Compound butter, also called maître d’hôtel butter, has melted the hearts of many. As the butter melts, the meat beneath is seductively gilded with mouthwatering flavors. Once you get the hang of it, you can beat almost anything, from curry to caviar, into the butter. Use coin-shaped slices to top meats and fish.
Since butter freezes well, it’s worth making a double batch of the compound butter: one for the refrigerator and one for the freezer. Similar preparations can be made using creamy cheeses, such as Gorgonzola and mascarpone, in place of the butter. (See Tasty Transformations below).–Laura Santtini
LC Butter! Note
Ah, butter. We never fail to swoon to it in its unembellished state, although it’s also tempting when used in tandem with other tastes. Dubbed compound butters, these little mix-and-mash lovelies result from stirring herbs or other flavorings into malleable butter, rolling the mixture into a log, wrapping it in parchment paper or plastic wrap, and keeping it on hand—and in mind—for conjuring some magic. A wee slice can exponentially embellish any dinner, whether homey or haute. Simply slice off a wedge and plop it on plain broiled chicken or lavish steak fillet to imbue it with last-minute lavishness. The trick also works on fish. Bruschetta. Minestrone. Green beans. You name it. Heck, it’s luxurious enough to make you want to roll around in it.
☞ Table of Contents
Basic Compound Butter
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 ounces salted butter softened
- 1 tablespoon chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves
- Grated zest of 1 small lemon preferably organic
- Squeeze of lemon juice
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions
- In a bowl, beat the butter with the remaining ingredients. Taste and adjust the seasonings accordingly.
- Place the mixture a piece of parchment or plastic wrap and roll into a cigar or sausage shape. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate until firm.
Notes
Tasty Transformations
Garlic Butter: Simply add 3 crushed, finely chopped small garlic cloves to the basic mixture. Ideal on crostini or traditional garlic bread. (The raw garlic tends to make it a bit abrasive on fish or chicken preparations.) Toasted Walnut and Gorgonzola Cheese: This “butter” relies on creamy, crumbly gorgonzola cheese in place of butter. Mash together 5 ounces gorgonzola, 2 1/2 ounces chopped, toasted walnuts, freshly ground black pepper to taste, and a drop or two of ruby or tawny port, if desired. Mix and shape into a roll as noted above. Lovely on steak or steamed haricots verts. Lemon Mascarpone Cheese: This “butter” relies on soft mascarpone cheese in place of butter. Mix 4 ounces mascarpone, the grated zest of 2 small lemons (preferably organic), 1 teaspoon lemon juice, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Mix and shape into a roll as noted above. Use as a creamy alternative to butter on vegetable dishes or anywhere else.Show Nutrition
If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #LeitesCulinaria. We’d love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Recipe Testers’ Reviews
I made this simple butter with parsley from my garden. It’s nice to be reminded what a simple herb butter can add to a plain dish. I also added garlic for a variation, using it on some plain grilled shrimp, and it was just the right touch—no other sauce was necessary. I tried the walnut version and used a bleu cheese that went great with the toasted walnuts on some buttered, whole-grain croutons. It was just like a cheese course, in a little bite.
Easy and elegant. This super-fast and simple recipe takes only moments to pull together, but adds a rich finishing touch to grilled or broiled meats, vegetables, and fish. However, it would be more convenient if the recipe called for one stick of butter, or 4 ounces, instead of the odd quantity of 3 1/2 ounces. Also, adding additional salt to the already salted butter was unnecessary. The garlic butter variation is well-suited for use with a recipe like garlic bread, where it’s baked, but I didn’t enjoy the finely chopped pieces of raw garlic on top of roasted asparagus. Grinding the garlic to paste with the side of a knife before mixing with the other ingredients would make a better mixture.
The lemon mascarpone cheese spread was wonderful. It would be delicious on hot scones or fresh bread from the oven. I liked the basic maitre d’hotel recipe, but it wasn’t quite as special.
Originally published December 21, 2010
I’d like to have butter curls for hair like she does! Let’s forget the rest of her “details.” Best Wishes for a buttery New Year!
This is something I have to try sounds good !!
There is something so gratifying about growing your own herbs and making various compound butters to store in the freezer. At any given time there are at least a few varieties in our freezer, from sage lemon to garlic chive to paprika honey. The toasted walnut and gorgonzola version looks amazing and one I will be sure to try very soon!