This 2 ingredient pesto butter is the perfect example of how less is more.
All it takes is a few minutes of kitchen time to put this insanely delicious and versatile condiment that you’ll find yourself making again and again.
This pesto butter is super creamy, flavorful and has the perfect fresh and garlicky flavors of pesto, in a rich and no-fail delicious format.
Enjoy it with your breads, veggies, proteins and pretty much any culinary creation.
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What's So Great About the Recipe?
Apart from being insanely delicious, this pesto butter is also a great way to use up some of that extra basil or fresh herbs that you have at hand.
All it takes is a few minutes of kitchen time to put a simple pesto together, and then transform it into this wicked creation that seems to work wonderfully with almost anything you’re trying your hands at.
Ingredients
- Fresh basil pesto
- Salted butter
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make the Pesto Butter
Start by combining the pesto and the softened butter in a bowl.
Mix it together using a spoon or a fork until you get a consistent mixture.
Transfer it on a sheet of cling wrap and roll it into a log. Refrigerate or freeze for a few hours and then use as needed.
Substitutions & Variations
- You can use almost any kind of pesto for this recipe. The classic basil pesto is always a winner, but you can also experiment with different variations. Sundried tomato pesto, carrot top pesto and spinach pesto are some good choices.
- If you’re planning to use this flavored butter for your Italian meals and foods in specific, adding a bit of freshly grated Parmesan cheese can work wonders!
- Remember that if you're adding cheese into the mix, you'll need to use unsalted butter instead of salted butter, since cheese can already be quite salty.
- To get some extra garlicky flavor into this pesto butter, cover up a few garlic pods in aluminum foil, bake until they're slightly charred and then incorporate them to the pesto butter.
💭Top Tip
To lend a bit of kick and extra flavor to the pesto butter, you can add a dash of chili flakes or paprika too!
Equipment
Storage
The best part about this pesto butter is the fact that you can refrigerate it for days, if not weeks.
Just transfer the butter to meal prep containers or in a Ziploc bag before you refrigerate or freeze it.
Tips & Tricks to Nail the Recipe
- To lend some extra flavor to the pesto butter, you can also add some finely chopped garlic into the mix. If you don’t have fresh garlic, a dash of garlic powder should do the trick too.
- It is always a good idea to use freshly prepared pesto for this recipe. This will ensure that the pesto butter has that bright green color you’re looking for.
- I like to use a simple bowl and a fork to combine all the ingredients together, but if you are making this in a big batch, you can use the food processor to give it all a good mix.
- If you're not a fan of shaping the flavored butter into a log with the cling film, you can simply spoon it into individual sections of a clean silicone mold meant for chocolates or ice.
- Another fuss-free way to store this pesto butter is to just transfer it to a small airtight container and use it whenever needed.
Serving Ideas & Suggestions
This pesto butter is a rich, savory spread that can be used in a ton of different ways. I like to spread it on a slice of bread or toast and enjoy it as a quick and easy snack.
This butter can also be a nice flavorful base for your pasta or as a sandwich spread when you don’t have a lot of condiments at hand.
I love adding it to my homemade pasta and pizza sauce for that extra bit of flavor and deliciousness.
The pesto butter can also be a great addition to your stir fried or oven roasted veggies or seafood. You can melt them over your steamed veggies too!
I also tried slathering it on grilled corn on the cob and it turned out insanely delicious!
And of course, you can use it to lend your grilled and baked meats and protein that extra bit of oomph.
FAQs
You sure can! I’m a big fan of homemade pesto, but you can definitely use any store bought pesto of your choice for the recipe too.
The easiest way to soften butter quickly is to cut it into cubes and microwave it in 10 second increments until it is just soft enough to be mixed with a spoon.
You can use either salted or unsalted butter- it all depends on your personal preference. If your pesto already has enough salt, and you’re trying to cut down on your sodium intake, you might want to choose unsalted butter.
Yes, pesto butter is a compound butter and/or a herb butter.
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Pesto Butter
Ingredients
- 200 gms Unsalted Butter
- 4 tablespoon Basil Pesto
Instructions
- Start by combining the pesto and the softened butter in a bowl.
- Mix it together using a spoon or a fork until you get a consistent mixture.
- Transfer it on a sheet of cling wrap and roll it into a log. Refrigerate or freeze for a few hours and then use as needed.
Nutrition
Food Safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove