Compound Butters are a fantastic “sauce” to keep in your freezer. Keep in the freezer and when needed, simply thaw just enough to slice, and refreeze the rest. The key to delicious Compound Butter is grass-fed, unsalted butter, which has a higher fat content and a higher proportion of healthy, unsaturated fats than regular butter. It provides vitamin K2, which is needed for bone and heart health, and is a good source of the antioxidant beta carotene and vitamin A.

To make:

1. Use ¼ pound grass-fed butter at room temperature. Place in a bowl and stir the ingredients together with a wooden spoon. Season lightly to taste with sea salt if desired. 

2. Shape the soft butter into “logs” as you would cookie dough, on wax or parchment paper. Once frozen, wrap in foil, label, and store in the freezer. When needed, simply thaw just enough to slice what’s needed and refreeze the rest. 

To serve:

• Slice into ¼-inch slices when cold and place on top of grilled steak or chicken. 
• Place a thin slice over the fish before baking.
• Or, bring to room temp. in a bowl, stir to soften, and plop onto veggies, fish, or a baked potato.

Sesame Butter (green beans, chicken, steak)

• 2 Tbls. toasted sesame seeds, black or white
• 2 Tbls. minced chives or scallions
• 2 tsp. sesame oil
• 2 tsp. soy sauce
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Rosemary Olive Butter (chicken, roasted potatoes, with sourdough bread)

• 2 Tbls. fresh rosemary, coarsely chopped
• 4 Tbls. oil-cured olives, chopped and drained
  

Dill and Lemon (fish, spring veggies)

• 4 Tbls. coarsely chopped dill
• 1 Tbls. lemon zest
• Sea salt to taste

Cilantro and Pine Nut (chicken, grilled summer veggies, fish)

• 4 Tbls. cilantro
• 3 Tbls. pine nuts
  

Green Peppercorn Butter (delicious on steak)

• 1 Tbls. green peppercorns, drained, crushed lightly
• 1-2 pinches of cinnamon
• 1 tsp. minced garlic (or use a zester)

Vanilla Butter (baked sweet potatoes and roasted root veggies)

• 1 vanilla bean split, scrape seeds out, and blend with butter
• ¼ tsp good quality vanilla extract
• pinch cinnamon
  

Smoked Paprika Butter (grilled corn, shrimp, fish, chicken)

• 1 tsp each smoked paprika and sweet or hot paprika
• Dash cayenne (optional)
• Zest of ½ small orange - 1 to 2 tsp 
• ½ tsp salt

Gorgonzola Sage Butter (steak or chicken, rolls)

• 1 stick unsalted butter
• 2 ounces crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
• 1 Tbls minced fresh sage or 1 tsp dried
• Sea salt to taste