Herbed Compound Butter
by Benjamin Maides, Chef, Au Courant Regional Kitchen, Omaha, Nebraska

Makes enough topping for 6 to 8 steaks
Looking for a way to use the fresh herbs from your garden and make your steak taste extra delicious? This recipe is it! Make a double batch and store the extra in the freezer.
- 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
- ¼ cup chopped basil
- ½ bunch flat leaf parsley
- 1 tablespoon coarse sea salt
- ½ teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
- 4 garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons chopped chives
- Zest of 1 lemon
To the bowl of a food processor, add all ingredients and pulse until smooth (scrape down the sides of the bowl to make sure all ingredients are pulsed). The butter will turn a vibrant green. Lay a large piece of plastic wrap on the counter and with a spatula, carefully place an even layer of the mixture down the bottom edge of the plastic wrap, about 1½ to 2 inches in diameter. Fold the bottom edge of the wrap over to cover and seal in the butter. Roll up the plastic wrap like a sausage. Pinch each end and roll the wrapped butter toward you until it’s evenly distributed and the air pockets are gone. Re-wrap with plastic wrap so ends don't come untied. Cool in an ice bath until the butter hardens. Slice off a ½-inch portion and set atop a freshly-grilled steak.