Hmm, Cheri, what exactly is compound butter, you wonder? Well, if you don’t know already, you’re about to regret learning this late in your life!

The concept of compound butter is extremely simple: it’s just butter mixed with one or more other ingredients which is then put on top of various other warm foods to melt and add a rich flavor or sauce.

image via darigold.com

To make it, you take a quantity of softened butter and mix or whip in in other ingredients such as herbs, spices, and other condiments or aromatic liquids like lemon juice, mustard, marjoram, dill, rosemary, tarragon, paprika, capers, chives, curry powder, parsley, shallots, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, or even anchovies. You then wrap the butter back up in parchment paper or plastic wrap and re-chill it into a log shape. Then, to use it, you simply cut off a slice and place it over top of your food such as a steak, chicken, fish, sauteed vegetables, rice or pasta so that it melts and imparts all of the flavor contained within the mixture.

Then, when you take the first bite, your body slowly floats up to heaven due to overwhelming joy.

A simple compound butter that you can use for steak is for example, butter, chopped garlic and chopped chives. Put a slice of the compound butter on top of the steak when it’s resting after being cooked, and you have a flavorful sauce to complement the steak. How about this more imaginative combination: brown sugar, rum and toasted pecans. Use your imagination but beware and use your powers for good: these sorts of things can do some serious damage!