bottomed pot and apply a low temperature so that it melts slowly. Don’t stir the butter while it is melting. When it is fully melted, use a spoon to remove the froth on top. Place the mesh strainer with the cheese cloth over the jar or bowl and slowly pour the melted butter into it. Now, let it stand for a few minutes so that the water and fat are fully separated. Next, carefully spoon off the clarified butter without collecting the water.

Method #2: Clarifying butter by boiling the butter

You will need the following (same as above, but with a slight difference):

1 pound of butter
A mesh strainer
Dutch oven or any heavy bottomed pot
A large stainless spoon
A slotted spoon for removing the froth
A jar for holding the clarified butter
A paper towel or cheese cloth

You will need to apply more heat in this method. First, use medium high heat to melt the butter and stir it now and then to prevent the formation of milk solids. Remove the froth that has been collected on top with a slotted spoon. As the butter starts boiling, allow it to boil for about 15 minutes and stir it at the same time. After all of the water has fully evaporated, the butter stops boiling. That’s it; the clarified butter ghee is ready. Line up the mesh strainer along with a paper towel or cheese cloth over a jar and pour the newly formed clarified butter into it.

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