Nitrate & Nitrite Free Maître d' Butter
Compound butter is one of those quietly brilliant kitchen staples that makes everything it touches taste more special. This classic French-style preparation blends fresh parsley, bright lemon zest, a squeeze of juice, and a whisper of black pepper into creamy unsalted butter — nothing more, nothing less. For anyone keeping a close eye on processed additives, it's a genuinely clean option since every single ingredient is whole and straightforward, with no cured meats, preservatives, or packaged shortcuts involved. The butter gets rolled into a neat log, chilled until firm, and then sliced into elegant rounds that melt on contact with whatever hot food they land on. A pat draped over a just-grilled steak or a fillet of roasted fish turns an everyday dinner into something that feels restaurant-worthy. It keeps well in the refrigerator and can even be frozen, so making a batch ahead means you always have something impressive ready to go. Simple ingredients, a little technique, and a lot of payoff.
About FigFig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.
Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 3 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
- 1 tsp lemon zest (from about 1 lemon)
- 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
- ¼ tsp fine sea salt
- ⅛ tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- 1
Place the softened butter in a mixing bowl and beat with a fork or hand mixer until smooth and evenly creamy, about 1 minute.
- 2
Add the parsley, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper. Mix until the herbs and seasonings are evenly distributed throughout the butter with no streaks remaining.
Want the full recipe?
Create a Fig account for step-by-step instructions, access to our full recipe library, and more!