Makes1/2 cup
                    
                
                
                    
                        
                            - Active time: 15 min
 Total time: 15 min
 
            
                
                    
                    South Indians don’t use ghee in cooking the way North Indians do, much preferring their coconut oil. But they always have a spoonful with their parboiled rice and dhal. The first step of a Sadhya is mixing ghee, rice, dhal, crushed pappadam, and a little salt. This mixture is eaten by hand and forms the first bites of the Sadhya. This recipe is part of our menu for Sadhya, a 
South Indian feast. 
                
                    
                    
                    
                        
                            
INGREDIENTS:
                            
                            
                        
                    
                        
                            
                            
                            
                                
                                    
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                                            1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
                                            
                                        
 
                    
                 
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
            
                
                    
                    
                    
                        
                            
                        
                            
                                
                                
                                
                                    
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                                            Line a sieve with 3 layers of cheesecloth and set over a jar. 
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                                            Bring butter to a boil in a small heavy saucepan over medium heat. Once foam completely covers butter, reduce heat to very low and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until a thin crust begins to form on surface and milky white solids fall to bottom of pan, about 8 minutes. Continue to cook butter, watching closely and stirring occasionally to prevent burning, until milk solids on bottom of pan are light brown and liquid is golden, translucent, and fragrant, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and strain through cheesecloth-lined sieve into jar.