Easy Herb Butter
Easy Herb Butter is a delicious compound butter made with fresh thyme, parsley, garlic and lemon zest. Delicious topping for steaks, potatoes, fish, crostini’s, veggies and practically anything and everything.
Servings: 8 tablespoons
Calories: 102kcal
Ingredients
- 8 tablespoon butter unsalted (see notes below for salted butter)(½ cup softened)
- ½ teaspoon salt if using salted butter you can either hold salt or add ⅛ - ¼ teaspoon to your desired taste
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 tbsps fresh herbs of choice (we used thyme and parsley but rosemary is also very delicious) or 2 teaspoons dried mixed herbs like an Italian seasoning or herbs de Provence.
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder if you add fresh garlic you will need to use easy herb butter in 4 days.
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest optional - really delicious if using on fish, poultry or pasta.
Instructions
- Soften the butter. You can just leave it out at room temperature and let it soften naturally for a couple of hours. Microwave: Remove the wrapping off the butter and place it in the microwave in 5 second increments. In 10 seconds, we had perfectly softened butter. Be careful. You do not want melted butter. The effect you are going for is that you can easily dent your butter when you press your finger into the butter.
- If using unsalted butter, add ½ teaspoon of salt. If using salted butter, you may choose to add ¼ teaspoon of salt or less to your desired taste.
- Add pepper, finely chopped fresh herbs or dried herbs, garlic powder and lemon zest (if desired) and mix well with a fork.
- You can serve it whipped right away. However, you may choose to roll it in a log and refrigerate or freeze for later. Cut a sheet of plastic wrap or parchment paper Place your compound butter on the ⅓ of the plastic wrap or parchment paper closest to you. Spread the compound butter with your spatula slightly.Gently, but firmly, grab the edge of the plastic wrap and roll the butter into a round log shape. Tightly twist the edges and wrap around. You can either place in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or in the freezer to store. Slice into wedges to serve and enjoy.
Notes
You can keep herbed butter in the refrigerator for up to 2 months or in the freezer for up to 6 months. You may choose to freeze your easy herb butter in ice cube trays and then when frozen store in a freezer safe baggie. When you have a recipe that you want to serve it up just take it out to room temperature for about an hour and it is ready to serve.
Another fun way to prepare herb butter is to freeze it in cute little chocolate molds. Super cute, if you are serving to company.
If you decide to use fresh garlic, you will need to use up your butter within 4 days. That is why we use garlic powder instead.
You can also melt your herb butter and served tossed in egg noodles or any recipe you want to give a little extra flavor.
Nutrition
Serving: 1g | Calories: 102kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 246mg | Potassium: 6mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 434IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 1mg