Nutmeg Free Compound Garlic Herb Butter
Compound butter sounds fancy, but this garlic and herb version is genuinely one of the easiest things you can make — and the payoff is enormous. Softened unsalted butter gets folded with minced garlic, fresh parsley, chives, thyme, a hit of lemon zest, and a pinch of red pepper flakes for a flavor-packed spread that elevates just about everything it touches. The bright citrus note from the lemon zest keeps it from feeling heavy, while the combination of herbs gives it that fresh, garden-forward character you'd expect from a good restaurant finishing butter. Many store-bought flavored butters and seasoning blends sneak in warm spices that can be a problem for anyone avoiding nutmeg, so making your own means you know exactly what's in every slice. Rolling it into a log and chilling it until firm makes for beautiful, clean rounds that melt dramatically over a hot steak, roasted vegetables, or a thick slice of crusty bread. It keeps in the fridge for up to a week and freezes beautifully for up to two months, so it's absolutely worth making a batch to have on hand whenever dinner needs a quick upgrade.
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Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper, freshly ground
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Place the softened butter in a medium mixing bowl and beat with a fork or hand mixer until smooth and spreadable.
- 2
Add the minced garlic, parsley, chives, thyme, lemon zest, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes, if using. Stir and fold until all ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the butter.
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