A compound butter is a softened butter mixed with a variety of ingredients then rolled and chilled. Make a batch when you have fresh herbs available, and freeze it for later use. Having Garlic Butter on hand is a time saver when making garlic bread, homemade croutons, garlic mashed potatoes, shrimp scampi or sautéing vegetables.
Ingredients
4 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 Tablespoon fresh minced parsley
1 teaspoon fresh minced chives
⅛ teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1 cup softened butter
Instructions
Using a mortar and pestle mash the garlic cloves and salt until a paste forms. Alternatively, you can use your chef knife by mincing the garlic with kosher salt on a cutting board. Then tilt the knife at a 30 degree angle to the board and scrape it over the garlic and salt mixture. Repeat this process until the garlic and salt have formed a smooth paste. It is important to use kosher salt because the coarseness helps break down the garlic.
Add 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of fresh minced parsley, 1 teaspoon fresh minced chives and ⅛ teaspoon dried Italian seasoning to the garlic/salt paste. Mix lightly with a spoon.
Place 1 cup of softened butter in a mixing bowl, add garlic and herb mixture and combine.
Place compound garlic butter on a plastic film and roll into a log. Chill in the refrigerator.