Yields: About 1 cup
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 4-5 cloves garlic, minced (adjust to your taste)
- 1/4 cup freshly chopped parsley
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional, but delicious)
- 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions:
- Soften the butter: Ensure the butter is completely softened to room temperature. This will make mixing much easier.
- Mince the garlic: Finely mince the garlic cloves. For a more potent garlic flavor, use more cloves. If you’re short on time, you can substitute 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.
- Chop the parsley: Fresh parsley adds beautiful color and freshness. If you don’t have fresh parsley, use 1 tablespoon of dried parsley.
- Combine the ingredients: In a medium bowl, mix the softened butter, minced garlic, chopped parsley, Parmesan cheese (if using), Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Use a fork or spoon to thoroughly combine.
- Taste and Adjust: Give the garlic butter a taste and adjust the seasonings to your liking. Add more garlic, herbs, or salt and pepper as needed.
Serving and Storage:
- For Immediate Use: Serve the garlic butter at room temperature for easy spreading. It’s fantastic on warm crusty bread, grilled vegetables, steak, seafood, or even tossed with pasta.
- Storage: To store leftover garlic butter, transfer it to an airtight container or wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. It will keep well in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months.
Tips:
- High-quality butter: For the best flavor, use high-quality unsalted butter. This gives you complete control over the salt content.
- Fresh vs. Dried herbs: Fresh herbs offer a more vibrant flavor, but dried herbs work well too.
- Make it Your Own: Experiment with different herbs like chives, basil, or rosemary. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a bit of heat.
Enjoy your homemade garlic butter!
