[1]Fresh Herb Butter made with thyme, sage and rosemary. Just one of many possible combinations for small-batch hand-crafted compound butters. Image copyright by Orissa Mora-Kent.
by Orissa Mora-Kent
Health Impact News
One very easy way to incorporate a healthy and traditional source of fat into your everyday diet is to consume cultured butter made from the milk of grass-fed pastured cows. Butter is so versatile and brings out the best of the flavors of whatever you add it to: enjoyed on grilled meats, steamed vegetables, baked seafood, homemade freshly baked bread made with freshly ground flour, various breakfast foods and even stirred into your morning coffee.
With all of those uses for butter, wouldn’t you like to know that there are just as many options for handcrafting flavors of butter to suit each and every occasion?
In the following 4 recipes we’ll show you how easy it is to get started creating your very own small batches of compound butters, both sweet and savory varieties.
How to Make Compound Butter
Tools
- Small mixing bowl
- Silicone spatula
- Cutting board
- Sharp knife
- Parchment paper
- Labels
Process
Start with very soft butter so that the ingredients can easily be combined. After you’ve added in your selected mix-ins and blended them in well with the softened butter, scoop butter out onto a piece of parchment paper and roll into a log. Label and refrigerate, or freeze if you’re making a lot for later use.
That’s it. It’s so easy.
4 Compound Butter Recipes
Now here are four recipes to get you started, beginning with the Fresh Herb Butter pictured above:
Fresh Herb Butter
Enjoy on bread with cheese, juicy burgers or rubbed under the skin of chicken before cooking.
- 1 cup unsalted cultured butter from the milk of grass-fed pastured cows
- 2 tablespoons minced sage
- 2 tablespoons minced thyme
- 2 tablespoons minced rosemary
- 4 cloves fresh garlic, pressed
- pinch sea salt and cracked pepper
Honey Ginger Cumin Butter
Enjoy on fresh veggies, seafood and fowl: such as carrots, baked fish or fried chicken.
- 1 cup unsalted cultured butter from the milk of grass-fed pastured cows
- 2 teaspoons raw honey
- zest of 2 limes
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
- pinch sea salt
Chili Lime Butter
Enjoy on juicy flank steaks, or roast lamb.
- 1 cup unsalted cultured butter from the milk of grass-fed pastured cows
- 2 chilis, finely diced (seeded, optional)
- zest of 2 limes
- fresh juice of 1 lime
- 2 shallots
- 4 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
- pinch sea salt
Vanilla Cinnamon Honey Butter
Enjoy on baked sweet potatoes, crisp apple slices and pancakes.
- 1 cup unsalted cultured butter from the milk of grass-fed pastured cows
- scrapings of 2 vanilla beans
- 2 teaspoons raw honey
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- pinch sea salt
Other Sweet and Savory Mix-in Ideas
- Blue cheese
- Cilantro, cumin and curry
- Chopped sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil
- Parsley, shallots, garlic, and lemon zest
- Shredded coconut, dates, and ground cinnamon
- Chives, and fresh garlic
- and many, many more!
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