Fats and Oils

Achiote oil is used around the Caribbean to add a yellowish-orange color to dishes, especially arroz con pollo. It is known as rou-cou or huile de rou-cou in the French Caribbean. Filipinos refer to it as atsuete, or achute, oil. Read more »

Ghee, or ghi, is a common cooking fat in Indian and Pakistani cuisine. Butter is given a long, slow simmer which gives it a deep, nutty flavor. Ghee is great for sautéing as it has a higher smoking point than butter. And because the milk solids are strained out, it can stay fresh for up to 3 months at room temperature. Read more »

Niter kibbeh — a spice-infused, clarified butter — is a ubiquitous cooking medium in Ethiopian cuisine. It adds an incomparable flavor to dishes. Plain butter or oil can be substituted in Ethiopian recipes if you don't have the time to make niter kibbeh, but something special will be missing. Read more »