Seed Oil Free Caribbean Jerk-Style Compound Butter
Bold, fragrant, and deeply spiced, this compound butter brings the soul of Caribbean jerk seasoning into a silky, meltable form that transforms anything it touches. Scotch bonnet or habanero pepper delivers real heat, while allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and smoked paprika build that signature warm, layered depth. Fresh ginger, lime zest, and a touch of maple syrup round everything out with brightness and just enough sweetness to balance the fire. For anyone avoiding seed oils, compound butter like this is genuinely one of the best tools in the kitchen — pure unsalted butter is the fat base, full stop, with no canola, sunflower, or vegetable oil hiding anywhere in the ingredient list. Store-bought jerk sauces and marinades are notorious for sneaking in refined oils, so making your own spiced butter from scratch puts you fully in control. Every ingredient here is whole, recognizable, and exactly what it says it is. Roll it into a log, keep it in the fridge, and slice off a round whenever you need it — over grilled chicken, seared fish, or roasted vegetables, it melts into a glossy, aromatic sauce in seconds. It's the kind of recipe that looks impressive but takes almost no effort, and once you have it on hand, you'll find yourself reaching for it constantly.
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Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 3 tbsp scallion greens, finely sliced (green tops only)
- 1 tsp fresh scotch bonnet or habanero pepper, seeded and minced
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, finely grated
- 1 tsp lime zest (from about 1 lime)
- 1 tsp fresh lime juice
- 1 tsp maple syrup
- ¾ tsp ground allspice
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp fine salt
- 1 tbsp fresh cilantro, finely chopped (optional)
Instructions
- 1
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, scallion greens, scotch bonnet pepper, ginger, lime zest, lime juice, and maple syrup. Beat with a fork or hand mixer until the ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the butter.
- 2
Add the allspice, cinnamon, thyme, black pepper, nutmeg, smoked paprika, and salt. Beat again until the spices are fully incorporated and the butter is uniform in color with no dry pockets of spice visible. Fold in the cilantro, if using.
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