Ina Garten’s Herb Butter Recipe: 5-Star Kitchen Elegance

Butter becomes an art form when infused with fragrant herb butter by Ina Garten, turning simple ingredients into a culinary masterpiece.

The vibrant green specks promise a burst of fresh flavor in every bite.

Creamy, rich, and impossibly smooth, this herb-packed spread elevates even the most basic bread or grilled meats.

Aromatic herbs dance together, creating a symphony of taste that whispers of summer gardens and elegant entertaining.

Professional chefs and home cooks alike adore this simple yet sophisticated condiment.

The recipe brings restaurant-quality magic to your kitchen with minimal effort.

Slather this herbaceous butter on warm crusty bread, and watch as your meal transforms from ordinary to extraordinary.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Calories: 400 kcal

Servings: 1

Ingredients for Ina Garten Herb Butter

• Butter: Creamy foundation that carries all the herbal goodness and creates luxurious texture.
• Garlic: Adds robust, earthy punch that elevates the entire spread with its intense aromatic profile.

• Scallions, Dill, Parsley: Vibrant green herbs that bring brightness, freshness, and complex layered flavor to the butter.

• Lemon Juice: Introduces zesty tang that cuts through richness and balances the herb mixture.
• Salt, Pepper: Essential flavor enhancers that amplify and harmonize all the ingredients' natural tastes.

Kitchen Tools for Ina Garten Herb Butter

• Electric Mixer with Paddle Attachment: Essential for perfectly blending the butter and herbs without overworking the mixture.
• Mixing Bowl: Spacious container to combine all ingredients smoothly and easily.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Precise tools for accurately measuring butter, herbs, and seasonings.
• Cutting Board: Clean surface for chopping scallions and preparing fresh herbs.
• Sharp Knife: Helps finely chop herbs and scallions for even distribution in the butter.

Directions to Make Ina Garten Herb Butter

• Herb Butter Preparation

Gather your favorite fresh herbs and creamy butter to create a delightful spread that will elevate any dish. This recipe brings together classic flavors that sing with brightness and richness.

• Flavor Fusion

Combine softened butter with finely chopped herbs, pressed garlic, and a splash of zesty lemon juice. Use a hand mixer or wooden spoon to blend everything until the ingredients are perfectly integrated, maintaining a smooth and consistent texture. The key is gentle mixing to preserve the herbs’ vibrant character.

• Serving and Storage

Transfer the aromatic herb butter to a small dish or shape it into a rustic log using parchment paper. Refrigerate to let the flavors meld and intensify. This versatile butter can be slathered on warm bread, melted over grilled fish, or used as a finishing touch for roasted vegetables. It keeps beautifully in the refrigerator for up to a week, ready to transform any meal with its garden-fresh flavor profile.

Flavor Ideas for Ina Garten Herb Butter

• Swap out fresh herbs like dill and parsley with your favorite seasonal options such as chives, tarragon, or thyme for a personalized flavor profile.
• Prepare the herb butter up to a week in advance and store it tightly wrapped in the refrigerator, allowing flavors to meld and intensify.
• Roast the garlic before mixing to create a deeper, more mellow taste that adds complexity to the herb butter.
• Spread on warm crusty bread, melt over grilled meats, toss with roasted vegetables, or use as a finishing touch for baked fish to elevate any dish.
• Roll the completed herb butter into a log using plastic wrap, then freeze for up to 3 months, slicing off rounds as needed for instant gourmet flavor enhancement.

How to Use Ina Garten Herb Butter When Serving

• Spread on Fresh Bread: Slice a warm, crusty baguette and generously spread this herb butter for an instant flavor boost that will make your taste buds dance.
• Top Grilled Meats: Melt a dollop of this herb-packed butter over freshly grilled steak, chicken, or fish to add a burst of fresh, zesty goodness.
• Enhance Roasted Vegetables: Toss warm roasted vegetables with a spoonful of this herb butter to elevate their natural flavors and create a restaurant-worthy side dish.
• Breakfast Upgrade: Smear this herb butter on warm toast, bagels, or English muffins for a gourmet morning meal that feels like a culinary treat.

Storage Advice for Ina Garten Herb Butter

• Refrigerate and Refresh: Store the herb butter in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week, letting the flavors meld and intensify.
• Roll and Wrap: Shape the butter into a log using plastic wrap, creating a neat cylinder that's easy to slice and serve whenever you need a burst of herby goodness.
• Freeze for Future Meals: Portion the butter into small packages and freeze for up to three months, ensuring you have a quick flavor booster ready for breads, grilled meats, or roasted vegetables.
• Transform Your Dishes: Use this versatile herb butter as a quick finishing touch on grilled fish, warm bread, steamed vegetables, or melted over a juicy steak for an instant flavor upgrade.

Silky Ina Garten Herb Butter Recipe

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4.6 from 11 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Yield: 1 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s herb butter brings classic French culinary techniques to home kitchens with elegance. Creamy butter blended with fresh herbs creates a luxurious spread perfect for bread, grilled meats, or vegetables. You will savor this simple yet sophisticated condiment.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• ½ lb (227 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) minced scallions, white and green parts
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) minced fresh dill
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) minced fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1 tsp (5 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tsp (5 g) kosher salt
• ¼ tsp (1.25 ml) minced garlic
• ¼ tsp (1.25 ml) freshly ground black pepper

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Instructions

1. Herb Fusion: In a spacious mixing bowl, amalgamate softened butter with finely minced garlic, scallions, dill, parsley, lemon juice, kosher salt, and ground black pepper, ensuring all ingredients are thoroughly integrated.
2. Butter Sculpting: Using an electric mixer with a paddle attachment, gently blend the mixture on low speed to distribute herbs and seasonings evenly, maintaining a smooth, cohesive texture without overworking.
3. Flavor Preservation: Carefully transfer the herbed butter onto parchment paper or plastic wrap, crafting a cylindrical log approximately 5 centimeters in diameter, then tightly twist the wrap’s ends to seal in the aromatic essence.
4. Flavor Infusion and Chilling: Refrigerate the butter log for a minimum of 1 hour, allowing the flavors to harmonize and the butter to solidify, creating a perfect compound butter for culinary enhancement.
5. Serving Preparation: Remove the butter from the refrigerator and slice into elegant rounds approximately 1 centimeter thick, permitting a brief rest at room temperature to achieve optimal spreadability and flavor release.

Notes

• Chill for Flavor Fusion: Refrigerating the butter log for at least an hour allows herbs and seasonings to blend seamlessly, creating a more intense and harmonious taste profile.
• Softening Technique: Let the butter sit at room temperature for a few minutes before serving to achieve the perfect spreadable consistency without compromising its shape.
• Herb Freshness Matters: Use freshly chopped herbs for maximum flavor intensity and vibrant color in the butter mixture.
• Versatile Serving Suggestion: This herbed butter pairs wonderfully with grilled meats, roasted vegetables, warm bread, or as a finishing touch on steamed fish.

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour
• Category: Snacks, Appetizer
• Method: Blending
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1
• Calories: 400
• Sugar: 0 g
• Sodium: 2300 mg
• Fat: 45 g
• Saturated Fat: 28 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 1 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 0.5 g
• Cholesterol: 105 mg