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Curry Chat => Lets Talk Curry => Topic started by: Edwin Catflap on June 23, 2013, 12:06 PM

Title: Opinions on ghee
Post by: Edwin Catflap on June 23, 2013, 12:06 PM
Hi, made a butter chicken yesterday and used a teaspoon of ghee as recommended and found that I really don't like the tang of it. What are your guys opinions?

Ed
Title: Re: Opinions on ghee
Post by: Peripatetic Phil on June 23, 2013, 12:25 PM
Hi, made a butter chicken yesterday and used a teaspoon of ghee as recommended and found that I really don't like the tang of it. What are your guys opinions?

I have found that there can be an enormous difference between the flavour amd aroma of (the contents of) two tins of ghee, even of identical brand, depending on how they have been stored,  I will now buy my ghee only from a refgigerated display, never from an ambient temperature shelf.  Ghee from the latter can sometimes taste foul and rancid.  Fresh ghee, however, definitely adds a certain je ne sais quoi to many BIR dishes (pulao rice, for example, or mushroom bhaji).

** Phil.
Title: Re: Opinions on ghee
Post by: currylover40 on June 23, 2013, 01:59 PM
Just bought some ghee , never have before. Should i refrigerate it or keep in cupboard ?
Seems to be mixed opinions when i've done a search.
Title: Re: Opinions on ghee
Post by: goncalo on June 23, 2013, 02:52 PM
Just bought some ghee , never have before. Should i refrigerate it or keep in cupboard ?
Seems to be mixed opinions when i've done a search.

According to this F.A.Q, there is no need to refrigerate ghee.
http://www.pureindianfoods.com/ghee-faq-a/254.htm (http://www.pureindianfoods.com/ghee-faq-a/254.htm)

I stopped refrigerating mine, because not only it is difficult to spoon off a specific amount of ghee out of the tin when solid (i.e refrigerated) and it also took a considerable amount of space in the fridge

Regarding the topic, ghee is good, it adds sort of a buttery flavour and thickens the sauce somewhat, but one of the main issues is that it starts to solidify as the food goes cold. I picked a tip from bengali bob to  mix of veg oil and ghee to try and prevent that effect.
Title: Re: Opinions on ghee
Post by: chonk on June 23, 2013, 03:03 PM
Ghee can be refrigerated, but it doesn't have to. That's, somehow, the whole point of it ;P It will stay fine for months, if stored dark and dry at room temperatures, and up to a year, if refrigerated. So it's totally up to you (:

Just make sure to use a clean spoon (:
Title: Re: Opinions on ghee
Post by: Peripatetic Phil on June 23, 2013, 05:39 PM
I stopped refrigerating mine, because not only it is difficult to spoon off a specific amount of ghee out of the tin when solid (i.e refrigerated) ...
Never have that problem -- I use an ice-cream scoop (which is why you will see "1/3 ice-cream scoop of ghee" in my recipe for perfect pulao (http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php/topic,7664.msg66623.html#msg66623) !).

** Phil.
Title: Re: Opinions on ghee
Post by: chewytikka on June 23, 2013, 06:29 PM
ED
I refrigerate Animal Ghee because its dairy and because I don't use it too often and don't like
leaving it in a semi molten state in the hot kitchen.
Vegetable Ghee on the other hand I leave out and class as oil and usually the tub has a BB date of at least 18 months, No Worries!
Both have a rancid type of Aroma when heated, both different.

A Tarka with veg ghee is a far better cook than oil, especially onions. Can't explain why, it just is.
I often do a 50/50 mix V.Ghee and Oil and it works well.

Another interesting fact about V.Ghee, is it will separate from the cooked Masala much better
than V.Oil, in fact nearly 90% of the V.Ghee can be reclaimed after its done its job.

Also, as far as old school curries go, BIR curries were mostly cooked with V.Ghee.
"I cook your curry in Ghee" used to be a well known saying.

Animal Ghee is an aquired taste, but 1tsp shouldn't be a killer. ???
cheers Chewy
Title: Re: Opinions on ghee
Post by: DalPuri on June 23, 2013, 06:32 PM

Never have that problem -- I use an ice-cream scoop  in my recipe
** Phil.

Speaking of which, how about using a mechanical ice cream scoop for bhaji's or pakoras?  8)


(http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/imagehost/pics/9415bcf53013933962efb16abdf0da1f.jpg)
Title: Re: Opinions on ghee
Post by: currylover40 on June 23, 2013, 06:56 PM
I think it makes sense to now refrigerate, as i will only be using very minuscule amount's a couple of time's a week.
I just used a full teaspoon in a phall added half way through cooking and found the taste of ghee a little over powering, so i will half that amount.
Thanks chaps


Title: Re: Opinions on ghee
Post by: chewytikka on June 23, 2013, 07:06 PM
CL40
Did you buy Butter Ghee (Animal) or Veg Ghee?
cheers Chewy
Title: Re: Opinions on ghee
Post by: Edwin Catflap on June 23, 2013, 07:42 PM
Hi

I had some veg ghee but binned it before i used it as I moved house and then replaced it last week but with butter ghee. I think I will try some more veg ghee again before not using ghee all together but I wish there were smaller qtys available, if there are let me know pls

Ed
Title: Re: Opinions on ghee
Post by: Peripatetic Phil on June 23, 2013, 08:11 PM
What size do you buy, Ed ?
Title: Re: Opinions on ghee
Post by: chewytikka on June 23, 2013, 08:33 PM
ED
The smallest I've come across is a 2lb/900g tub.
Quite a handy airtight tub, when the V.Ghee is finished.
cheers Chewy
Title: Re: Opinions on ghee
Post by: Peripatetic Phil on June 23, 2013, 09:35 PM
I buy 500gm tins regularly, unless I want a large tin in which case I buy 1kg (brand = "Pride").
** Phil.
Title: Re: Opinions on ghee
Post by: currylover40 on June 24, 2013, 12:22 AM
CL40
Did you buy Butter Ghee (Animal) or Veg Ghee?
cheers Chewy
I bought butter ghee Chewytikka, is this your preferred type?
It's been in the fridge now about 8 hours and doesn't look difficult at all to scoop out like some of the earlier posts are saying.
Title: Re: Opinions on ghee
Post by: Naga on June 24, 2013, 09:30 AM
I've only ever used butter ghee once.

I bought it years ago to make Mumrez Khan
Title: Re: Opinions on ghee
Post by: Naga on June 24, 2013, 09:31 AM
I should have said that I haven't tried veg ghee at all - what's the difference in taste?
Title: Re: Opinions on ghee
Post by: Secret Santa on June 24, 2013, 02:04 PM
I should have said that I haven't tried veg ghee at all - what's the difference in taste?

There's a big difference Naga. The veg ghee is just like a vegetable oil with the same (lack) of flavour. I'm still at a loss as to why people use it. It does nothing that ordinary veg oil won't do for a lower price.
Title: Re: Opinions on ghee
Post by: chewytikka on June 24, 2013, 02:34 PM
CL40_Naga
Like I said, I use both, as do BIR restaurants.
Butter Ghee (Animal) you use as you would Butter, sparingly!
Veg Ghee you use in place or as you would Veg Oil.

Butter Ghee has a pungent aroma/flavour, which lessens on high heat.
Veg Ghee has a different aroma/flavour (slight) which also lessens on high heat.

cheers Chewy
Title: Re: Opinions on ghee
Post by: Aussie Mick on June 24, 2013, 05:43 PM
We buy 20 kg tubs of ghee (butter) and we never refrigerate it..............no problem.