How to Make Compound Butter

When it comes to Holiday cooking, my secret ingredient is butter.  For me, it’s more of a treat to cook with butter. I tend to cook more with oils, but bring out the butter during the holidays. And like the saying goes... Everything tastes better with butter!

But why? Butter adds a rich, creamy flavor to food. It is also a great source of fat, which helps to make food more flavorful. Additionally, butter's high smoke point allows it to be heated to a high temperature without burning, which helps to give food a nice, golden-brown color.  Butter also has a smoke point of 350°F, so it's another good baking and sautéing fat. When you add flavors to the butter, it’s even more special… so make a compound butter!

Compound butter is a combination of butter and other ingredients such as herbs, spices, garlic, shallots, chilies, citrus zest, etc. It can be used to enhance the flavor of grilled, sautéed, or roasted foods. It can also be used as a spread on toast, muffins, pancakes, or scones. Compound butter is a great way to add flavor to any dish .

Herb Compound Butter 

Ingredients: 

1/2 Cup (1 stick) of unsalted butter, softened 

2 Tablespoons of minced fresh herbs (such as thyme, rosemary, and/or parsley) 

2 Tablespoons of Garlic Mojo 

1/2 teaspoon of sea salt

 Instructions: 

1. In a medium bowl, cream together softened butter, minced herbs, garlic powder, and salt until well combined. 

2. Using a rubber spatula, transfer the butter mixture onto a sheet of parchment paper or plastic wrap. 

3. Shape the butter into a log and roll. 

4. Twist the ends to secure the log. 

5. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or until firm. 6. Remove the butter log from the parchment paper or plastic wrap and slice into 1/2-inch rounds. 

7. Serve the slices of compound butter atop bread, grilled meats, fish, or vegetables. 

Enjoy!