Compound Butter for a Turkey
Compound butters are a secret weapon in the kitchn for adding flavor and moisture. This is for turkey but works with roast chicken, steak, and many other things! For a plain herbed butter, omit the citrus. If you prefer using salted butter, be careful of salt elsewhere.
Servings: 16
Calories: 205kcal
Ingredients
- 8 ounces unsalted butter or salted butter 2 sticks, half pound.
- 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh thyme leaves
- 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh parsley leaves
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary leaves
- 2 large fresh garlic cloves zested or chopped fine and smeared into a paste
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest optional
- 1 teaspoon orange zest optional
Instructions
- Be sure the butter is very soft before you start blending. Allow it to stand at room temperature for 2-3 hours. Do not melt the butter if you try to speed up the process.
- Chop the herbs very fine so the blend into the soft butter well. Zest the garlic fine or chop fine then smear into a paste with the back of your chef's knife, into a paste. Add the butter and all herbs, garlic, and zest if using to a small bowl. Blend well with a flexible spatula until ingredients are evenly distributed.
- See photos in the post for help! To make a butter log, place the herbed butter on a full size (12"x16") piece of parchment paper or waxed paper. Using a spatula, spread it into a log shape in the bottom third of the paper with the short edge at the top. Fold the bottom of the paper over the top of the butter, then with your fingers or the spatula, gently pull the paper back against the butter to tighten it into a log. Roll the log the entire length of the parchment. Twist end the opposite way from each other and tie them to secure.
- Compound butter lasts 1-2 weeks in the refrigerator. Wrap the log in plastic film for more protection if desired. Freeze for up to 3 months. Slice off just what you need to use.
Notes
Herbs note: Choose fresh herbs such as thyme, Italian parsley, rosemary, sage, chives or marjoram. Don't use them all; choose your favorite 2-3 fresh herbs.
The parchment paper I use for this is a non-stick parchment paper. Find it here on Amazon.
Nutrition
Serving: 1tablespoon | Calories: 205kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 0.3g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 61mg | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 14mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 0.04g | Vitamin A: 734IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 0.1mg