ghee

American  

[gee] / gi /

noun

1. a kind of liquid butter, used especially in the cooking of India, made from the milk of cows or buffaloes and clarified by boiling.

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ghee British  

/ ɡiː /

noun

1. butter, clarified by boiling, used in Indian cookery

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Etymology

Origin of ghee

First recorded in 1655–65, ghee is from the Hindi word ghī

Explanation

Ghee is butter that's been melted and allowed to separate, leaving just the clear butterfat. If you've ever dined on Indian food, you've probably eaten ghee. When butter is clarified, it's simmered until any water evaporates and all the extra solid particles of milk sink to the bottom or float on top. Once these are skimmed off, what's left behind is ghee. In South Asian cuisines, ghee is a common fat used in many dishes. It also holds an important place in some Hindu rituals, as cows, and products made from their milk, are considered sacred.

Example Sentences

That early intimacy with flavor — the perfume of ghee, the rhythm of her mother’s kitchen — would eventually lead Selvaraju to a career celebrating Indian home cooking.

From Salon • Oct. 21, 2025

I love the sizzle of the hot, spiced ghee when it is poured into the lentils, the way that dal envelops a bowl of rice like a hug.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 8, 2024

A can of ghee now costs an extra $7.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 13, 2023

If you happen to have ghee on hand, use it in place of butter for a subtly richer, more nuanced flavor.

From Washington Times • Dec. 11, 2023

Sass did not even have the energy to scold me when I let the ghee boil over into the fire or forgot to sweep the courtyard.

From "Homeless Bird" by Gloria Whelan

Related Words

• margarine
• oil
• shortening