8 Top Ghee Substitutes

by Jinal Gangar last updated -

If while cooking an Indian dish or a recipe that calls for ghee, you realize that you are short of this nutty, aromatic, type of butter, fret not. You may select the most suitable ghee substitute from the alternatives mentioned below and see no discernible difference in your dish!

Best Ghee Substitute

Butter is a great ghee substitute. You can also cook with alternatives like clarified butter, olive oil, coconut oil, canola oil, sesame oil, sunflower oil, and soybean oil. Any of these oils can be easily used as a clarified butter substitute also.

Clarified Butter

Ghee is a class of clarified butter and can be nutty in flavor. To obtain the same caramel-like flavor you can add some olive oil to your clarified butter and enjoy the dish.

Olive Oil

Extra virgin olive oil might be the healthiest option for substituting ghee while cooking. It adds a lovely flavor to all the preparations that require sautéing and roasting.

Two bowls filled with butter and ghee

What do you use more often – ghee or butter? Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Butter

Regular butter is salty in taste and can complement your dish that calls for ghee. Also, fry with regular butter after adding olive oil to it, to avoid over-browning of food. [1]

Coconut Oil

While baking, if you want to substitute ghee with a better option for a rich flavor, coconut oil can be a good choice. It gives the dish an enriched aroma.

Canola Oil

Canola oil is a versatile oil that can be used in grilling, stir-frying, and baking. Also, for sautéing vegetables or making curries, canola oil is a great ghee substitute. Use it in the same quantity as ghee for the best taste.

Sesame Oil

Sesame oil is a fragrant edible oil that can be used as a ghee substitute for salad dressings or sprinkling over the food. You can also use it in stir-fries as its aroma might enhance the taste of the dish.

A wooden spoon filled with soybeans and a bottle of soybean oil on a wooden table

Soybean oil is used in cooking and frying foods. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Soybean Oil

You can replace ghee with soybean oil while making mayonnaise for a healthy boost and change in flavor. It can be a good alternative for ghee for baking as well.

Sunflower Oil

Sunflower oil can be used for pan frying in case you are falling short of ghee or wanting to add a new twist to your dish. Sometimes can be also used for salad dressings.

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About the Author
 Jinal, an ex-banker who has completed her MBA in finance from Mumbai University, is passionate about health and wellness. She is a social media enthusiast. She has completed an online program on “Introduction to Food and Health” from Stanford University, US. On weekends you can find her in cafes or movie theaters. Positivity drives her and she finds peace in cooking, reading, and coffee!
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