Benefits of Desi Ghee and Cow Ghee in Everyday Indian Dishes

Understanding desi ghee and cow ghee: what’s the difference?

For something as basic as ghee, it’s surprisingly personal. Every household swears by a different brand, a different texture, a different scent. In some homes, it’s a generous drizzle on steaming rice. In others, it’s the non-negotiable first step to any tadka. But once you start paying attention to labels—desi ghee, cow ghee, pure cow ghee—the choices can blur together.

Nova Dairy has been part of this everyday conversation for decades. Known for its traditional methods and clean sourcing, it produces both pure desi ghee and pure cow ghee—terms that are often used interchangeably, but aren’t quite the same.

Desi ghee vs. Cow ghee

Desi ghee refers to ghee that is made with desi or traditional methods like the bilona method that Nova Dairy uses. It involves heating the cream on a low flame and slow-churning until you get clear, golden ghee.

Cow ghee, on the other hand, is about the type of milk used to make the ghee. For example, Nova Dairy’s pure cow ghee is high-quality and made from the best quality of cow milk available in India.

Nutritional profile of desi and cow ghee

There’s been a shift. For years, ghee was lumped in with “fats to avoid.” But today, with renewed interest in traditional foods, it’s finding its way back into plates and conversations—and for good reason.

Both desi ghee and cow ghee are rich in short-chain fatty acids, especially butyric acid, which supports digestion and gut health. They contain fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K—nutrients that are harder to absorb without a healthy fat source. Cow ghee is generally considered lighter and easier to digest than buffalo ghee, making it more suitable for daily use.

What sets Nova’s products apart isn’t just the milk—it’s the handling. The ghee isn’t flash-processed or stripped of character. It’s simmered the way it always was, which helps retain its nutrients while allowing the natural caramelization to build flavor.

You’ll taste the difference—but more importantly, your body will notice it too.

Cooking with ghee

Use pure desi ghee or cow ghee in these dishes.

A simple tadka

Prepare a basic tadka with pure ghee, jeera, mustard seeds, hing (asafoetida), and chopped garlic. You can use this as a base for your sabzis like aloo gobhi, bhindi masala, or even for cooking leafy veggies like palak. You can also top off your dal fry with this desi ghee ka tadka.

For rotis and rice

You can apply a layer of cow ghee to freshly cooked rotis like we do in most Indian homes. This makes the rotis softer and helps keep them soft for a longer time. You can also add one to two spoons of ghee to the dough to make soft and flaky parathas.

For rice, just add one spoon of ghee while cooking the rice to make it fluffy and non-sticky or add it on top of the pulao while serving.

Desi mithai

Desi mithai like motichur ke laddoo, gajar ka halwa, or even suji ka halwa are incomplete without desi ghee. The ghee adds taste and a glossy texture to the mithai along with helping to bind the ingredients together.

What ghee does beyond flavor

Not every food that tastes good is also good for you. But ghee comes close—especially when it’s clean and made without shortcuts.

It helps the gut

Butyric acid supports the lining of the stomach and intestines. That’s why small amounts of pure ghee cow are often recommended with simple foods like rice or khichdi when someone’s unwell. It’s not just tradition—it’s a form of care.

It works with other nutrients

The vitamins in vegetables? The antioxidants in spices? Many of them are fat-soluble, meaning your body can’t absorb them without a fat source. Ghee does that job nicely. Nova’s ghee—especially when used in daily cooking—helps ensure that the nutrition you’re already eating actually reaches you.

It stores well, cooks clean, and suits most diets

Ghee has a high smoke point, it doesn’t go rancid quickly, and it doesn’t need refrigeration. It works in all kinds of diets. And when it’s made from cow milk, like Nova’s pure cow ghee is, it remains lighter and more digestible than other fats.

Your everyday superfood!

Ghee, whether you choose desi ghee or pure cow ghee, offers so many health benefits along with a rich taste and texture that it is practically a superfood already. It can be used by heart-conscious people, too, as long as they eat it in moderation.

If you want pure desi ghee that you can trust, choose Nova Dairy. Their traditional cooking process in a hygienic environment ensure that you get all the goodness of ghee without any of the harmful compounds.

Disclaimer

This article is from the Brand Desk. User discretion is advised.

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