Skip to main content

Fines Herbes Butter

Ingredients

1 cup packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
1/4 cup each packed stemmed spinach and watercress leaves
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh chives
1 tablespoon of chopped fresh chervil, tarragon, basil, dill, thyme, or sorrel (either a single herb or in any combination)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon anchovy paste
1 cup (2 sticks) softened unsalted butter

Preparation

  1. Chop together 1 cup packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, 1/4 cup each packed stemmed spinach and watercress leaves, and 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh chives. Add a tablespoon of chopped fresh chervil, tarragon, basil, dill, thyme, or sorrel (either a single herb or in any combination) and chop again to blend the flavors. Put in a bowl and mix in 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon anchovy paste. Add 1 cup (2 sticks) softened unsalted butter until the herbs have been thoroughly blended and the butter is completely green. [Editor: Melt a tablespoon of this butter on top of grilled lamb chops or fish, or stir into plain cooked vegetables.]

From The Essential James Beard Cookbook: 450 Recipes That Shaped the Tradition of American Cooking by James Beard. Copyright © 2012 by Reed College and John Ferrone. Published by St. Martin's Press.
Read More
A fancy-feeling dish that comes together in 20 minutes.
Sticky-sweet mall-style bourbon chicken gets a fall makeover.
A fam-favorite, 30-minute dinner we have on repeat.
Full of crunchy veg and a miso-maple dressing.
Cut steak into cubes and suddenly it transforms into a quick-cooking protein.
Brussels sprouts are better with a crunchy Parmesan skirt.
Canned purée delivers rich body and deep flavor, without the nonna-level cook time.
Enchiladas meet pumpkin in this cozy weeknight dinner.