Recipe developed and contributed by Maureen Gualtieri
A good compound butter is worth its weight in… well, with this economy, butter! Luckily, a little goes a long way: In this recipe, we flavoured a full cup of high-quality butter with DFC’s Garlic Scape relish, crunchy shallots, piquant lime zest, and hot chilis – it should keep you going for a while! You can make up all kinds of variations on this easy recipe, using any of DFC’s line of sauces, as well as your favourite aromatics. Top a freshly grilled steak, hot corn on the cob, or steamed green beans with a pat or two, and let this homemade condiment melt its way into your heart – and stomach!
Garlic Scape Compound Butter
(Yield: approx. 1 cup)
1 c. (227g) good-quality unsalted butter, softened
1 shallot, minced
1 small red chili pepper, minced
zest of 1/ 2 lime
1 tbsp DFC’s Garlic Scape relish
Flaky sea salt
Cream your softened butter in a large bowl, until fluffy and light. Add in your minced shallot, chili pepper, lime zest, flaky sea salt (to taste) and DFC’s Garlic Scape relish. Mix until all add-ins are well-incorporated. Taste, and adjust quantities and seasoning as needed.
Tear off an approximately cutting-board-sized piece of plastic wrap, and lay it out flat on your work surface. With a silicone scraper blob out about half of your butter mixture into a horizontal log-like shape, six-ish inches long. Fold the plastic wrap over the top of the log, to cover, and nudge and smooth the blobs with your hands to eliminate air pockets. Fold the bottom of the plastic wrap up, and form the butter into a more definitive log shape. Roll the ends shut tightly until you have what looks like a butter sausage. Repeat with the other half of the butter mixture.
Stash your compound butter logs in the fridge for at least two hours. (I recommend parking them in the freezer, and leaving them there, slicing off pats as needed. They’ll easily last a year frozen.) Melt slices of your butter on grilled meats, baked potatoes, steamed veggies, pasta, popcorn – your imagination is the only limit!
