Asparagus Butter

Asparagus butter is a popular condiment served in many restaurants in the United States. If you're not familiar with it, let me explain what it is and how it's typically used.

At its core, asparagus butter is a compound butter that's made by blending together fresh asparagus puree, unsalted butter, and various seasonings. Compound butters are essentially a mixture of softened butter and other ingredients, like herbs or spices, that are blended together to create a spread or sauce.

To make asparagus butter, you'll need the following ingredients:

To prepare the asparagus puree, you can either steam or blanch fresh asparagus spears until they're tender. Then, purée them in a blender or food processor until smooth. One pound of fresh asparagus should yield about 1/4 cup of puree.

Once you have your ingredients ready, combine the softened butter, asparagus puree, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Mix everything together until well combined and smooth. You can taste the butter at this stage and adjust the seasoning as needed.

Now that you have your asparagus butter ready, how can you use it? Here are some popular ways to enjoy it:

1. Spread it on bread: Asparagus butter is a tasty alternative to traditional butter on toast, bagels, or croissants. It adds a subtle asparagus flavor that's perfect for spring or summer.

2. Use it as a sauce: Asparagus butter can be used as a sauce for grilled meats (like steak or chicken), fish, or vegetables. Just melt it on the grill or in a pan, and it's ready to serve.

3. Add it to scrambled eggs or omelets: Adding a pinch of asparagus butter to scrambled eggs or an omelet filling gives them a creamy, savory flavor.

4. Enhance your mashed potatoes: Mixing a bit of asparagus butter into mashed potatoes creates a rich, buttery flavor with a hint of asparagus.

5. Elevate your grilled cheese: Spread asparagus butter on one of the bread slices when making a grilled cheese sandwich, and you'll have a delicious, inventive twist on the classic lunch dish.

Remember that homemade asparagus butter will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. If you want to make a larger batch, simply multiply the ingredients accordingly. Some grocery stores and gourmet shops may also carry pre-made asparagus butter, so keep an eye out for it on your next shopping trip.

Now that you know how to make and use asparagus butter, I hope you'll experiment with this delicious condiment!