Cowboy Butter Sauce (Printable)

Creamy butter sauce with garlic, lemon, and herbs. A versatile condiment for steak, seafood, and roasted vegetables.

# Ingredient List:

→ Dairy

01 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter

→ Fresh

02 - 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
03 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
04 - 1 tablespoon fresh chives, finely chopped
05 - 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves

→ Pantry

06 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
07 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
08 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
09 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
10 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
11 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
12 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
13 - 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

# Directions:

01 - Place butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Melt until just foamy, watching carefully to prevent burning.
02 - Add minced garlic to the foamy butter. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
03 - Stir in Dijon mustard, lemon zest, lemon juice, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, black pepper, salt, and cayenne pepper if using.
04 - Let the mixture simmer gently for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly to combine flavors.
05 - Remove from heat and immediately stir in parsley, chives, and thyme until evenly distributed.
06 - Serve warm as a finishing sauce for steak, seafood, vegetables, or bread.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • This sauce has rescued more of my kitchen experiments than I care to admit its like a secret weapon that makes even the simplest dishes taste restaurant-worthy.
  • Its incredibly versatile when I discovered I could slather it on corn on the cob then use the same batch for dipping bread I felt like Id unlocked a culinary cheat code.
02 -
  • Never let the butter brown when melting it or youll lose that clean canvas for your flavors I learned this the hard way when I got distracted by a phone call once.
  • Adding the fresh herbs at the very end rather than cooking them throughout makes a world of difference in brightness this changed everything about the sauce when I discovered it.
03 -
  • For special occasions, infuse the butter with a splash of bourbon or whiskey before adding the other ingredients it creates an incredible depth that complements grilled meats perfectly.
  • If your sauce breaks or separates, add a teaspoon of cold water and whisk vigorously off the heat this simple trick has saved my sauce many times when Ive rushed the process.
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