Amul cheese and Amul butter are two of the most popular dairy products in Indian cuisine. Both made by the iconic Indian dairy cooperative Amul, these ingredients have graced Indian breakfast tables for generations.
But when it comes down to cheese versus butter, which one comes out on top nutritionally and culinarily?
A Brief History of Amul Cheese and Butter
Amul began in 1946 as a dairy cooperative aimed at increasing availability of milk and milk products in India. At the time, many Indians lacked refrigeration, necessitating shelf-stable dairy goods.
Amul cheese, canned and engineered to last months without refrigeration, fulfilled this need. It soon became a cult favorite, known for its unique tangy, sour, and salty flavor.
Likewise, Amul butter's pure, rich taste and transportability made it a refrigerator staple. For over 70 years, these two products have defined dairy in Indian cooking. Their nostalgic flavors transport any Indian home cook back to childhood.
Key Takeaway: Amul cheese and butter originated from a dairy cooperative formed in India in the 1940s to increase access to dairy. Both products quickly became staples in Indian households.
Nutritional Profile: How Do Amul Cheese and Butter Compare?
Nutritionally speaking, cheese and butter differ significantly. Let's analyze key factors:
Calories
Cheese contains moderate calories at 349 per 100 grams.
Butter is very high-calorie, with a whopping 717 calories per 100 grams.
Winner: Cheese
Fat Content
Cheese has high fat content, with 32 grams total fat and 18 grams saturated fat per 100 grams.
However, butter is almost entirely fat, with 81 grams total fat and 51 grams saturated fat per 100 grams.
Winner: Cheese
Protein
Cheese beats butter hands down for protein, containing 18 grams protein per 100 grams.
Butter has barely any protein at just 0.8 grams per 100 grams.
Winner: Cheese
Vitamins and Minerals
For vitamins, butter edges out cheese slightly with higher vitamin A and choline.
However, cheese provides more calcium, phosphorus, and sodium than butter.
Overall, it's a tie for vitamins and minerals.
Winner: Tie
Looking comprehensively at nutritional data, cheese emerges as the healthier choice over butter for its lower calorie, fat, and higher protein content.
However, as we'll explore next, nutrition is only one part of the story.
Flavor Profile: Distinct Tastes of Amul Cheese and Butter
When it comes to flavor, Amul cheese and butter each shine in their own way.
Amul cheese has an instantly recognizable tangy, sour, and salty taste. Its bold flavors come from months of aging and proprietary processing methods. Melted Amul cheese has an even more intense, complex profile.
Comparatively, Amul butter delivers a pure hit of rich, creamy dairy. It lacks additives or aging, allowing its high-fat buffalo milk origins to steal the spotlight. Amul butter's clean taste makes it ideal for spreading or enhancing the flavor of other ingredients.
So in terms of taste, it's subjective whether cheese or butter wins. Those craving strong, complex flavors favor cheese, while butter devotees enjoy its unadulterated richness. When used properly in cooking, both ingredients can make magic.
Key Takeaway: Amul cheese has a unique tangy, sour, salty flavor profile, while Amul butter boasts pure, rich taste.
Usage: How Amul Cheese and Butter Perform in Indian Cooking
When it comes to usage in cooking, Amul cheese and butter have distinct strengths:
Amul cheese truly excels when grilled or melted. Cheese toast, tomato-cheese toast with chaat masala, grilled cheese sandwiches, and cheese-stuffed naan are just a few examples of delicious grilled cheese dishes. Melting intensifies Amul cheese's tangy, sour notes.
Amul butter, on the other hand, plays a supporting role. Its pure dairy flavor enhances everything from paranthas to dals when used as a cooking fat. Spread onto breads, biscuits, or sandwiches, it also adds rich mouthfeel. Amul butter can even bring frothy body to soups, salads, and rice when blended in.
So in cooking, cheese wins for grilling and melting applications, while butter takes the crown for spreading, cooking, and emulsifying. Their unique performance qualities make comparing overall usage difficult.
Key Takeaway: Amul cheese excels in grilled dishes, while Amul butter shines as a cooking fat and spread.
Availability and Storage: The Convenience Factor
When it comes to availability and storage, Amul cheese reigns supreme due to its canned, shelf-stable format.
Indian grocery stores across the world commonly stock Amul cheese. Its sturdy metal can allows easy shipping without refrigeration. Unopened cans last 9 months at room temperature.
Once opened, the cheese stays fresh for weeks refrigerated. Its resilience makes cheese convenient for well-stocked pantries and global distribution.
In contrast, Amul butter requires constant refrigeration. It maintains quality for 1-2 months refrigerated. Retailers must ship and store it in cold conditions, limiting its availability. For Indian chefs abroad, stocking up on butter is trickier.
For non-refrigerated storage and global availability, Amul cheese is the undisputed winner. Of course, refrigeration makes storage a moot point.
Key Takeaway: Amul cheese wins for availability and storage life in non-refrigerated conditions.
FAQs
Is Amul cheese real cheese?
Yes, Amul cheese is real cheese, despite being mass-produced. It is made from a blend of buffalo and cow milk and contains all the proteins found in natural cheese. However, the addition of emulsifiers and canning process classify it as "processed cheese".
Why does Amul cheese taste different from other cheeses?
Amul cheese has a unique tangy, sour, and salty flavor not found in cheeses like cheddar or mozzarella. This distinct taste comes from the older buffalo milk used, blend of cow and buffalo milk, and months of aging during canning that allows flavors to develop.
Does Amul butter have health benefits?
In moderation, Amul butter provides benefits like improving gut health, boosting good cholesterol levels, and helping the body absorb vitamins A, E, K, and D. However, it is high in saturated fats and calories, so excessive consumption may negatively impact health.
What is the best way to substitute Amul cheese in recipes?
For authentic flavor, Amul cheese is difficult to replace. However, a blend of aged, extra-sharp cheddar and Monterey jack comes close in recipes. Add a pinch of citric acid powder to mimic Amul's sourness. Reduce salt slightly as Amul cheese is very salty.
Is Amul cheese available in the US?
Yes, Amul cheese can be found in Indian specialty grocery stores across the US or ordered online through retailers like Amazon. Be sure to search for the longer-lasting canned version rather than soft refrigerated Amul cheese.
Conclusion
In comparing iconic Indian dairy products Amul cheese and Amul butter, both ingredients have stood the test of time with their unique flavors and roles in Indian cuisine.
When analyzing nutritional content, Amul cheese emerges as the healthier option with less fat and more protein.
However, Amul butter's pure dairy taste shines when used properly as a cooking fat or spread.