Cooking with ghee is key to Indian cuisine. This is a vegan or dairy-free ghee substitute recipe that's made with coconut oil and guava leaves. It's simple and easy to make and it tastes almost like regular ghee.
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Ghee - The Indian butter
Ghee also known as clarified butter or liquid gold, originates from India. Made from butter, it is one of the most popularly used cooking oils in Indian cuisine. It's also considered very pure which is why it's used in Hindu religious ceremonies and Ayurvedic medicine. It is aromatic, very healthy when used in moderation, and very flavorful. Not many know that it's also lactose-free.
Cooking with ghee is beneficial because it can be used to prepare foods at high temperatures, has a longer shelf life, and does not need refrigeration. We frequently make it at home in batches. unfortunately, ghee is not vegan since it's a dairy byproduct.
How to make vegan ghee
There's good news for all vegans out there who miss out on this wonderful ingredient because it's a dairy product. Cooking with ghee is now a possibility even if you don't eat dairy. You can now make vegan ghee which tastes almost like the original, thanks to certain ingredients that make this possible.
This idea is adapted from some street vendors in the South of India who add guava leaves to sesame oil to give it a mild ghee flavor without having to add actual ghee. Here it's made with coconut oil which is naturally liquid at warmer temperatures and is semi-solid to solid at cooler temperatures.
Disclaimer - This is not an exact substitution for ghee and ghee addicts need not get offended. This recipe is for all those who are or have turned vegan and cannot enjoy ghee. Similarly, if you are also looking for a honey substitute, check out this vegan honey recipe.
Why make this
While we don't need any excuse to make it at home, this one is extra special for these reasons.
- It's dairy-free and does not contain any animal fat/cholesterol
- Free from GMO and soy
- A simple and easy recipe
- Tastes almost like ghee
- Has properties similar to ghee
Ingredients needed🧾
Refined coconut oil - use good quality organic coconut oil that's refined or unrefined.
Guava leaves - this is an important ingredient in this recipe because this is what gives the oil a mild ghee flavor.
You can easily find them on Amazon or in an Indian grocery store. Or scout your neighborhood for a guava tree and get some leaves.
Curry leaves - fresh or dried are fine. It helps give the ghee an intense aromatic flavor.
Spices - turmeric powder (gives it the yellow color), asafoetida, and salt.
If making this ghee for dessert, then you will need cardamom powder.
How to make it 🔪
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Making dairy-free ghee at home is very easy. Here's what you need to do.
- Pour coconut oil into a thick-bottomed pan. Bring this to a smoke point on medium flame. It could take around 20 minutes. Chef Tip - Take the pan off the flame when smoke begins to appear. Do not burn the oil.
- Immediately add turmeric powder, asafoetida, and salt to the pan.
- Also, add the torn guava leaves and curry leaves. Stir it, cover it, and let it steep for an hour.
- Then strain the oil and transfer it to a clean and dry glass jar. Allow it to cool and then close the lid. Leave it in the refrigerator overnight. Then use as desired.
To make ghee substitute for dessert recipes like Whole Wheat Ghee Cookies, here's what you need to do. Chef Tip - Follow the same steps but instead of adding asafoetida, add cardamom powder.
Serving suggestions 🍽
Use a teaspoon to a tablespoon of this ghee substitute in any savory recipe. It can be used instead of cooking oil and butter. It can be added at the tempering/Tadka stage, especially when making dishes like Dal Tadka, Sambhar, Masala Dal Khichdi, Ven Pongal, or Rasam.
You can also use this ghee when you are sauteeing veggies like Potato Fry or Plantains Fry. Add this to rice dishes like Jeera Rice. Cooking with ghee lends an aromatic flavor to the dish. If you are making desserts like Aval Kesari, Sweet Potato Puran Poli, or Beetroot Halwa, add a drizzle of this vegan ghee on top.
As kids, we would love this snack that mom made. She would spread ghee on bread slices, then sprinkle sugar, cut them into slices, and give them to us. Smear this vegan ghee on stuffed flatbreads/paratha or any other Indian flatbreads. You can also use this in baking.
