Compound Butter

Name: Compound Butter
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Ingredients: 125 g (½ cup / 1 stick) unsalted butter, softened; 2 g (⅓ tsp) flaky or fine sea salt; 2 tbsp parsley, finely chopped; 1 tbsp chives, finely chopped; 1 clove garlic, finely grated; 1 tsp lemon juice; 1 tsp lemon zest

Flavored butter rolls to slice onto steak, fish, bread and vegetables

Makes: 1 log, about 16 slices
Hands-on: 10 min
Total: 1 h 10 min
Level: Easy

Soft butter mashed with herbs, garlic or spices, rolled into a log and chilled, compound butter is an instant sauce. Keep a log or two in the freezer and slice off what you need.

Ingredients

Base

125 gunsalted butter (½ cup / 1 stick)softened
2 gflaky or fine sea salt (⅓ tsp)

Herb and garlic

2 tbspparsleyfinely chopped
1 tbspchivesfinely chopped
1 clovegarlicfinely grated
1 tsplemon juice
1 tsplemon zest

Diet: Vegetarian, Gluten-free
Allergens: milk

Method

Make sure the butter is soft enough to press with a finger but not melting, about 20°C (68°F).
Mash the butter in a bowl with a fork until creamy. Add the salt and all the herb-and-garlic ingredients and mix until evenly blended.
Spoon the butter onto a piece of baking paper or plastic wrap in a rough line about 12 cm long.
Roll the paper around it and twist the ends to form a tight, even log about 4 cm across.
Chill for at least 1 hour until firm. 1 h
Slice into 1 cm rounds and place on hot food just before serving.

Why it works

Fat carries many flavor compounds from herbs and garlic that don't dissolve in water, so butter is an ideal vehicle. As a slice melts on hot food, it releases those aromas and creates a quick, rich sauce. Soft, not melted, butter stays creamy and holds the herbs in suspension; melted butter separates and turns greasy when it sets.

Common mistakes

Using melted butter: it sets grainy and separated.
Wet herbs: water makes the butter spit and spoil faster. Pat them dry.

Variations

Café de Paris–style: Add 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1 tsp curry powder, 1 chopped anchovy, 1 tbsp chopped capers, and a pinch of paprika; for steak.
Miso butter: Mash in 1 tbsp white miso and 1 sliced scallion; for corn, fish and noodles.
Honey-cinnamon butter: Mash in 1 tbsp honey and ½ tsp cinnamon; for Buttermilk Pancakes and toast.