Topic: Oil alternatives? (Butter/Butter ghee)

[blanchy]

Most of the curry base recipes I see use a hefty amount of oil, typically vegetable oil.

Am I likely to have much success if I substitute these for either Butter or Butter Ghee?

[ELW]

Hi blanchy, no you don't want a butter flavour through your base. Veg ghee/ veg oil or sunflower oil are fine.

ELW

[blanchy]

Okay, that's a shame, would rather use something a bit healthier than oil.

[Garp]

Have a look at the statistics regarding saturated fats in both options, blanchy.

I use rapeseed oil, which, I believe is healthier than butter or ghee 

[Madrasandy]

Or make LC base with no oil

[Micky Tikka]

Sorry not healthy
I made a chickpea curry last week
And found out I had run out of veg oil
So a little rummage in my curry cupboard I found some veg ghee and butter ghee
I find butter ghee a bit over powering and never really use it so I mixed a bit of butter and veg ghee together and cooked the dish
The result was a taste that I have been looking for a while that is in a Bombay aloo dish in a local Restaurant
Just thought I'd share that
Cheers MT

[blanchy]

Have a look at the statistics regarding saturated fats in both options, blanchy.

I use rapeseed oil, which, I believe is healthier than butter or ghee 

Dated advice my friend.

More and more current research is now pointing towards saturated fats as being healthy, and polyunsaturated fats (the type found in refined oils) as unhealthy. If in doubt, just remember which one is a real food and which one is chemically extracted in a lab.

[blanchy]

I tend to cook creamier currys anyway so I'm going to give a ghee/butter based sauce a go and see how I get on.

[Garp]

You may be right, my friend, regarding current research. I can't be bothered trying to research it.

What I would say, however, as ELW said, butter ghee will change the flavour of your base dramatically.

Madrasandy mentioned a no-oil base, so have a look at that.

My own base uses 6 Tbsp of oil for 8 portions of base - not that bad really.

[blanchy]

Given most of my curry's tend to have a large amount of desiccated coconut/coconut milk powder, I might experiment with a base made with coconut oil and butter/ghee. Will let you know how I get on.