Hey there, foodies! Ever heard of a kitchen hack that can turn your dinner game from “meh” to “wow” in minutes? Meet basil pesto butter, the culinary hero you never knew you needed. Picture this: a mouthwatering pork tenderloin or a delectable grilled pesto chicken ready in a flash. How? Well, that’s what this post is all about! We’ll dive into what pesto butter is and how it can be your secret weapon for a speedy and delicious meal. The best part? You can prepare a large batch and store it in the freezer, making weeknight dinners a breeze to prepare. No doubt a great addition to your recipe collection. Ready? Let’s roll! 🌿🧈 #PestoButterMagic
What is Pesto Butter
What is Pesto Butter? Pesto butter is a deliciously flavored butter that combines the rich flavors of basil pesto with creamy butter, a touch of garlic powder, and dried herbs. This fusion creates a flavor-packed, ready-to-use compound butter that is a great way to turn ordinary dishes into extraordinary culinary delights. See below the full list of ingredients
Ingredients:
To whip up your own batch of delicious pesto butter, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- Basil Pesto: Choose your favorite basil pesto sauce, whether it’s homemade pesto sauce using fresh basil leaves or a store-bought favorite. While I absolutely adore making my own fresh pesto, I know that during the winter months, sourcing fresh basil can be a challenge, both in terms of availability and cost. That’s when I usually opt for the convenience of store-bought pesto. Lately, when I’m whipping up large batches, I frequently opt for the giant jar of pesto sauce found at Costco. You’ll spot it nestled in the refrigerated section.
- Garlic Powder: Adds a subtle garlic kick to the butter.
- Butter: You can use either salted or unsalted butter.
- Dried Herbs: Customize the butter with your preferred dried herbs for an extra layer of flavor. My preference is usually Italian seasoning or dill weed.
How to Make it:
Here’s a step-by-step guide to this easy recipe:
- Room Temperature Butter: Start with room temperature, softened butter. This makes it easier to mix and incorporate other ingredients.
- Mix It All Together: Combine the room-temperature butter with a generous dollop of basil pesto. Adjust the amount to suit your taste preferences. Sprinkle in some garlic powder and add your chosen dried herbs. The herbs can be tailored to your liking, whether it’s oregano, thyme, rosemary, dill weed, a mix like Italian seasoning, or even herbs de Provence.
- Roll and Freeze: Once all the ingredients are thoroughly mixed, shape the pesto butter into a log. To do this, lay out a sheet of plastic wrap or parchment paper, place the butter mixture on it, and carefully roll it into a log shape. Ensure it’s well wrapped and place it in a ziplock bag, or, if small enough, an airtight container. This will prevent any freezer burn.
Freeze: Pop the rolled pesto butter log into the freezer. It’s best to label and date it for easy identification later. The butter can be stored for several months, giving you a convenient flavor enhancer whenever you need it.
TIP #1: To cut out a nice slice, without the butter crumbling, and without applying as much force all you need to do is run your stainless steel knife under hot water before using it.
TIP #2: This is also a great and easy pesto recipe to have on hand for when you have left over pesto sauce that you know it won’t be used as pasta sauce anytime soon.
FAQ:
- How long can I store pesto butter in the freezer? You can safely store pesto butter in the freezer for up to three months. (Although to be completely honest I have stored it for longer with no problem). Properly wrapped and sealed, it retains its flavor and quality.
- Can I use a food processor to mix the ingredients? You can… but I think it’s unnecessary. I just mix everything in a small mixing bowl using a silicone spatula.
- Where else can I use basil pesto butter? We already have two different recipes that have been uploaded and I will be adding one more soon (spoiler: it will be a pesto salmon recipe). One of them is our juicy and tender garlic and herbs pork tenderloin and the other is our pesto chicken. Some other creative ways to this recipe would be to add it to hot pasta or veggies or on top of a steak. No doubt this will be a new family favorite!
- Do I need to cook the pesto sauce before adding it to the butter? Please don’t cook pesto sauce. It is not meant to be cooked and you will likely alter the taste of it.
- Do I need to stick to the measurements on the recipe card? Nope. It’s just a mere suggestion. This is a very flexible recipe and you can really make it your own and add as much or as little of anything you like. It’s really hard to mess it up.
- How do I cut a slice out? You can use a knife and just press it down. If you want to make it easier you can run a knife under hot water. This will make it easier to cut a nice slice, without the butter crumbling, and without applying as much force.
Basil Pesto Butter
Equipment
- 1 small or medium mixing bowl
- 1 silicone spatula or wooden spoon
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- 1/2 cup Pesto Sauce
- 2 Tsp garlic powder
- 2 Tsp of italian seasoning or herbs of your choice
Instructions
- Room Temperature Butter: Start with room temperature, softened butter. This makes it easier to mix and incorporate other ingredients.
- Mix It All Together: Combine the room-temperature butter with a generous dollop of basil pesto. Adjust the amount to suit your taste preferences. Sprinkle in some garlic powder and add your chosen dried herbs. The herbs can be tailored to your liking, whether it's oregano, thyme, rosemary, dill weed, a mix like Italian seasoning, or even herbs de Provence.
- Roll: Once all the ingredients are thoroughly mixed, shape the pesto butter into a log. To do this, lay out a sheet of plastic wrap or parchment paper, place the butter mixture on it, and carefully roll it into a log shape. Ensure it's well wrapped and place it in a ziplock bag, or, if small enough, an airtight container. This will prevent any freezer burn.
- Freeze: Pop the rolled pesto butter log into the freezer. It's best to label and date it for easy identification later. The butter can be stored for several months, giving you a convenient flavor enhancer whenever you need it.
This Basil pesto butter recipe is a kitchen secret that can transform your meal preparation. By making a batch ahead of time and freezing it, you’ll have a flavor-packed ingredient on hand to elevate your dishes, whether it’s grilled pesto chicken, succulent pork tenderloin, or anything else. It is also a great way to use up any leftover pesto sauce and it’s such a simple recipe with simple ingredients. By making ahead and freezing your pesto butter, you’ll be well on your way to creating fast, flavorful, and impressive meals that the whole family will enjoy- and all with minimal effort. Enjoy your culinary adventures!
How about you have you tried any flavored butter before? If so what is your favorite way or recipe to use them with? I would love to see all the different ways everyone has been using them! Please share it with me and follow tastyrecollectionscom on Facebook, Instagram and soon on Pintrest as well!
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