If there is one thing I am completely hooked on, it’s using fresh herbs the right way. And one of my favourite ways to do that is by making herb butter, also known as compound butter. Once you start using it in your cooking, you will not want to go back to regular butter again.
I love tending to my little herb garden, and when the season starts winding down, preserving what’s left becomes a priority. Herb butter is one of the easiest ways to do that. It takes minutes to make, tastes incredible, and turns even the simplest meal into something special.
Let me show you just how easy this herb butter recipe is, along with a few variations depending on what herbs you have on hand.
Why You’ll This Love Herb Butter (Compound Butter) Recipe
Fresh herbs, fresh flavour. There is nothing like the taste of fresh herbs, whether it’s rosemary, basil, or dill, they turn plain butter into something with real depth and aroma.
It’s genuinely simple. You need butter, a handful of fresh herbs, and a few minutes to whip it all up. That’s it.
It works everywhere. In savory or sweet meals, herb butter fits into almost anything you are cooking. Once you try it, you’ll start finding reasons to use it.
What You’ll Need For This Herb Butter Recipe
It is unbelievable that you need just few two basic ingredients for something so useful and delightful. Here is what you need:
Fresh Herbs – Grab any fresh herbs you love or have on hand. Dill, basil, rosemary, sage, oregano, parsley – the choices are endless. Feel free to experiment as well. If you want to fix few or more, why not?
Butter – We all know that butter makes everything better, but herb butter? It is on another level. I recommend using unsalted butter so you can control the flavor and have more flexibility for where you want to use it. If you are absolutely sure you’ll use it for savory dishes only, then you can opt-in for your favorite salty butter brand.
Optional – Minced garlic adds an amazing kick, but I often keep it simple; and it keeps my options open. If you plan on using herb butter in desserts, you might want to skip the garlic. Actually, you will definitely want to skip the butter, right?
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Food processor – For simplify and time saving, I recommend using a food processor. Alternatively, you can always mix the ingredients with a spoon or fork. If you need few recommendations on what food processors to get, here is a recommendation from me:
- Cuisinart Food Processor – This is a powerful and user-friendly processor with compact design that fits any counter. It has reversible blades for slicing, shredding, chopping, and mixing, plus easy settings like High, Low, and Pulse. Best of all, its dishwasher-safe parts make cleanup a breeze.
Silicone ice cube trays – I like my butter cubes as I find them easier to use. But you can also roll the butter in plastic foil, as a roll and store it that way. Or simply add in in a container and that’s it! Very simple. Here are a few of my top 3 choices:
- Large Silicone Ice Cube Trays – 2 pack
- Large Silicone Ice Cube Trays 3 pack, with a lid
- Large Silicone Ice Cube Trays, 2 pack, with a lid.
I like freezing my herb butter in cube trays since they’re easy to portion out later. You can also roll it into a log in plastic wrap, or just store it in a small container.
Easy Homemade Herb Butter
Course: condimentsDifficulty: easy6
servings10
minutes10
minutesI love using herbs the right way. One of my favourite ways to make the most of fresh herbs is by making a herb butter or compound butter.
Ingredients
250 gr butter
Handful of fresh herbs (such as, mint, rosemary, dill, oregano, parsley, sage)
Directions
- Take the butter out of the fridge and let it soften at room temperature for about an hour, cutting it into cubes to speed up the process. If you are short on time, you can microwave it for 10-20 seconds until softened (make sure it does not fully melt).
- Wash and dry your herbs thoroughly, then finely chop them.
- Combine the butter and chopped herbs in a food processor, or mix them with a spoon or fork until well combined.
- Store the herb butter in silicone ice cube trays, small containers, or roll it in plastic wrap. Freeze or refrigerate, depending on how often you plan to use it.
Notes
- You can also season the butter per taste by adding garlic, chilly flakes, salt and other spices
How to Use Herb Butter
The possibilities are endless. From savory meals to desserts! You can spread it on a warm piece of bread, melt it over grilled vegetables, use herb butter for steak, or mix it into mashed potatoes. Trust me, once you taste the combination of butter and fresh herbs, you will wonder how you ever cooked without it! I even use it on my desserts.
Herb Butter FAQ
How long does herb butter last?
About a week in the fridge, or up to 3 months in the freezer.
Can I use dried herbs instead of fresh?
Fresh is best for flavour here, but if that is what you have, use about a third of the amount since dried herbs are more concentrated.
Do I need a food processor to make this?
Not at all. A spoon or fork works fine, it just takes a little more mixing.
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Hi, I’m Biba, the creator of Chick in Apron! As a busy mom and food blogger, I am passionate about making cooking fun and stress-free. I share simple, delicious recipes that are quick and easy to prepare, along with helpful kitchen hacks to save you time.
So, let’s turn cooking into something you enjoy with tasty meals and handy tips to make kitchen tasks a breeze! ✨
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