Description
This delicious Pesto Butter recipe is a flavorful compound butter combining aromatic basil pesto with creamy unsalted butter. Perfect for spreading on bread, melting over steak, or adding a burst of herby taste to roasted vegetables and grilled dishes. The homemade pesto includes fresh basil, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and optional pine nuts, balanced with lemon juice and zest for freshness. Easy to prepare using a food processor, this versatile pesto butter enhances any meal with vibrant flavor.
Ingredients
For the Pesto Butter:
- 1 stick unsalted butter (½ cup), softened to room temperature or slightly warmer
- 2-3 tablespoons pesto (recipe below), to taste
- ¼ – ½ teaspoon kosher salt, optional, to taste
For the Pesto:
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves, tightly packed (from about 1 large bunch, dried thoroughly)
- 2 cloves garlic (use 1 clove if less garlicky flavor is preferred)
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup pine nuts, optional
- ¼ – ⅓ cup olive oil
- Zest of ½ lemon, optional but recommended
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, optional
- ¼ – ½ teaspoon kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Pesto: In a small food processor, add the fresh basil leaves, garlic cloves, grated Parmesan cheese, and pine nuts if using. Pulse several times until the basil is chopped into tiny pieces. Scrape down the sides with a silicone spatula if needed to ensure even chopping.
- Add Remaining Pesto Ingredients: Pour in ⅓ cup olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Process again until the pesto reaches your preferred smoothness. Add more olive oil if necessary. Taste and adjust salt, lemon juice, or pepper as desired.
- Make the Compound Butter: In a medium bowl, combine the softened butter with 2-3 tablespoons of the prepared pesto. Use a fork to thoroughly mix until the pesto is fully incorporated and no white butter streaks remain. Taste and season with additional salt or pesto if desired.
- Store or Use Immediately: Use the pesto butter right away or transfer it to an 8 oz glass jar for storage. Refrigerate and use within one week for best freshness.
Notes
- For the freshest flavor, use homemade pesto made with freshly grated Parmesan and do not omit the lemon juice.
- Delicious uses for pesto butter include spreading on garlic bread, topping steak just before finishing cooking, as a sandwich spread instead of mayo or plain butter, on toasted baguette as an appetizer, stirred into roasted potatoes, on grilled chicken right off the grill, or melted over salmon before baking, air frying, or pan-frying.
- Enhance grilled cheese sandwiches by adding pesto butter.
- Use melted pesto butter to cook scrambled eggs for added flavor.
- Spread on warm biscuits or toast for a flavorful breakfast treat.
- Nutrition estimates are based on 16 servings, equal to ½ tablespoon of pesto butter per serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Condiment
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Italian
