Desi ghee has been enriching our foods with its flavours, nourishing our bodies with nutrients, and cleansing our homes with lamps and ‘havans’ for centuries. It has been in our practice to use desi ghee regularly for its mighty health benefits and flavours in our cooking.
Whether you’re a foodie or not, these 10 a2 organic cow ghee dishes are a must-try for everyone. Let’s start this scrumptious ride, starting with some desi ghee sweets that are always a delight to eat.
| Table of Contents
● Desi Ghee: As the Heart of Indian Sweets ● Desi Ghee: As the Soul of Savoury Dishes ● Desi Ghee: Enhancing Flavours of Baked Goods ● FAQs: 10 Delicious Recipes Using Desi Ghee ● Conclusion |
Desi Ghee: As the Heart of Indian Sweets
Desi ghee and sweets are a match made in heaven in the culinary world. Specifically, with Indian sweets, you can’t go wrong with desi ghee. Here are four of the most loved desi ghee sweets recipes you must enjoy whenever possible.
1. Desi Ghee Moong Dal Halwa
‘Desi ghee moong dal halwa’ is a rich pudding made of ‘moong dal’, ‘shuddh desi ghee’, sugar, cardamom, and ‘kesar’. ‘Desi ghee’ adds the required creaminess and earthiness to the ‘moong dal’. It carries the flavours of cardamom and brings together a delicious pudding that melts in the mouth. You can’t resist a ‘moong dal halwa’ cooked in ‘desi ghee’.
2. Desi Ghee Gajar Ka Halwa or Carrot Pudding
Winters and carrot puddings are synonyms for christmas and cakes in Indian households. Also, red carrots are a winter seasonal vegetable, and we wait for them for a whole year. So, the ‘desi ghee gajar ka halwa’ recipe is always made in big batches, and it is often served in big bowls because there is never the case of too much ‘gajar ka halwa’!
So, the next time you see ‘gajar ka halwa’, don’t think just grab your bowl of richness.
After the two creamy ‘desi ghee’ sweets recipes, it is time to add some crunch with the ‘desi ghee jalebi’ recipe.
3. Desi Ghee Jalebi
‘Desi ghee jalebi’ is loved by all, so much that it is often used in songs and as a personality trait. Moreover, its flavours and textures are hard to resist. ‘Desi ghee’ gives it a delightful crunch without masking the core flavor of ‘besan’. It’s crunchy, creamy, and juicy all at once!
A few pieces of hot, crunchy jalebi are enough to leave you mesmerised by its harmony.
It might appear difficult to make ‘desi ghee jalebi’, but it is doable with its detailed recipe. Make some at home and enjoy it anytime.
4. Desi Ghee Gulab Jamun
‘Desi ghee gulab jamuns are people’s favourite desserts. These soft and small gooey balls soaked in ‘chashini’ are perfect to cheer you up or make your regular day special. Little treats like ‘desi ghee gulab jamun’ are made of ‘khoya’/ milk solids or instant ‘gulab jamun’ mix, which are deep fried in ‘desi ghee’ and then dipped in a sweet syrup flavoured with rose water (‘gulab jal’) or kesar.
The ‘desi ghee gulab jamun’ recipe is a great way to mark any celebration: birthdays, anniversaries, new years!
We get it, after so many ‘desi ghee’ sweets, you are craving, ‘Kuch namkeen ho jaye’? Let’s see some of the most loved ‘desi ghee’ savoury dishes.
Desi Ghee: As the Soul of Savoury Dishes
Sweet or savoury, ‘desi ghee’ works well for both. Don’t believe us? Try these four simple and traditional ‘desi ghee’ savoury dishes and let us know later.
5. Desi Ghee Aalu Paratha
Who doesn’t love ‘desi ghee aalu paratha’? Boiled mashed potatoes are mixed with freshly crushed ginger-green chillies, salt, and chopped coriander. Then, they are stuffed in whole wheat flour dough and rolled into a flat paratha. The stuffed ‘aalu paratha’ is cooked on a flat tawa with some ‘desi ghee’.
‘Desi ghee’ adds sweetness and crunch to the dough, complementing the tangy spicy flavours of the stuffed potato mixture. This ‘desi ghee aalu paratha’ is a staple in Indian households and is often served with coriander chutney or fresh curd. It is a simple and delicious combo for any day!
6. Ghee Roast Paneer
The ‘ghee roast paneer’ recipe is the vegetarian version of ‘ghee’ roast chicken. This recipe is from Mangalore and falls on a spicier side. It serves as a beautiful appetizer, as well as a mains dish to go with chapati or rice, making it a must-have for a foodie.
Here’s a quick recipe to guide you through the ‘ghee roast paneer’ recipe.
Ingredients to make ghee roast paneer
To make masala
- 1 tablespoon coriander seeds
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
- ¼ teaspoon methi seeds
- 2 cloves
- 8 Kashmiri or Bydagi red chillies
Other ingredients
- 400 grams paneer, cut into small pieces
- 4 to 5 tablespoons desi ghee
- 1 tablespoon curd
- 1 teaspoon jaggery powder
- 1 teaspoon tamarind
- salt to taste
- water as needed
Instructions to make ‘ghee roast paneer’ recipe
- Take tamarind in a bowl and soak it in hot water. Then, separate the pulp from its seeds.
- Dry roast all the spices (except red chillies) in a pan for a few minutes till they become aromatic. Set them aside to cool down.
- Now, add garlic, dry roast spices, water, and tamarind pulp to a mixer jar and grind it to a fine paste.
- In a pan, heat desi ghee and add paneer cubes until they are golden brown.
