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DIY Herb Butter for Cooking Red Meat

June 9, 2022 by Autumn Leave a Comment

Have you ever cooked red meats in butter? It’s a wonderful way to add some extra flavor, especially when you use herb butter! Let me show you how to create a DIY herb butter for cooking red meat.

a square of herb butter surrounded by fresh herbs on a wooden cutting board

When I started using cast iron in the kitchen, I just naturally started replacing olive oil with butter. I found I particularly loved the additional flavor butter gave to braised roasts, tender steaks and even my stew meat tasted better when it browned in butter.

More recently, I’ve started experimenting by using herb butters (which are also known as compound butters) in my cooking. And I have to say, I love the results!

Let me show you how to make easy herb butter that will add excellent flavor to your red meat and is excellent for searing roasts, sautéing stew meat and of course, for frying up delicious steaks!

What is Herb or Compound Butter?

Are you familiar with herb or compound butters? If not, let me introduce you!

Herb butter (aka compound butter) is created by combining fresh, finely minced herbs with room temperature butter. There are many different types of herb butter you can create for many different types of food.

But in this tutorial, I’m going to give you a herb butter that is well suited to red meats.

What Kind of Herbs Go In Herb Butter?

I have yet to meet a herb that doesn’t pair well with butter! The options and combinations you can create in your kitchen are endless.

But before you start making herb butters, you need to ask yourself “how do I plan to use it?” If you intend to use it for cooking red meats, be sure to choose herbs that pair well with red meats (sage, oregano, thyme, green onions, etc). The same goes for chicken, fish and pork.

a pat of yellow butter beside measuring spoons filled with fresh herbs

In this case, we’re going to create a herb butter that can be used to cook red meats. Trust me. These herbs will add delicious flavor to your finished meat dish!

Tools and Ingredients You’ll Need

To make this recipe, you’ll need to ensure you have the following items on hand.

  • a sharp knife
  • wooden cutting board
  • a plate for mixing
  • fork for mashing butter
  • room temperature butter
  • fresh spring onion greens
  • fresh oregano
  • fresh or dried thyme

Tips for Making Herb Butter

Here are some tips that will make the process more enjoyable for you!

  1. Always let the butter warm to room temperature, so it mashes easily.
  2. Onion greens can be harvested from spring multiplier onions or even your globe onions.
  3. Oregano should be fresh and finely minced.
  4. Your thyme can be dry or fresh. There’s no need to mince the tiny leaves! If using fresh thyme, be sure to strip the leaves from their tough stems before adding.
  5. Have fun! When you mash herbs into the butter, do a good job of it and enjoy the process!
a finished cube of herb butter, surrounded by fresh thyme, onion greens and oregano

How to Store Herb Butter

Are you wondering how long herb butter will last in the fridge? In most cases, it should be good for at least 8 weeks. If you want to preserve it for longer, I recommend freezing it.

If tightly wrapped and sealed, herb butter is supposed to last for 5-6 months in the freezer.

So once you know what you like & use in your kitchen, you may want to make a large batch of that herb butter variation and freeze it in smaller portions, so you can pull it out whenever you have need of it for cooking red meats!

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How to Make Herb Butter (for Red Meats)

Make this delicious herb butter for sautéing roasts, steaks and stew meat in the cast iron skillet!
Prep Time4 hrs
Active Time5 mins
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: French
Keyword: compound butter, herb butter, herb butter for red meat
Yield: 1 half cup of butter

Materials

  • 4 oz (113 gm) salted, room temperature butter
  • 1/2 cup sliced onion greens
  • 1 tablespoon fresh minced oregano
  • 1 tablespoon fresh or dry thyme leaves

Instructions

  • Remove butter from the refrigerator or freezer the night before making herb butter and let warm to room temperature
  • Head out to the garden and collect 2-3 onion greens, a handful of fresh oregano and a small bouquet of fresh thyme
  • Pull out a cutting board and a sharp knife
  • Slice onion greens into 1/8 inch wide rings, until you have 1/2 cup
  • Mince and measure 1 tablespoon of fresh oregano leaves
  • Strip tiny thyme leaves from their stems, until you have 1 tablespoon
  • Place all herbs on a dinner plate
  • Remove butter from it's packaging and also place on a dinner plate
  • Take up your fork and start mashing room temperature butter into the fresh herbs, mixing until everything is well incorporated
  • Place your homemade herb butter in a small glass container and keep in the fridge until ready to use
  • Add to cast iron skillets before cooking red meats, just like you would with liquid oil or plain butter
  • Compound butter will keep 8 weeks in the fridge or 5-6 months if tightly wrapped and stored in the freezer

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