The
Chef's Tasty Little Secret: Adorning Butters
Written
by Aariana Adams
Chefs
have a tasty little secret: butter makes everything better. A
dollop of flavored butter or margarine turns a ho-hum dish into
a spectacular entré. Keep these handy butter logs in the
freezer - a quick slice, adorning a warm piece of beef, pork,
poultry or fish, finishes the dish with finesse - just like a
chef.
Preparation
for all butters:
· Beat on medium speed, or food-process, until well blended
and smooth.
· Place a piece of plastic wrap on a cookie sheet.
· Spoon butter onto plastic wrap. Leave 2" of wrap
at each end.
· Fold long side of wrap over the butter and "roll"
into a smooth log-shape.
· Seal the ends and place in freezer.
Serving:
· Remove from freezer about 15 minutes before slicing.
· Use a knife warmed under warm water and slice into ½"
thick slices.
· Rewrap remaining log and return to the freezer.
Pesto
Butter
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
(1 tsp. dried basil)
¼ cup finely chopped walnut pieces
¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp. minced garlic
Cognac
and Mustard Butter
½ cup butter or margarine, softened
2 Tbsp. chopped, fresh parsley
2 Tbsp. chopped, fresh chives
2 tsp dried tarragon
1 tsp. dry mustard
1 tsp Cognac or brandy
Curry
Butter
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1-1/2 Tbsp. curry powder
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
½ tsp. ground ginger
Avocado
Butter
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
½ of an avocado, peeled, pitted and cut into small chunks
1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
1 Tbsp. chopped, fresh parsley or cilantro
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
½ tsp. minced garlic
2 drops Frank's Hot Sauce or your favorite hot sauce
Citrus
Butter
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 Tbsp. frozen orange juice concentrate
1 Tbsp. freshly grated lime peel (the green rind)
Pinch of ground nutmeg
Roasted
Garlic and Dill Salmon Butter
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1-1/2 tsp. dried dill weed
1 roasted head of garlic (see below)
Roasting
Garlic:
Remove the outer layers of skin from a whole head (bulb) of garlic.
Snip the pointed tips of the individual cloves straight across
the top of the head (about ½" deep). Leave the skins
of the individual cloves intact. Place the garlic head in a small
oven-ready pan. Drizzle with ½" teaspoon extra-virgin
olive oil. Let sit for a few minutes and drizzle another 1/2-teaspoon
olive oil over the head. Cover with foil and bake uncovered at
375 degrees for 45 minutes to one hour. Cloves should feel soft
when pressed. Let cool. Separate the cloves from the head and
squeeze the roasted garlic into the softened butter and blend.
Dollops,
rather than a log, can also be frozen. Place the mixture in a
favorite mold or spoon a dollop onto waxed paper. Freeze and then
rewrap with waxed paper or plastic wrap between layers.
