Paleo Ghee

Why This Recipe Works

Traditional ghee is made by slowly simmering butter until the liquid has evaporated and the milk solids have started to brown. The solids are then strained out so that all that’s left is pure butterfat. Because the milk solids have been removed, ghee no longer contains dairy, making it paleo-friendly. It’s an invaluable ingredient in the paleo pantry, since it is well suited for most high-heat cooking methods, and provides a rich, ­buttery flavor to many a dish. Making ghee at home is very simple and more economical than buying it. We first tried making ghee on the stovetop, but the direct heat increased the risk of burning the milk solids and ruining the ghee. Instead, we turned to the gentle, even heat of a low oven, and put the ­butter in an uncovered Dutch oven to ensure that all of the water evaporated. To give the ghee its signature nutty flavor, it was important to let it cook until the milk solids were well toasted. Finally, we lined a fine-mesh strainer with cheesecloth to ensure that none of the solids would slip through, which would compromise the ghee’s flavor and shelf life.