Ayurvedic Ghee recipe: clarified butter with digestive, revitalizing, and purifying Benefits
- Katy Aparicio
- Oct 20
- 2 min read
Ghee, a treasure of Ayurveda, is much more than just butter: it is a food with digestive and revitalizing properties, used in India for millennia both in cooking and body care. Discover how to make it at home and why it deserves a place in your daily routine.
What is ghee?
Ghee is clarified butter: when slowly heated, it loses its milk solids and water, making it lactose-free and easier to digest. This process also allows ghee to be stored for a long time without refrigeration, provided it is properly cooked and kept in a sealed glass jar.
Homemade ghee recipe
Discover the recipe for Ghee, a health essential often called “The Gold of Ayurveda”:
Ingredients:
1 block of organic unsalted churned butter
Preparation:
In a small saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
Reduce the heat to low. A white foam will appear on the surface – this is normal.
After 10–15 minutes, the foam turns into small flakes that settle at the bottom. Stir occasionally to prevent the butter from burning.
The butter gradually turns golden and fragrant, with a subtle roasted aroma and gentle crackling. Be careful: this is the most delicate stage, as it can burn quickly.
Remove from heat before the flakes turn brown. Let it cool for a few minutes and strain the liquid through a sieve lined with organic cotton into a glass jar.
Discard the solid flakes. If cooked properly, ghee can be stored at room temperature for several weeks.
💡 Tip: Ghee is ready when it “stops singing” while cooking.
Why use ghee?
According to Ayurveda, ghee:
Stimulates Agni, the digestive fire, helping digestion and nutrient absorption.
Supports the immune system thanks to its purifying and nourishing properties.
Serves as an ideal cooking fat, capable of circulating through all the body’s channels, not just the arteries, unlike other oils.
In the West, olive oil is recognized for its protective effects on the gallbladder and liver. In India, ghee is considered a food with similar benefits for the entire body.
Health benefits
Ghee is traditionally associated with rejuvenation and vitality. It can also be used for Ayurvedic massage.
According to Dr. Rudolph Ballentine, ghee contains butyric acid, a fatty acid:
With antiviral and anticancer properties,
That increases antiviral interferon levels in the body,
And may help in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
⚠️ As with all fats, it should be consumed in moderation!
How to include ghee in your daily life
Use it to cook vegetables or grains.
Add a spoonful to your hot dishes.
Or use it for nourishing massage according to Ayurvedic principles.
