Is Ghee Vegan?

What is ghee?

A common addition to Indian, Middle Eastern and South-East Asian cooking, ghee is clarified dairy-based butter that originates in ancient India and would have been made from bovine milk, like buffalo. A clarified butter means that its milk solids have been removed so that the fat that’s left can be heated to higher temperatures without burning.  

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Is ghee vegan?

Simply put, no, ghee isn’t suitable for vegans as it’s made from dairy-based milk. However, there are a  few plant-based options that are appropriate.

Vegan alternative to ghee

Depending on how high your cooking temperatures need to be for your recipe you can opt for a plant-based butter (like one of these) for lower temperatures, like slow baking or simmering.

However, if you need to fry ingredients for a long period of time, or generally keep your food on a higher heat, then avocado or coconut oil will reach higher temperatures more happily.

Or, why not try this vegan ghee product from Fushi made with a blend of coconut and olive oil.

Keep your plant-based questions coming our way!