Herb garlic butter is made by mixing softened butter with chopped fresh herbs, garlic, and spices. Bread, baked potatoes, grilled meats, and veggies are often seasoned with them.
Herb garlic butter usually contains parsley, onions, thyme, oregano, or basil, but other herbs and spices can be used. Herb garlic butter can be made ahead and frozen or refrigerated.
Garlic Butter Sauce
For many reasons, the garlic butter sauce recipe is recommended. First, this delicious sauce adds excellent taste to pasta, vegetables, meats, and seafood. The sauce’s rich, creamy texture and bold garlic and herb taste will impress your family and friends.
You probably already have the materials to make garlic butter sauce at home. It’s cheaper than buying pre-made sauce; you can manage the ingredients.
Garlic butter sauce can be tailored to your tastes. Add red pepper flakes or less garlic to the recipe to fit your taste.
Garlic Herb Butter Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 4 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
How to Make Garlic Butter Sauce
Begin by melting the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Do not let the butter boil, as this will cause it to separate and lose its flavor.
Once the butter is melted, add the minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic, as this will result in a bitter taste.
Add the lemon juice, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using) to the saucepan and stir to combine.
Continue cooking the sauce over low heat for another 2-3 minutes until all of the flavors are well combined.
Finally, add the chopped parsley to the sauce and stir to combine. Remove the sauce from the heat and set it aside until ready to use.
What to Make with Garlic Butter
Garlic butter is often tossed with pasta. Toss cooked pasta with garlic butter and Parmesan cheese. This makes a delicious, easy meal.
Garlic butter flavors grilled or roasted veggies. Before roasting or cooking asparagus, broccoli, or Brussels sprouts, generously coat them with garlic butter. This gives the veggies an irresistible richness and depth.
Steak and chicken lovers can end with garlic butter. While resting, top your meal with garlic butter. This makes a tasty sauce that enhances meat dishes.
Garlic butter can be put on bread. Mix garlic butter with fresh herbs like parsley, thyme, or rosemary, put it on bread, and toast it in the oven. This makes excellent garlic bread for pasta or soup.
Garlic butter flavors prawns, scallops, and lobster. Melt garlic butter in a pan, add fish, and cook until done. This makes a tasty, special-occasion seafood meal.
How to Store Garlic Herb Butter
Refrigerate the butter in an airtight jar. Place the butter in the jar, seal it, and refrigerate. Butter can be refrigerated for a week and used as needed.
Roll the garlic herb butter into a log with wax paper or plastic wrap. Shape the butter into a log on wax paper or plastic wrap. Wrap the butter firmly in paper or wrap and twist the ends to seal. The butter log can be refrigerated for a week or frozen for three months.
You can also chill garlic herb butter in ice cube trays. After freezing, remove the butter cubes from the tray and keep them in a freezer bag or airtight container for three months. This is ideal if you only need small amounts of butter or want to easily portion it out for recipes.
Label the container or wrap it with the date to know when it was made, regardless of storing method. This will help you keep butter fresh and delicious by tracking its storage time.
Garlic and Herb Butter Variations
A vibrant and tangy take on the classic, this garlic herb butter will not disappoint. In a bowl, combine the butter, lemon juice, zest, cilantro, and salt. Seafood, poultry, and vegetables all benefit from this variation.
Fans of fiery foods should try this variation. Combine butter infused with garlic, fresh basil, and Parmesan cheese that has been newly grated. It pairs wonderfully with spaghetti and grilled meats.
Caramelizing garlic while roasting in butter. Roasted garlic should be combined with melted butter, fresh thyme, and a sprinkle of salt. Toast or grilled vegetables benefit immensely from this variation.
Adding smoke flavor to herb butter makes for a delicious and unusual spread. Butter infused with garlic and smoked paprika, along with scallions and salt. This version goes particularly well with grilled meats and roasted vegetables.
The tanginess is from the Dijon mustard and the garlic herb butter. Whisk together some softened butter, fresh tarragon, Dijon mustard, and salt. This variation is perfect for spreading on toast or using grilled dishes.
Garlic Butter Sauce FAQs
Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted butter?
Yes, you can use salted butter in this recipe, but be sure to adjust the amount of salt you add accordingly.
Can I use dried parsley instead of fresh parsley?
Yes, you can use dried parsley if fresh parsley is not available, but be aware that it will not have the same fresh flavor as fresh parsley.
Can I make garlic butter sauce without lemon juice?
Yes, you can omit the lemon juice if you prefer, but it does add a nice tangy flavor to the sauce.
Garlic Butter Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 4 cloves of garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- Begin by melting the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Do not let the butter boil, as this will cause it to separate and lose its flavor.
- Once the butter is melted, add the minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic, as this will result in a bitter taste.
- Add the lemon juice, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using) to the saucepan and stir to combine.
- Continue cooking the sauce over low heat for another 2-3 minutes until all of the flavors are well combined.
- Finally, add the chopped parsley to the sauce and stir to combine. Remove the sauce from the heat and set it aside until ready to use.
Notes
- Before serving, strain garlic and herbs for a smoother sauce.
- Garlic butter sauce can be refrigerated for a week or frozen for three months. Melt the sauce over low heat, stirring frequently, to reheat.