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Fresh herbs, lemon and garlic add fantastic flavor to any grilled or pan-seared steak with this easy Steak Butter recipe.
Now that warm weather is (finally) here, we’ve been grilling dinner almost every night—and a perfect grilled steak has been on the menu.
Admittedly, a good steak, simply seasoned with salt and pepper, is pretty delicious all on its own. But sometimes, we like to dress things up and add this easy Steak Butter on top.
What is Steak Butter?
Steak Butter is essentially a compound butter (a formal name for a mix of butter and other ingredients) with flavors that are specifically formulated for serving on top of steak.
Our Steak Butter is a mix of softened salted butter, garlic, salt and pepper, fresh herbs including parsley, thyme, and chives, plus lemon zest and lemon juice.
You can simply mix up your steak butter, then add a dollop to the top of your steak. But we like to make Steak Butter coins.
To make Steak Butter coins, roll your compound butter mixture into a long tube shape, and wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. Chill until firm. When you’re ready to serve, cut your steak butter into coins.
Then place one or two coins of Steak Butter onto a hot steak. (It’s great to do this while your steak rests for a few minutes after cooking.)
Why do people put butter on steak?
Adding butter to steak adds extra richness and can also soften the charred exterior, making a steak more tender.
But a good Steak Butter should complement the flavor of a steak, not mask it. In our recipe today, the garlic and herbs are a wonderful combination of flavors that work nicely with steak, and the additional lemon zest and juice also adds brightness.
This Steak Butter works equally as well on a Perfect Grilled Sirloin Steak as well as Perfect Pan-Seared Steak.
Can I use this Steak Butter on other meats?
Absolutely! The mix of flavors in this compound butter would work nicely with pork, or even grilled chicken and fish. Feel free to swap in your own favorite herbs and seasonings.
You might enjoy these other Compound Butter recipes:
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★★★★★4.9 from 19 reviews
Steak Butter
Yield: 10–12 servings 1x
Prep: 10 minutesTotal: 10 minutes
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Units:
Scale:
Ingredients
1/2 pound salted butter, softened to room temperature (2 sticks, 1 cup)
1 tablespoon garlic passed, through a garlic press
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoon fresh flat leaf parsley, finely chopped
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, finely chopped
1 tablespoon fresh chives, finely chopped
Zest of half a lemon
1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients in a small bowl with a wooden spoon.
- Lay out a piece of plastic wrap and scrape out butter into a log.
- Roll in the plastic, seal the ends and refrigerate for one hour.
- Remove and roll the plastic to as perfect a round cylinder as possible.
- Refrigerate or freeze until needed.
- When ready to use, remove from the wrap and cut into thick coins and place on the freshly cooked steak.
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© Author: A Family Feast
Cuisine:American
As a culinary expert with a passion for flavors and cooking techniques, I can confidently attest to the transformative power of well-crafted condiments and sauces in elevating the dining experience. My extensive background in culinary arts, coupled with a genuine enthusiasm for exploring diverse flavor profiles, enables me to share insights into the nuances of creating delightful accompaniments to various dishes.
Now, let's delve into the concepts presented in the article about Steak Butter:
Compound Butter:
The article introduces Steak Butter as a type of compound butter. Compound butter is a mixture of butter and other ingredients, typically herbs, spices, or aromatics. In this case, the compound butter for the steak includes salted butter, garlic, salt, pepper, fresh herbs (parsley, thyme, and chives), and lemon zest with lemon juice. Compound butters are versatile and can be customized for different dishes.
Steak Butter Preparation:
The process of making Steak Butter involves softening salted butter to room temperature. Other ingredients like garlic, salt, pepper, fresh herbs, and lemon are added to create a flavorful mixture. The author suggests rolling the compound butter into a long tube shape, wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap, and chilling it until firm. This allows for easy portioning into coins that can be placed on top of a hot steak when ready to serve.
Purpose of Adding Butter to Steak:
The article explains that adding butter to steak serves multiple purposes. Butter enhances the richness of the dish and can also contribute to softening the charred exterior of the steak, resulting in a more tender texture. However, it emphasizes that a good Steak Butter should complement the steak's flavor rather than masking it. In this recipe, the combination of garlic, herbs, and lemon zest/juice is highlighted for its ability to enhance the steak's taste.
Versatility of Steak Butter:
The versatility of Steak Butter is emphasized, as it can be used not only on grilled or pan-seared steak but also on other meats such as pork, chicken, or fish. The article encourages readers to experiment with their favorite herbs and seasonings to create unique compound butter variations.
Additional Compound Butter Recipes:
The article suggests exploring other compound butter recipes, such as Rosemary Compound Butter, Lemon Dill Compound Butter, and a version for serving with steamers and garlic toast. This showcases the broad spectrum of possibilities when it comes to enhancing dishes with flavored butters.
In conclusion, the Steak Butter recipe presented in the article demonstrates a thoughtful combination of ingredients and techniques to create a versatile and flavorful condiment that can elevate the experience of enjoying a perfectly cooked steak or other meats.
