Garden Herb Compound Butter with Edible Flowers
In Florida we are at the height of our garden season, right before the heavy rains, heat and humidity descend upon us for the summer. Up north, spring is here and the fruit trees are blooming and spring flowers are abundant. It is so fun just to walk out into the yard and pick the flowers I want to use. The herbs will only be around another month, so I am trying to come out with every possible way to use the rest of them. This recipe is so versatile, you can use any herb and any edible flower you wish in any combination. You can choose to add garlic salt or completely delete it. The delicate flavors of the herbs and flowers combined with the sweet butter is enough. Play with the recipe, have fun and experiment. It is an easy, quick item to make to add elegance to any brunch or dinner. Serve it alongside roasted vegetables or with hot warm sourdough.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 0
Refrigeration time needed: 2 hours
Ingredients:
3 sticks butter, room temperature
½ cup shredded herbs and flowers
¼ -½ teaspoon garlic salt to taste (optional) sometimes the sweet butter and herbs is just delicate enough
edible flowers for decorating (make sure you google the flowers you use so that you are not using anything poisonous) Flowering fruit tree blossoms are also very pretty to use this time of year.
Directions:
Place the softened butter into a small mixing bowl.
Shred your herbs. I just used scissors and cut them
Add the shredded herbs and flowers to the butter, mix well. This is where you can get creative. I used fresh oregano,dill, parsley, chives, sage leaves, nasturtium flowers, geranium flowers, radish flowers and pansies. It doesn’t take a lot. Maybe only a couple of sprigs of each herb.
Add the optional garlic salt. Try one with and one without to be creative.
Place the butter/herb mixture on a sheet of parchment. Form into a log with your fingers.
Decorate the top and sides with the flowers and herbs.
Invert the parchment onto a piece of plastic wrap. decorate the other side. Wrap in the plastic wrap and shape into a log.
Refrigerate for 2 hours.