Top recipe tips 💭
Use good quality organic refined coconut oil for this recipe. I am yet to try using other oils like avocado oil to make vegan ghee. I will update here once I do. Be careful to not burn the coconut oil. Keep the flame on medium, use a thick-bottomed pan, and turn off the flame when smoke begins to appear.
Recipe FAQs 📖
You need to store this dairy-free ghee in a clean and dry glass jar. This is important. Keep the jar in the fridge or on your kitchen countertop for easy use. It can also be frozen for up to a year. Just do not store this ghee substitute under direct sunlight.
While guava leaves are essential in this recipe, you can substitute them with holy basil. The flavor of ghee will differ slightly though.
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Recipe 📖
Dairy Free Ghee Recipe | Ghee Substitute
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 cups organic refined coconut oil
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ¼ teaspoon asafoetida
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 5 curry leaves
- 5 guava leaves
Instructions
- Pour coconut oil into a thick-bottomed pan. Bring this to a smoke point on medium flame. It could take around 20 minutes.
- Take the pan off the flame when smoke begins to appear. Do not burn the oil.
- Immediately add turmeric powder, asafoetida, and salt to the pan.
- Also, add the torn guava leaves and curry leaves. Give it a stir, cover, and let it steep for an hour.
- Then strain the oil and transfer it to a clean and dry glass jar. Allow it to cool and then close the lid.
- Leave it in the refrigerator overnight. Then use as desired.
- To make ghee substitute for dessert recipes like Whole Wheat Ghee Cookies, here's what you need to do. Follow the same steps but instead of adding asafoetida, add ¼ teaspoon of cardamom powder.
Indi says
So excited to try this! Did you use fresh guava leaves or dried? Does it make a difference?
Priya says
I have shared the guava leaves I have used. If you get fresh ones you can use them.
Venkat Ramana Rao says
Excellent recipe for a Vegan substitute for cow ghee !! Happy to learn this. Heartfelt Thanks !!!
Priya says
Thank you so much. Glad you liked it.
Amanda says
Great! Can’t wait to make it...just wanted to know can it be made with cold pressed coconut oil?
Priya says
You can try. I used refined oil.
HM says
what role does asafoetida play in this ghee?
it does bring out the coconutty flavor, how to bring in the ghee resembling flavor.
also, while searching online how to neutralize the coconut oil flavor, the top was using baking soda. can this be added to ghee?
Priya says
It acts as a flavor enhancer. For the ghee flavor, guava leaves help. I don't think baking soda will work.
Shob says
Instead of hing , can I use anything else?
Priya says
Hi, skip adding it if you want.
Papiya says
Refined coconut oil does not have a coconut flavor anymore (unrefined does) so if you use refined, this is no problem.
Priya says
Oh my God I am SO EXCITED to have ghee again. Thank you for this recipe!!! I can't use asafetida - is it critical?
Priya says
You can skip it. Please do try and let me know how you find it. 🙂 Thank you.
Ro says
Love this! How long will it last on the countertop or in a cupboard?
Priya says
Thank you. You can leave it on the countertop or cabinet for months. The texture will depend on the weather. You can also refrigerate it. Hope this helps.
Toni says
Thank you so much for this! I am planning to try some Indian recipes and this would be perfect for a dairy-free version. Thank you.
Priya says
Yay! Hope you like it.
Alisa Infanti says
I love this! Who would ever have considered using guava leaves as a flavouring for this type of recipe. Genius!
Priya says
Yes, that is the secret ingredient here. 🙂
maryanne says
What a genius idea! Can't wait to try this! Sounds delicious!
Priya says
Thank you.
Angela says
You have so much great information here. I had no idea that you could make it vegan. Thanks for sharing!
Priya says
Thank you. Glad you found it helpful.
Michelle says
Wow, didn't realize you can make ghee without dairy! Looks spot on!
Priya says
Thanks Michelle! Yes it comes pretty close to the original. Thank you.