- Transfer the paneer to a plate and set aside.
- Now, in the same pan, add the tamarind masala paste and cook for a few minutes.
- Then, on medium heat, add whisked curd and stir continuously for 2 mins.
- Add salt and jaggery powder to it, and cook for a few more minutes.
- Add the fried paneer along with curry leaves and cover it for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Switch off the flame when the ghee starts to ooze out at the edges and the ‘masala’ is semi-dry.
- Your new favourite Paneer Ghee Roast is ready to be served hot with ‘paratha’, ‘chapathi’, or any flatbread.
If ghee roast paneer is too spicy for you, try the ‘ghee roast dosa’.
7. Ghee Roast Dosa
If you have been to the Southern parts of India, morning breakfasts usually consist of ‘idly’ and ‘dosa’. Usually, the ‘dosa’ is cooked in groundnut oil or refined oil. But, there’s a separate fan following for the ‘ghee dosa’. You can make ‘ghee dosa’ and enjoy it with coconut chutney for a healthy breakfast that is high in protein and good fats.
The dosa batter is spread thinly on the hot dosa tawa, and then comes the magic potion– ‘desi ghee’. ‘Desi ghee’ is drizzled on the dosa to make it crispier and nuttier in flavour. After a minute, the ‘podi’ or ‘karam maala’ (a readymade spice mix) is sprinkled on top of the dosa to make it spicier.
8. Desi Ghee Kachauri
‘Desi ghee kachauri’ needs no introduction. These are relished as a snack, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can call ‘desi ghee kachauri’s’ a flavour bomb. They have been adapted across India in innumerable ways. India has ‘kanda kachauri’ in the Gujrat, ‘luchchi’ in Bengal, ‘urad dal kachauri’ in the North and South, and several other versions.
One common thing is the use of ‘desi ghee’ to not just fry them but also in the dough. Adding ghee to the whole wheat dough of ‘kachauri’ makes it flaky without leaving a heaviness behind. They are crunchy, light, and flaky when made in desi ghee. A must-try!
So, we learned about a few ‘desi ghee’ recipes where ghee is used either to fry or stir fry the main ingredients. Let’s see how ‘desi ghee’ is used in baking.
Desi Ghee: Enhancing Flavours of Baked Goods
‘Desi ghee’ is slowly replacing the use of refined oils in baking, and for good! Here are two recipes that speak volumes about the flavours and textures ‘desi ghee’ adds to baked goods.
9. Nankhatai Biscuits
‘Nankhatai’ biscuits hold a special place in Indian baked goods. They are light and airy, mildly sweet, and a perfect accompaniment for evenings. The ‘Nankhatai ghee’ biscuit recipe is made with whole wheat flour (no ‘maida’).
Ingredients to make Nankhatai ghee biscuits
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- ½ cup melted desi ghee
- ¼ cup powdered sugar (or as per your taste)
- ⅛ tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Cooking instructions to make Nankhatai ghee biscuits
- Preheat the oven to 180 Degrees Celcius.
- Take melted ghee in a bowl, and add in powdered sugar, salt, and vanilla. Mix well everything.
- Now, add the flourand mix well to form into soft dough.
- Take a spoonful of portion and shape it into a ball.
- Arrange these in a foil-lined tray.
- Bake the desi ghee biscuits for 15 to 17 minutes till the cookies are done.
- Remove them from the oven and allow them to cool down.
- Once cooled, store them in an airtight container.
- Enjoy with a cup of chai or milk.
10. Ghee Cake
There’s no going back to store-bought cakes once you have had a bite of ‘ghee cake’. It is moist and rich; satiating and nutritious–a must-try. Here’s the ghee cake recipe for you.
Ingredients to make ghee cake
- 150 grams whole wheat flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 50 grams desi ghee
- 80 grams of powdered sugar
- 2 eggs, large, yolks and whites separated
- 50 ml hot milk
- 1 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla essence
Cooking instructions to make ghee cake
- Preheat oven to 180°C
- Grease the loaf tin with ghee and dust it.
- Sift the flour and baking powder
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the ghee with refined sugar until creamy and fluffy.
- Add the yolks one by one and beat the mixture well in between until well incorporated.
- Add the flour and milk alternately in parts and mix. Keep aside.
- In a clean dry bowl, beat the egg whites until they foam up and double in size.
- Add the granulated sugar and vanilla essence to the foamy egg whites and beat until soft peaks are formed. Increase the speed to high and beat until stiff peaks are formed.
- With the help of a spatula, carefully fold the egg whites into the cake batter.
- Pour the cake batter into the prepared tin and roughly level it.
- Place the tin on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 30 mins or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.
- Allow to cool for about 15 mins and then remove onto a cooling rack and let it cool completely.
Enjoy it with tea/coffee or ice cream.
FAQs: 10 Delicious Recipes Using Desi Ghee
Is ghee good for baking?
Yes, desi ghee has a higher smoke point than regular butter. It is more stable and has a subtle favour, making it a perfect replacement for oils in baking.
What culture cooks with ghee?
Ghee is traditionally used in Indian, Middle Eastern, and Southeast Asian cuisine, as well as in Ayurvedic medicine.
Conclusion
We hope that these “10 Delicious recipes using desi ghee” will encourage you to include this traditional healthy fat– ‘desi ghee’ in your cooking. Using desi ghee recipes is a great way to incorporate the health benefits that follow it– healthy hair, skin, joints and bones, immunity, brain health, and more.
To get the best quality A2 cow desi ghee, head to our store Two Brothers Organic Farms. Our A2 cow ghee is made from the milk of organic grass and grain fed to indigenous breeds of Gir cows.
