House Compound Butter ingredients on rustic cutting board

House Compound Butter

House Compound Butter (Basic Template)


Makes: ~1 cup log (8–10 “coins”) Active: 10 min Chill: 1–2 h


The Meat Hook

Compound butter is pure plate polish. Salted fat carries herbs, citrus, and pepper right where you need it—on the slice, melting into the crust, waking up smoke without hiding it.


Ingredients

  • 8 Tbsp (1 stick/113 g) unsalted butter, soft but cool
  • ¾ tsp kosher salt (or to taste)
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp lemon juice + zest of ½ lemon
  • 2 Tbsp parsley + chives, very finely chopped
  • Optional: 1 small garlic clove, micro-planed

 

Steps

  1. Mash all ingredients until completely smooth. Taste for salt/acid.
  2. Scoop onto parchment, roll into a tight log, twist ends, and chill 1–2 hours. Slice into ¼-inch coins.
    Pitmaster’s Tip: For steaks, add a single coin just as you slice—don’t drown the bark.

— ✦ — ✦ —

Rookie ✦ Backyard Pro ✦ Pit Legend

Rookie

✦ Use on steak, salmon, corn, or baked potatoes.


Backyard Pro

✦ Add ½ tsp Dijon for silk; swap lemon for sherry vinegar.


Pit Legend

✦ ½ tsp smoked paprika + pinch cayenne for ribeye; or ½ tsp porcini powder for beef ribs.


From the Fire

French technique, backyard heart—salted fat plus herbs equals finish-line flavor.


Tips, Tricks & Techniques

  • Keep butter soft, not greasy for a smooth emulsion.
  • For neat coins, chill 20 min, then re-roll tighter and chill fully.
  • Freeze up to 2 months; slice from frozen.

 

Pair It

  • Ribeye • Salmon • Grilled veg • Sourdough toast
  • Zero-proof: Lemon fizz
  • Cabernet or a malty amber

 

Pitmaster/Grillmaster

Michael McDearman is a PitMaster/Grillmaster, Restaurateur, and Good Ol’ Country Boy with a Passport full of Cook-Offs and a Phone full of Grill Photos — not a backyarder playing PitMaster online. He’s represented 50+ Major BBQ & Grilling Companies, served 3 Years as Grillmaster for Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner., Won Contests Around the World, earned SIX Straight Golden Tickets to the Steak World Championship, and Judges Food Competitions on the World’s Largest Food Sport Stages.

Michael’s the BBQ Buddy who shows up with Tongs, Temps, and a Plan: Honest Temps, Natural Fats, Good Drinks & Good Times! If it’s a fake outfit or accent or just bad info, it’s OUT. Life is too short. Let’s have FUN! If it helps you win Saturday Dinner for your “Judges” — Family, Friends, and Folks — it’s IN. Steak, Brisket, Burgers, or Ribeyes for a Crowd — BBQ, Grilling, Outdoor Living is the Way.

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