Description
Cowboy Butter is a flavorful, versatile compound butter made with a base of unsalted butter, infused with garlic, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, chili flakes, and a touch of salt. Perfect for enhancing the taste of steak, seafood, meats, and vegetables, this quick and easy butter adds a smoky, spicy kick and creamy richness to any dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Butter Mixture
- 100g (7 tbsp) unsalted butter, softened, divided
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp smoked paprika (or regular paprika as substitute)
- 1 tsp chili flakes / red pepper flakes
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt (halve if using table salt)
Garlic
- 1 large garlic clove, finely minced (about 1 tsp)
Instructions
- Sauté garlic: In a small frying pan, melt 1 tbsp (15g) of butter over medium heat until it begins to foam. Add the finely minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds while stirring continuously until the garlic turns a very light golden color. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the garlic to cool for 3 minutes; the garlic will darken slightly during this time.
- Mix ingredients: In a small mixing bowl, add the remaining butter and all other ingredients including Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, chili flakes, and salt. Pour the sautéed garlic with the melted butter over the mixture and stir thoroughly until all components are fully combined and smooth.
- Serve: Spoon the Cowboy Butter over hot steak immediately to enhance the flavor. It pairs excellently with other cooked meats, seafood, and even vegetables, imparting a rich, smoky, and mildly spicy taste.
- Usage tips: For best texture, use the butter softened so it melts nicely over steak. Alternatively, gently melt the butter for dipping steak bites, or form the butter into a log using cling wrap, refrigerate, then slice off coins as needed. Place these butter slices onto hot steak to allow them to melt gradually.
Notes
- Use a sharp knife to finely mince the garlic for best flavor distribution.
- Smoked paprika adds a distinctive smoky flavor; regular paprika can be substituted if preferred.
- Adjust chili flakes based on your desired heat level.
- When using table salt instead of kosher salt, reduce the quantity to avoid over-salting.
- This butter can be prepared ahead and refrigerated for up to a week or frozen for longer storage.
- For a softer spread, bring refrigerated butter to room temperature before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Sauce/Condiment
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Cowboy Butter, compound butter, steak butter, garlic butter, smoky butter, spicy butter, steak sauce, butter for steak, meat butter, savory butter
