Roasted Garlic Compound Butter
Ingredients:
1 head of garlic
Olive oil
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2 tablespoons fresh herbs (such as parsley, chives, or thyme), finely chopped
1 teaspoon lemon zest
Salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Directions:
Roast the Garlic:
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
Slice off the top of the garlic head to expose the cloves. Drizzle with olive oil and wrap in aluminum foil.
Roast in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes, or until the cloves are soft and golden. Let it cool, then squeeze the garlic cloves out of their skins.
Mash the Garlic:
4. In a small bowl, mash the roasted garlic cloves into a paste.
Make the Compound Butter:
5. In a mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, mashed roasted garlic, fresh herbs, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Use a fork or an electric mixer to blend everything together thoroughly.
Shape and Chill:
6. Lay out a piece of parchment paper or plastic wrap on your countertop. Place the garlic herb butter mixture onto the paper and form it into a log by rolling it up in the paper/plastic wrap.
Twist the ends to seal and shape the butter. Refrigerate until firm, about 1-2 hours, or freeze for longer storage.
Serve:
8. To use, slice or shave the compound butter over steaks, vegetables, bread, or any dish you'd like to enrich with the savory, aromatic flavor of roasted garlic and herbs.