This article is not for the faint-hearted—we’ve compiled a list of the most decadent and indulgent recipes that feature butter at their core. From pastries to steaks, butter encourages us to realise that few meals aren’t improved with butter. The recipes and ideas contained within are ones to avoid when counting calories, but an absolute essential when looking for comfort food.
Butter is extremely versatile and is often used subtly in cuisine. However, we want in-your-face buttery. In baking, butter is commonly used to add that extra bit of epicurean satisfaction. Although baking often showcases butter well, there are two items of particular interest. Butter cookies and shortbread cookies are two very buttery, very sweet treats that go down smoothly. The difference between the two is the amount of sugar and the temperature at which they’re baked. Both of these sweets, however, are perfect for almost every occasion. Feeling sad? Nothing that a cookie can’t help with. Hard-to-please guests? Nothing is quite as convincing as the sugar and butter twisted into these cookies. The beauty of these tasty morsels is how little they require, and how easy they are to make. Traditional recipes are a simple combination of flour, salt, baking powder, sugar, egg, vanilla, and of course, butter. These cookies will satisfy any buttery cravings, big or small.
When combined with other ingredients, butter can contribute towards a killer sauce. One idea that we suggest trying as soon as possible is a hot-sauce butter. If you aren’t spicy food-inclined, perhaps try hollandaise or one of its derivatives, béarnaise. Let’s start with the hot-sauce butter. This is a rich and creamy sauce that is perfect for roast meats or poured over baked potatoes. The combination of habanero chillies, peppers and butter makes for a mouthwatering combination—and that’s just the sauce. Add this to roast chicken wings, or oven-baked potatoes, and you have a spicy and delectable meal. Hollandaise is another buttery sauce that is versatile and flavourful. Hollandaise is made from egg yolks, lemon juice, salt, and butter. The yellow sauce is both lemony, buttery and smooth. Hollandaise is most commonly found on eggs Benedict, poached fish, or asparagus. Béarnaise is similar to hollandaise but utilises white wine vinegar instead of lemon. It is also flavoured with shallots and tarragon. Béarnaise is usually served with steaks or grilled meats. There are hundreds of butter sauces out there that will steal the show at your next dinner party.
Butter is the perfect ingredient to enhance a multitude of dishes. It is often combined with other ingredients and then refrigerated to make flavoured butter. That’s one of the brilliant uses of butter; it can adapt to almost anything and then reincorporated into a dish later to add a whole new element. Whether it is in baking, or sizzling atop a steak, butter turns a meal from great, to jaw-dropping. Comfort food is never too far away with a little bit of butter.
