Ghee 101
Uses of Ghee: 25 Ways to Use Ghee in Cooking, Skin, Hair & Home
Ghee is used mainly for cooking — tadka, roti and paratha, rice and dal, frying and Indian sweets — because it has a high smoke point (about 250°C) and a rich, nutty flavour. Beyond the kitchen it is used as a lip and skin balm, a hair and scalp conditioner, a carrier for herbs in Ayurveda, and in diyas for puja.
Quick take
- Kitchen: tadka, roti, rice, frying, sweets, baking and even coffee.
- Body: lips, dry skin, cracked heels, scalp and baby massage.
- Tradition: Ayurvedic preparations, diyas and havan.
- Rule of thumb: eat 1–2 teaspoons a day; use externally as needed.
Ghee is one of the most versatile things in an Indian home. Here are 25 real, everyday uses, grouped by where you would use them, with links to detailed guides. New to ghee? Start with what ghee is.
Uses of ghee in cooking
- Tadka (tempering): heat a teaspoon, add jeera, mustard seeds or hing, pour over dal. Ghee’s high smoke point means the spices bloom without burning (smoke point).
- Roti and paratha: a thin brush on hot rotis; layered parathas (ghee on roti, ghee paratha).
- Rice and dal: half a teaspoon over hot dal-chawal (ghee rice).
- Khichdi: the classic comfort pairing (moong dal khichdi).
- Roasting flour and sooji: the base of ladoo and halwa (besan ladoo, sooji halwa).
- Deep and shallow frying: puris, pakoras and dry fruits stay crisp.
- Sautéing vegetables: one teaspoon flavours a whole pan.
- Baking: replace butter with about ¾ the amount of ghee (ghee vs butter).
- Roasting nuts and makhana: a light toss before roasting.
- Popcorn and toast: a nutty swap for butter.
- Ghee coffee: blended into black coffee (ghee coffee).
- Warm milk at night: half a teaspoon with haldi (ghee and milk).
More dish ideas: 15 foods that taste better with ghee and how to cook with ghee.
Uses of ghee for skin, lips and hair
- Lip balm: a dab at night for dry, cracked lips (ghee for lips).
- Dry skin: a thin layer on elbows and knees (ghee for skin).
- Cracked heels: massage in, wear socks overnight (ghee for cracked heels).
- Under-eye dryness: a tiny amount, kept away from the eyes (ghee for dark circles).
- Scalp and hair mask: warm, massage, wash out after 30 minutes (ghee for hair).
- Baby massage: a traditional practice; patch-test first (ghee massage for babies).
Uses of ghee in Ayurveda and wellness
- Carrier for herbs: medicated ghees (ghrita) carry herbs into the body (ghee in Ayurveda).
- Morning ritual: half to one teaspoon in warm water (ghee on an empty stomach).
- Winter nourishment: gond laddu, panjiri and gud-ghee (ghee in winter).
- Postnatal foods: traditional energy-dense recipes (ghee for new mothers).
Ayurvedic practices such as nasya or netra tarpana should be done under a qualified practitioner, not at home.
Uses of ghee at home and in rituals
- Diya and aarti: pure ghee burns with a clean, steady flame (ghee for Diwali).
- Havan and puja: offered in fire rituals and used in prasad.
- Seasoning a cast-iron tawa: a thin coat, heated until it smokes lightly, builds a non-stick layer.
How much ghee to use
For eating, most adults do well with 1–2 teaspoons a day spread across meals (how much ghee per day). External uses — lips, skin, diyas — need only small amounts. Whatever the use, choose pure ghee: adulterated ghee burns, smells and does none of the above well (how to identify pure ghee).
Frequently asked questions
What is ghee used for?
Mostly cooking: tadka, roti and paratha, rice and dal, frying and Indian sweets. It is also used as a lip and skin balm, a hair conditioner, a carrier for herbs in Ayurveda, and in diyas for puja.
How do you use ghee in everyday cooking?
Use a teaspoon for tadka or sautéing, brush a little on hot rotis, add half a teaspoon to dal-rice or khichdi, and use it to roast flour or sooji for sweets.
Can ghee be used on the skin?
Yes. Pure ghee is a traditional moisturiser for dry lips, skin and cracked heels. Patch-test first and avoid using it on acne-prone areas.
Can ghee replace butter or oil?
Yes. Replace butter with about three-quarters the amount of ghee in baking, and use ghee instead of oil for tadka, frying and roasting.
One jar, a hundred uses
A2 Farmer Buffalo Bilona Ghee — naturally A2, hand-churned, 99.76% milk fat, glass-packed. From ₹799.
Shop Pure Ghee →