As a kid, butter was the answer to everything that my taste buds wouldn't approve. Drop a spoonful here, spread a little more there and I would eat like a happy bunny. Sometimes, Mom would make butter at home and other times, we would depend on India's favorite brand 'Amul - utterly butterly delicious' 🙂 I loved butter with anything and since my metabolism was pretty good back then, I had to never worry about the fats.
However, the story is little different now, but I still believe in what a wise man once said 'butter makes everything better'.
Compound butter is very popular and works as a perfect tool to add extra flavor or depth to any dish. All you need is room temperature softened butter and flavoring components like herbs, garlic, citrus or whatever spices you prefer. Mix it up, roll it in a plastic wrap and let it set in the freezer. Once you made you flavored butter, it can stay in the fridge for up-to three months.
It's a quick and easy way to give a gourmet touch to any dish!
This flavorful compound butter is adapted from this very informative book on spices by Ana Sortun. What caught my attention was the usage of saffron in the butter. Saffron, as we all know, is one of the most expensive and exotic spices in the world. A little bit of saffron can go a long way. Always be very careful not to add too much of saffron in any dish otherwise, it will taste bitter.
The zest from the citrus, the sweetness from the saffron and the refreshing flavor from the parsley blended beautifully and gave a gorgeous sunny color to the compound butter. You can have it with soup, grilled meat and fish or just spread it on plain toast.
Give it a try and you will definitely fall in love with it.
Flavorful Citrusy Compound Butter
Ingredients
- 2 sticks of butter (softened at room temperature)
- 1-½ tablespoon marsala wine
- 1 teaspoon saffron
- zest of one medium blood orange
- juice of ½ medium blood orange
- zest of one lemon
- juice of ½ lemon
- 2 cloves garlic (grated)
- 1 tablespoon fresh parley (finely chopped)
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- salt to taste
Instructions
- In a bowl, add marsala wine, place the saffron and let it sit for about 5 minutes.
- Add rest of the ingredients except butter to the bowl and give it a mix.
- Now, add butter and using a wooden spoon or a small whisk, combine everything properly.
- Layer a plastic wrap and pour half of the butter mix on it.
- Roll it and fold it tight at the edges with some thread.
- Repeat it with the rest of the butter in another plastic wrap and let both the logs chill in the fridge.
Nutrition
Thyme (Sarah)
I love the idea of a spiced/flavored butter. When I was little, I would only eat crackers and butter at restaurants. I really thought I was eating something so indulgent! I love your photo of the saffron. Every time I see saffron here it is so expensive so I have never bought it...but I would love to try it.
wok with ray
I love compound butter and it's very handy. Love all your ingredients in it. Congrats on the Top 9, Kankana! 🙂
ceecee
I love making compund butter, especially when I make butter from scratch! Congrats on Top 9 today! Love the recipe and photos.
Ceecee
Cinnamon and Thyme
Wow, this looks so delicious! What a wonderful recipe, thank you for sharing. Photos are georgeus!
Greetings,
C&T
Corina
This is definitely something I'd like to try. The only other butter I've ever made has been garlic butter but this looks much more inventive and interesting.
mjskit
This is the most decadent compound butter I've ever seen and it's got me wanting to jump up and make it. Wish I had some Marsala! Awesome recipe!!! Congrats on the Top 9!
Ira Rodrigues
oh, i really want to give it a try! really cant wait to go to traditional fish market as it must be bashing on the grilled fish.
Ansh
Congratulations on food buzz top 9!
Love those gorgeous pictures. I had to break away my gaze from them to read the post. I never thought of adding saffron to my butters before!! Creamy, buttery deliciousness!!
Great Post!
Nami | Just One Cookbook
Kankana, this is very cool recipe! Butter with saffron and citrus flavor - it's my very first time to see compound butter like this. Very complex flavor and regular bread becomes a lot fancier! I need a good bread for this special butter. 🙂
Sanjeeta kk
Oh..this is such a wonderful idea to enjoy my bread! So flavorful and yum looking spread.
Kim Bee
Oh my gosh this is fantastic. I love compound butters. This one is incredible with the saffron.
Yadsia @ShopCookMake
It looks so easy, but I've never attempted to prepare compound butter. I bet cooking fish with it will be amazing!
tigerfish
The furthest I have gone with compound butter is with garlic and herbs. Looks like I should get more adventurous.
kyleen
Butter is definitely the answer. Almost anything can taste good when it's doused with butter. This compound butter looks amazing!
Sara{OneTribeGourmet}
Love your idea of this flavorful butter...Butter makes everything better! 🙂
Aldy @ Al Dente Gourmet
Ooooh...So cute, Kankana! What a beautiful and flavorful buttery recipe 🙂 I just love the flavors of saffron, orange and lemon. Must try!
HUGS <3
peachkins
Oh WOW! This is my kind of butter!
Kiri W.
Mmmmm, this looks like such a perfect way to spice up almost any dish! Beautiful recipe.
nipponnin
Citrus and saffron? Who ever thought! Saffron is expensive spice but give the dish nice color. I think I will use the butter in salmon dish. Awesome!
erin @ yummy supper
Oh my Kankana, this is gorgeous! I am dying over that saffron photo. Yep, butter does make everything better;)
-Erin