Easy Homemade Basil Butter
This basil butter recipe is one of the easiest and most delicious ways to preserve fresh basil. Blanching the basil first locks in its bright green color and fresh flavor, then it gets blended with rich butter for a versatile compound butter that freezes beautifully. Spread it on bread, melt it over vegetables, corn on the cob, steak, chicken, seafood, or stir it into pasta for a taste of summer.
Calories: 82kcal
Ingredients
- kosher salt for blanching
- 2 packed cups fresh basil leaves
- 1 cup salted butter (2 sticks), softened
- 1 garlic clove small, grated (optional)
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest finely grated, optional
Instructions
- Bring a small saucepan of heavily salted water to a boil and prepare a bowl of ice water.kosher salt
- Add the basil leaves to the boiling water and blanch for 10 seconds, just until bright green. Immediately transfer to the ice water to stop the cooking.2 packed cups fresh basil leaves
- Drain the basil well, then squeeze it thoroughly in a clean kitchen towel or paper towels until as dry as possible.
- Add the basil to a food processor along with the softened butter, garlic and lemon zest if using. Process for 1 to 2 minutes, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed, until the butter is completely smooth and evenly green.1 cup salted butter, 1 garlic clove, 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
- Transfer to a serving dish or spoon onto a sheet of plastic wrap or parchment paper and roll into a log. Refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.
Notes
- Do not leave the basil in the ice water for too long, otherwise it will have the opposite result and start to break down the leaves. As soon as they are cold, take them out.
- Drying the basil thoroughly after blanching is the key to a smooth, creamy butter that won't separate.
- For the purest basil flavor with the most versatile uses, omit the garlic and lemon zest.
- If using unsalted butter, add ¼-½ teaspoon of kosher salt to the food processor when mixing.
- Spoon the basil butter into silicone ice cube trays and freeze. This way you can easily pop out just the amount you need, whenever you need it.
Nutrition
Serving: 1Tablespoon | Calories: 82kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.1g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 73mg | Potassium: 4mg | Fiber: 0.01g | Sugar: 0.01g | Vitamin A: 289IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.01mg
