Compound Butters | The Modern Proper (2024)

April 10, 2023

The fun part about making compound butters is that there isn’t really a bad combination. We love to build ours with a mix of fresh herbs, citrus zests, and garlic and onions.

Categories

  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Gluten Free
  • Vegetarian
  • 30 Minutes

Compound Butters | The Modern Proper (1)

Photography by Gayle McLeod

Our Best Compound Butter Recipes

That’s correct, we have multiple compound butter recipe ideas to share. It might come as no surprise that compound butter is common in French cuisine. Like a good sauce or condiment, compound butters serve to enhance the flavor of a dish. The queen of butter Julia Child said, “With enough butter, anything is good.” With Julia’s love of butter as our North Star, we’ve set out to offer a few of our favorite compound butters, which you can mix-and-match to your heart's (and recipe’s) delight!

Compound Butters | The Modern Proper (2)

Compound Butters | The Modern Proper (3)

What To Do With Compound Butter

We wouldn’t tell you how to choose your mix-ins at the fro-yo bar, and we’re not going to tell you what to do with your compound butter. But since adding things to butter is our favorite kind of math, we’d like to suggest the following equations:

  • The best compound butter for steak: parsley + lemon juice (aka beurre maître d'hôte)

  • Our favorite compound butter for chicken: garlic + thyme + lemon

  • There’s a compound butter for turkey too: citrus zest + juice + roasted garlic

  • And a no-brainer, we love compound butter for bread: garlic + butter (aka beurre à la bourguignonne)

  • Compound butter for fish is a fresh idea: lemon + any fresh herbs

We Got Yer Compound Butter Ideas

Compound butter is often served right before a dish is served, sliced and served cold atop the humble butter vehicle. It’s also used as a finishing touch to sauces, or sometimes appears as a condiment that accompanies a main dish. There’s plenty of compound butter recipes, with herb compound butter and garlic compound butter amongst our favorites. If you’re making an herb-based compound butter, just keep in mind that the maximum amount a stick of butter can hold is about three tablespoons. This isn’t an exact science, so you’re feeling creative, we encourage you to explore the compound butter universe!

Compound Butters | The Modern Proper (5)

How To Make Compound Butter

Since there’s no wrong way to make homemade compound butter we offer a few starting points to get the ball rolling. Starting with a softened stick of unsalted butter and a sprinkle of sea salt, you’ll start to get creative.

  1. In a small bowl, mix together the butter and salt, and add in the herbs, zest, juice, garlic or onions that called to your butter-loving self.

  2. Transfer the butter mixture–now it’s a compound butter!-- to a piece of parchment paper. Roll the butter into a log, twist the ends, and put in the fridge.

  3. After about an hour, the compound butter will have firmed up and you can slice it for use in recipes, on a piece of toast, or in a pot of rice.

  4. You can extend the life of your compound butter by sealing it in plastic wrap, and placing it in the freezer for up to three months.

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Tools You’ll Need

Here Are Some Recipes That Would Be Great With Compound Butter

We think that compound butter is a simple way to give any recipe that je ne sais quoi. A few of our recipes that get even better with a little extra butter love include:

  • A lemon-garlic compound butter + our Lemongrass Chicken Thighs

  • Baked Cod with Parsley Olive Tapenade + lemon-shallot compound butter

  • Caramelized onion and parsley compound butter + Steak Frites

  • Rosemary Roasted Potatoes + rosemary-thyme-parsley compound butter

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More Butter Please

We’re big fans of the compound butter club, and we’d love to see your creations! Tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper.

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Compound Butters

Updated on April 10, 2023

  • Yields:½ cup
  • Prep Time: 10min
  • Cook Time: 0min

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Related Recipes

  • Homemade Ranch Dressing
  • Homemade Mayonnaise
  • Homemade co*cktail Sauce

Ingredients

  • ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ½ teaspoons fine sea salt

Add-In Suggestions (Mix and Match)

  • Herbs:
  • 3 tablespoons minced fresh herbs such as chives, thyme, parsley, basil, or rosemary, optional
  • Citrus:
  • 1 teaspoon citrus zest, such as lemon, orange, or lime
  • 1 teaspoon citrus juice, such as lemon, orange, or lime
  • Garlic or Onions:
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 3 cloves roasted garlic, smashed
  • 1 tablespoon minced shallot
  • 2 tablespoons minced caramelized onion

Method

1. In a small bowl, combine the butter, salt, and any combination of herbs , zest or juice, and garlic or onions.

2. Transfer the butter to a piece of parchment paper. Using the paper, roll the butter into a log about 4 inches long and 1½ inches in diameter. Wrap the parchment paper around the butter and twist the ends to seal. Refrigerate the butter until firm, about 1 hour.

