Butter is a pantry staple in almost all households. But it’s not always the healthy option, especially when you want to keep your cholesterol levels in check. Thankfully, there are several butter substitutes available in the market. Here are a few healthier replacement options.
Olive Oil
An exceptional and one of the most common butter substitutes, olive oil works great, especially for frying and sautéing. The natural consistency of this oil is almost similar to melted or room-temperature butter. It imparts a deliciously savory and rich flavor to dishes like mashed potatoes, roasted veggies, pasta, etc. Swap 1 cup of butter with ¾ cup of olive oil. Highly rich in antioxidants and cholesterol-controlling monounsaturated fats, it’s definitely a healthier choice.
Nut Butters
Nut butters like almonds, cashew, and everyone’s favorite peanut, are fantastic butter substitutes, especially for baked goods and as a spread. With the same texture and spreading ability of traditional soft butter, these vegan butters work great for recipes needing a creamy ingredient. Replace your traditional butter with any nut butter in a 1:1 ratio. Though with a similar fat content to butter, nut butter is rich in healthier monounsaturated fats.
Ghee
Ghee is a type of clarified butter, mostly a staple of Indian cuisine. The clarification process slowly removes all the water from the regular butter, making this substitute extra dense, rich, and tasty. It can be used as a replacement for butter in a 1:1 ratio in almost any sweet or savory recipe. As the clarification process removes the fatty milk solids, Ghee has much less lactose content than butter, making it a better choice for lactose-intolerant people.
Applesauce
One of the best butter substitutes, applesauce delivers a creamy texture and flavor to your recipes without adding extra fat or calories. It’s also an excellent option for vegans and people with lactose intolerance. Substitute in a 1:1 ratio in homemade bread and other baking recipes, especially where sweetness and moisture levels are critical to maintaining. Use the unsweetened version if you don’t want your dough or batter too apple-y.
Safflower Oil
With a mild and neutral flavor, safflower oil is another good substitute for butter. Its high smoking point has made the oil ideal for high-heat cooking processes like baking and frying. Replace 1 cup of butter with ¾ cup of safflower oil in savory dishes like roasted veggies and stir-fries and baked treats like muffins, cookies, and cakes. Also, this oil contains a high amount of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, making it a much healthier choice than butter.