Try these instead of plain butter in sandwiches and with vegetable, fish, and meat dishes. Start with room temperature butter, and for each flavored butter, either combine the ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth, or cream them together by hand in a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. Use a melon baller, if you like, to make perfect spheres of the butter before chilling.
- Anchovy Butter: 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon (drained) capers, 2 tablespoons anchovy paste (or to taste).
- Basil-Mustard Butter: 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, ¼ cup coarsely chopped fresh basil leaves, ¼cup Dijon mustard.
- Curry-Chutney Butter: 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, 1 teaspoon curry powder, ¼ cup mango chutney.
- Dill Butter: 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, 3 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, ½ teaspoon lemon juice, ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard.
- Herb Butter: 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh herb of your choice.
- Ravigote Butter: 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon (drained) capers, 1 heaping tablespoon each of chopped shallots, chopped fresh parsley, and tarragon, 1 tablespoon snipped fresh chives, ½ teaspoon lemon juice.