• Flaky salt is key, and use a lot of it.
• Cutting boards or cheese boards are a great base for your butter board. Always ensure that the board you are using is well-sealed and food safe. • Assemble at the last minute if you can, so that the salt retains its crunch and the herbs stay fresh. • Provide small spreaders or butter knives so that guests can scoop up some butter to spread on their bread without being tempted by the urge to swipe it across the board or double- dip.
How do you make a butter board?
• Add fresh herbs to elevate the flavor profile and add a ton of visual appeal to your butter board. •Be generous with toppings so that there’s enough to match the butter on your board.
The concept is simple — just spread softened butter on a serving board or platter and top it with any savory or sweet (or both) ingredients you like. Serve with sliced bread and it’ll be a showstopper at your next party, when guests dig in to the delicious spread. The butter, of course, is key to the taste profile of your board. You should use real butter, not margarine, and salted
tends to taste better than unsalted. We especially love using ADL butter because it’s local and made from the milk of happy Island cows. The rest is pretty simple: bring the butter to room temperature and then use a butter knife or small offset spatula to spread it artfully onto a serving board or platter. From here, anything goes in terms of toppings! You can go with classic herbs and spices, sweet and spicy combos, seasonal flavors, or just about anything you can think of.
A few ideas for butter boards:
CRANBERRY & HONEY
Zest from one lemon 1/4 cup of dried cranberries 2 tbsp chopped candied ginger
1/4 cup of sliced almonds 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh rosemary 2 tbsp honey, drizzled (choose a locally produced honey) Serving this with toasted English muffin quarters would not be remiss.
PUMPKIN SPICE
1/4 cup of pumpkin puree (canned is fine), smeared over the surface of the butter Dash ground cinnamon, sprinkled Pinch of ground nutmeg Dash of ground clove 2 tsp brown sugar, sprinkled 1/4 cup chopped walnuts 1 tbsp maple syrup, drizzled
Spread the love with these tips:
• Shop the salad bar when you need just a little bit of something. This is a great way to save money because you can scoop up very small portions of onions, capers, olives, roasted garlic, veggies, or peppers at a fraction of the cost of buying whole containers.
• Use quality butter for the most creamy and decadent flavour.
• Soften the butter first to make it easier to spread.
Best served with a quick bread like zucchini bread or even pumpkin bread.
• Add an acid to contrast with the butter’s fat. Something bright like lemon zest, vinegar, citrus, olives, capers, or sun-dried tomatoes will add a pop that perfectly balances the butter.
• Sliced bread or crackers on the side are a must for dipping.
Bon appetit!
FALL 2022/WINTER 2023 www.pei-living.ca
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