Butter tastes great, but herb butter tastes really great! If you have been wondering how to make herb butter, read on! This is a basic recipe that you can customize to your taste preferences to make it your own!
How to make herb compound butter
Butter can be flavored in many different ways. One of the most popular ways to flavor butter is through the use of herbs.
Herb butter is also called compound butter. It is made by mashing fresh or dried herb leaves and other flavorings with softened butter.
Making your own herb-infused butter is easy and you can customize the flavor to be anything you like. Making and using herb butter is a great way to add some variety and zest to your cooking.
There are many different herbs that can be added to butter, and there are a wide variety of flavors to choose from. Mixing in different herbs such as thyme, rosemary, or basil can add an extra dimension of flavor and add a fresh taste to your favorite dish.
Scroll down for the printable card for the basic herb butter recipe, or read on for all the details.
How to make herb butter
There are many different recipes for creating your own herb butter, but in this article I will outline my basic recipe for making herb butter.
Feel free to use any combination of herbs you like, and try adding other flavors like garlic, lemon zest, pepper or other spices.
See the section below on popular herb combinations for some ideas.
Ingredients
The basic herb butter recipe’s key ingredients are butter, fresh herbs, and salt.
- 4 parts unsalted butter (e.g. 1 cup)
- 1 part finely chopped or minced fresh herbs (e.g. ¼ cup)
- ½ teaspoon fine ground sea salt or kosher salt per cup of butter
Directions
First, cut the butter, which should be room temperature, into small cubes. Then finely chop the herbs. Mix the herbs, butter cubes and salt together, until they are well combined. Either mash it in a small bowl using a fork, or use a food processor or blender.
Then place it in the refrigerator to set, until you are ready to use it.
Herb butter can be used in many different ways. Try spreading it on a warm baguette, melted over grilled steak, fish, chicken or roasted vegetables. It can be used as the basis for sauces, or spread over chicken or turkey before roasting.
How to store herb butter
Store small quantities of herb butter in an air tight container in the refrigerator until you use it. It should last for up to a month.
Alternatively, form it into a roll in waxed paper or parchment and twist the ends of the paper closed. Then you can simply cut off a slice or two to use as you need it.
If you want to get creative, you can press your herb butter into silicone molds while it is still soft, then pop it out when you are ready to use it.
To store your herb butter for longer you can freeze it in an airtight freezer-safe container for up to 6 months.
What herbs to use to make herb butter
Here are some tasty herb combinations to try:
- Parsley and dill – great for serving with fish.
- Rosemary, thyme, parsley and garlic – melt over cooked steak, chicken or vegetables. Makes the perfect compound butter for turkey.
- Parsley and garlic – for classic garlic butter. Use it to make garlic bread, or stuff the crust of your homemade pizza.
- Tarragon butter – great for serving with chicken, or use during cooking chicken dishes.
- Lemon dill butter – the perfect accompaniment to baked salmon or white fish.
Recipe Card
Basic Herb Butter Recipe
How to make compound butter for turkey.
Ingredients
- 1 stick/ ½ cup / 125g unsalted butter (room temperature) [Note 1]
- ¼ cup fresh herbs
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
Instructions
- Wash and finely chop the herbs, then pat dry.
- Cut the stick of butter into 4 or 5 pieces, and place in a mixing bowl.
- Use a fork to mash the butter until it is softened.
- Slowly add the chopped herbs and salt. Continue to mash the butter with each addition until all the ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- Place in the refrigerator until the butter is firm.
Notes
- You can use salted butter, but do not add any extra salt to the recipe.
- Compound butter should be stored in the refrigerator and should last up to a month. For longer storage, you can keep it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Use an air-tight freezer-safe container.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
16Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 91Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 213mgCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g
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