Butter makes everything better and homemade butter is truly amazing! It’s not something I make on regular basis as buying butter is way easier. But somedays I like to whisk a big batch and enjoy it fresh in several different ways. As for Ghee, it is not just a pantry ingredient for Indians, it is also very auspicious to us. We do use it for cooking and baking but also use it during most of our prayers, festivals and pour it in lamps for lighting. So make fresh butter and ghee even if very occasionally.
I grew up enjoying fresh ghee that Ma would make from scratch by collecting the malai (thick milk skin) that would float on top from boiling raw milk. Here in US, I can’t collect malai, so I use heavy cream instead to make fresh butter and ghee.
MAKING INSTANT BUTTER and INSTANT GHEE
Making Fresh butter and ghee can at times be little time taking. You can also follow and instant method:
Instant butter can be prepared by whisking heavy cream without letting it ferment. Whisk until it curdles and starts releasing butter milk. Gather the butter and wash it several times in ice cold water and you instant butter is ready.
Ghee is clarified butter which comes from cooking butter until the solid particles separates and turns golden brown. You can make ghee simmering store bought butter, strain and your instant ghee is ready.
Apart of the flavorful nutty aroma, ghee is one of those good fats that your body needs. This liquid gold is heavily used in Ayurveda for several medicinal applications and it is recommended for expecting mothers. It is also considered to be sacred and used in several religious rituals. Very rarely, you will come across an Indian pantry where ghee is not used.
Make fresh butter and ghee by fermenting the heavy cream!
In India, fresh ghee is prepared by gathering malai (thick milk skin) that forms from boiling milk and then cooling it down. The malai is gathered over a period of days thereby gets fermented in the process.
Fermenting the heavy cream with little bit of yogurt is not mandate but it will add a lovely mild tangy taste to both the butter and ghee.
Don’t ferment for more than 3 days or else it can taste too sour. Also in peak summer month, your heavy cream might ferment in just one day!
Steps to Make Fresh Butter and Ghee:
- Mix little yogurt with heavy cream and leaves it untouched at room temperature for 3 days. This will ferment the cream. Do not let it ferment for more than 3 days.
- Using a whisk attachment, whisk it. At firsts it will turn into whipped cream, then it will curdle and get very watery as it starts to release the butter milk. And in 10 minutes of whisking at high speed, you fresh butter is almost ready.
- The next step is crucial where you wash the butter in cold ice water multiple times until you see clear water. This is ensure all the buttermilk is out of the butter and you are left with just pure butter.
- Wrap the fresh butter in a muslin cloth or clean cotton cloth and squeeze out gently all the excess water.
- You fresh butter is ready. You can add salt at this point.
Steps to Make Ghee:
Simmer the fresh butter in a heavy bottom saucepan in medium heat until the solid particles separate and turns light brown. I used this beautiful concentric covered casserole from Tuxton Home. I have been using their utensils for quite sometime now and absolutely love it. Especially, this casserole is the one that I use quite often to make rice, pudding and ghee!
Strain the ghee in a clean glass jar. Ghee doesn’t need to be stored in the refrigerator.
BENGALI GHEE - While the most common ghee in golden yellow in color, more caramelized brown ghee is popular among Bengalis. The steps are no different, you just need to caramelize it further.
Keep in mind that the ghee color will fade as it sets and turns semi solid.
What about the milk solids that is at the bottom of the pan?
Those brown milk solids are one of my favorite things to eat. Of course, the milk solid contains a lot of fats, which is why it’s often discarded but if you want to use it, there are various different ways that you can.
I love it just as is with steamed white rice and a pinch of salt. Arvind tells me he loves it with sugar sprinkled on it. Here are some interesting ways to use it. Do keep in mind that it can taste good only if it’s still toasty brown and not burnt.
- Sprinkled on mashed potatoes.
- Sprinkled on savory warm porridge
- Tastes amazing in the white pasta sauce
- On steamed vegetables, omelets or a warm bowl of soup
- A delicious fudge called milk cake uses the brown bits. My mother in law makes it and I need to learn it from her.
The taste of fresh butter and ghee is unbeatable and truly amazing. I hope you will give it a try.
Enjoy fresh butter with this simple no knead bread!
Make Fresh Butter & Ghee
Ingredients
- 3 and ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- ⅓ cup plain yogurt
Instructions
- Pour the heavy whipping cream in a clean pitcher or glass container and mix the yogurt to it.
- Cover the container with a lid, plate or clear wrap. Place it in a corner in the kitchen counter so you don’t have to move it for the next 3 days. It will get fermented and will have a mild sour flavor.
- Pour it in a mixing bowl. Using a whisk attachment in your hand mixer or stand mixer, whisk for 5 minutes at high speed. It will turn into whipped cream. Continue whisking until it turns to curdle. Then place a fabric cloth around before you continue whisking. At this point it will get watery as it starts to release butter milk and start to splatter all around. Continue whisking for 5 to 7 minutes.
- You will notice it all come together and you fresh butter is now almost ready. Stop whisking.
- The next step is important as we need to remove the butter milk from the butter. Place the butter in a big bowl without the butter milk (you can drink the butter milk or use in cooking). Pour ice cold water and start mashing the butter like you are washing it. At first the water will look cloudy, discard the water and add more ice-cold water. Continue this step for 4 to 5 times or until you see clear water.
- Place the butter in a muslin cloth or clean cotton cloth and squeeze the excess water out.
- Store the fresh butter in a clean glass jar or wrap in a parchment paper. It will be creamy and perfect.
Nutrition
Pooja
This is amazing! I will definitely try this .
angiesrecipes
Awesome! I love ghee, and should make it at home too!
Amina khan
I made Ghee recently with Kerry Irish butter, no aroma at all and mine came out darker yellow, is that ok?