3. Store refrigerated in plastic wrap or an airtight container for up to 1 week or frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition Info

  • Per Serving
  • Amount
  • Calories80
  • Protein0 g
  • Carbohydrates0 g
  • Total Fat9 g
  • Dietary Fiber0 g
  • Cholesterol24 mg
  • sodium348 mg
  • Total Sugars0 g
Compound Butters | The Modern Proper (2024)

FAQs

What is another name for compound butter? ›

Compound butter, or finishing butter, is a type of butter that is mixed with herbs, spice blends, and other ingredients that give it a savory or sweet flavor. The term compound butter encompasses countless recipes and flavor profiles.

Why do chefs use compound butter? ›

This creamy spread can be easily added to meats, and sauces sides to add extra flavor. Compound butter is commonly used in the French cooking technique, especially for creating sauces.

What is the difference between compound butter and regular butter? ›

A compound butter ("beurre composé" in French) is simply butter mixed with other ingredients that add sweet or savory flavor, like honey, herbs, or garlic.

Does compound butter go bad in the fridge? ›

In the fridge, you can expect it to keep for about three or more months, while in the freezer, you can keep it for as long as a year-plus. (Of course, always keep an eye on the expiration date on your package.)

Can you buy compound butter? ›

This compound butter trio allows you to choose between three of our iconic steakhouse flavors for your next culinary adventure. Pick your preference between our classic garlic and herb Maitre d'Butter, our spicy horseradish Prime Butter, or our tangy De Jonghe Butter. Includes three 8 oz tubs.

What is the French name for compound butter? ›

Beurre maître d'hôtel (French pronunciation: [bœʁ mɛtʁ dotɛl]), also referred to as maître d'hôtel butter, is a type of compound butter (French: "beurre composé") of French origin, prepared with butter, parsley, lemon juice, salt and pepper.

Should you melt butter for compound butter? ›

Bring your butter to room temperature.

Cold butter won't blend with your mix-ins, and melted butter won't keep its consistency to hold them in place. Room temperature is like Goldilocks and the Three Bears: not too cold and not too hot.

Should you freeze compound butter? ›

Compound butter can be kept refrigerated for several days. They can also be frozen for several months by being wrapped in plastic wrap and stored in plastic freezer bags. Put the butter into a small mixing bowl, and let it warm up to room temperature, usually about 30 minutes to an hour.

What butter do chefs prefer? ›

The Best Store-Bought Butter, According to Chefs

It's unanimous: The best butter for sweet and savory applications is Kerrygold, our seven food pros agree. “It ticks every box for that classic 'butter' you think of in your head,” Fennel says.

Do you baste with compound butter? ›

Shrimp, chicken, beef, you name it. Every cooked meat, every protein, benefits from a good compound butter because it allows the fat to baste and add additional flavor.

Is butter compound healthy? ›

Butter is rich in nutrients and beneficial compounds like butyrate and conjugated linoleic acid. High-fat dairy products like butter have been linked to a reduced risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart problems. Still, butter is high in calories and saturated fat and should be enjoyed in moderation.

Can you leave compound butter out overnight? ›

According to the USDA, butter is safe at room temperature. But if it's left out for several days at room temperature, it can turn rancid causing off flavors. The USDA does not recommend leaving it out more than one to two days. As such, Chad Galer, VP of Product Science and Food Safety at Dairy Management Inc.

Can you wrap butter in saran wrap? ›

To roll your butter, you can use plastic wrap, parchment, foil, or even waxed paper. For getting a nice tight roll, I prefer plastic wrap. For this method, lay a piece of wrapping flat on your work surface. Spread the butter in a line about two-thirds down the wrapping, then roll.

Why use compound butter? ›

Compound butter adds richness and pungency to simple grilled meats, fish, vegetables, beans, pasta, breads and eggs. A few ways to use it: Spread it on baked goods such as bread, rolls and biscuits, …

What is the compound name for butter? ›

Butter is a mixture of various fatty acids, including butyric acid (C4H8O2), caproic acid (C6H12O2), caprylic acid (C8H16O2), capric acid (C10H20O2), lauric acid (C12H24O2), myristic acid (C14H28O2), palmitic acid (C16H32O2), stearic acid (C18H36O2), and arachidic acid (C20H40O2).

Is butter compound same as margarine? ›

The main difference between butter and margarine is that butter is made from dairy and margarine is made of refined vegetable oil and water. Margarine is also considered to be slightly healthier than butter because it contains less cholesterol and has important nutrients like omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

What is another name for witches butter? ›

Its distinctive appearance has led the species to accumulate a variety of common names, including "yellow trembler", "yellow brain", "golden jelly fungus", and "witches' butter;" although this latter name is also applied to Exidia glandulosa, its origin may stem from Swedish folklore surrounding witchcraft, in which a ...

What is the name of mixed butter? ›

Compound Butter (or flavored butter) is traditional butter mixed with ingredients. Cooks include almost any ingredient, but some of the more common selections are herbs, garlic, spices, and honey.

References

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