Basil butter
Instructions:
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, at room temperature;
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil;
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice;
- 1⁄4 teaspoon kosher salt;
- Beat the butter in a medium bowl with a wooden spoon until smooth. Add the basil, lemon juice, and salt and mix well.
- Spoon the butter into a log the size of a stick of butter down the center of a piece of plastic wrap. Tightly roll up the butter in the plastic and twist the ends closed like a Tootsie Roll. The taut plastic will smooth the surface of the butter and make the log nice and round. Refrigerate until firm. Serve at room temperature. The butter can be refrigerated for up to 1 week or placed in a freezer bag and frozen for up to 6 months.
- What else works? In place of the basil, you can use other leafy herbs, such as parsley, cilantro, mint, lovage, chives, or chervil, or edible flower petals. Some herbs are more flavorful than others, so adjust the amount accordingly.