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We treasure any contributions you would like to make to our blog, or if you have a family recipe you'd like to share with our community, please reach out at [email protected]. You are amazing, and so should your tasty cooking!

For now, love yourself and enjoy this one ... 

Herbal Compound Butters to Celebrate the Festive Season

Sarah Snyder is responsible for the photography and recipes. Juliet Blankespoor, Meghan Gemma & Meghan Gemma are responsible for other text.

Flavored butters can add excitement to any dish.

Compound butters are rich and creamy, and they add a silky texture and delicious flavor to any dish. You can use them to roast meat or vegetables, or spread on fresh bread or baked roots. Butters with fruity, sour and sweet flavors are great on pancakes, waffles or muffins. Set the table with buttery herb spreads to make every occasion feel special, from Sunday brunches to birthday dinners for your best friend.

Compound butter may sound a bit stodgy (it's actually derived from the French beurre composition), but flavored butters add excitement to all cuisines. If you have ever ordered steak in a fancy restaurant, then you may be familiarized with compound butters. The chef will melt a small amount of compound butter over the top of grilled meat or fish. This allows the flavors to percolate and envelop the food.

Compound butters are a great way to preserve fresh herbs for cooking, particularly those that do not dry out well, like parsley, chives or cilantro. You can use the butter right away or freeze it in logs wrapped in wax paper. When you are ready to use butter, simply slice a round or defrost smaller portions and keep them in the fridge.

Try coconut manna for a sweeter butter if you are avoiding dairy. The plant-based alternatives may not have the same consistency as butter. You might be able roll them into a cylinder, but instead you can serve them in small bowls.

A bowl Herbes de Provence herbal butter.

img alt="A Bowl of Herbes de Provence Herbal Compound Butter." class="attachment-150x150 size-150x150" decoding="async" height="150" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" src="https://chestnutherbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/herbal-compound-butter-closeup-150x150.jpg" srcset="https://chestnutherbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/herbal-compound-butter-closeup-150x150.jpg 150w, https://chestnutherbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/herbal-compound-butter-closeup-75x75.jpg 75w, https://chestnutherbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/herbal-compound-butter-closeup-500x500.jpg 500w" style="border-width: 0px;border-style: solid;border-color: #666666;" width="150"/>

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Herbes de Provence Herbal Butter

The butter tastes great when served with warm bread. This butter is a delicious accompaniment to roasted vegetables and meats, primavera pasta, and baked winter squash.

Course Sauce

Keyword Butter

Prep Time: 5 Minutes

Cups 1

Equipment

• Mixing Bowl
• Sturdy spoon

Ingredients

• 1 cup salted butter (1 cup = 2 sticks butter)
• 2 teaspoons dried Thyme
• 2 teaspoons dried sage
• 2 teaspoons dried lavender
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried tarragon
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano

Instructions

• Bring the butter up to room temperature.
• Mix all ingredients in a large bowl with a wooden spoon.
• Keep in the fridge or freezer for later.

A bowl pomegranate-molasses compound Butter.

img alt="A pomegranate-molasses compound butter." class="attachment-150x150 size-150x150" decoding="async" height="150" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px" src="https://chestnutherbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/pomegranate-compound-butter-closeup-150x150.jpg" srcset="https://chestnutherbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/pomegranate-compound-butter-closeup-150x150.jpg 150w, https://chestnutherbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/pomegranate-compound-butter-closeup-75x75.jpg 75w, https://chestnutherbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/pomegranate-compound-butter-closeup-500x500.jpg 500w" style="border-width: 0px;border-style: solid;border-color: #666666;" width="150"/>

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Pomegranate Molasses Butter

This smooth, fruity spread will elevate your breakfast toasts and tapas platters. Add it to baked items for a surprising flavor boost. Top muffins that are still warm out of the oven with it. Pair it with fresh bread of your choice.

Condiment Course

Butter Keyword

Prep Time 10 Minutes

Cups 1

Equipment

• Mixing Bowl
• Sturdy spoon
• Strainer

Ingredients

• 1 cup salted butter (1 cup = 2 sticks butter)
• 1 pomegranate
• 1 teaspoon grated ginger
• 1 teaspoon orange zest
• 1 teaspoon molasses

Instructions

• Bring the butter up to room temperature.
• Peel the pomegranate, and remove the seeds.
• Leave the seeds of half of the pomegranate whole.
• Chop up the remainder of the seeds, and strain the juice with a strainer.
• Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, including the whole and chopped seeds of pomegranate.
• Keep in the fridge or freezer for later.

Learn more about the ingredients

Visit our articles to learn more about the medicinal properties of the herbs used in these compound butters.

Basil

It is a versatile medicine. Find out more about basil.

Lavender

Lavender ( Lavandula anggustifolia ) promotes healthy digestion and calms the nervous system. Find out more about lavender.

Sage

Garden Sage ( Salvia officianalis ) and White Sage ( Salvia anapiana ) are both versatile antimicrobial & medicinal herbs. Find out more about sage.

Want to find more delicious recipes?

Make our Hibiscus Chutney, the ultimate herbal twist to cranberry Sauce. Or these Herbal Finishing Salts.

Close up of a herbal finishing salt that is made with fresh sage and rosemary, orange zest and juniperberries.

Meet Our Contributors:

SARAH SNYDER was born in a small, wooded community outside Charlotte, NC. She studied music at college, before moving to Asheville to study pastry art. She developed an interest in plants, gardening and medicine-making. She has been a pastry chef, a journalist, a social media manager, and formerly acted as s photographer.

You can usually find her with a cup of tea and her dog reading a book, taking the perfect picture of her garden, trying another craft or herding chickens into her yard.

JULIET BLANKESPOOR, a professional matchmaker and plant geek, is the founder, principal instructor, as well as the Creative Director of Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine. This online school serves thousands of students around the world. She is a bonafide herb geek and a professional matchmaker between plants and humans. She has a degree from botany, as well as over 30 years' experience in teaching, writing, and researching herbalism, medicine-making, and organic herb farming. Juliet's passion for medicinal weeds, herb gardening and organic farming has led to many botanical businesses over the years.

She channels her botanical obsession in her writing and photography on her blog Castanea and her new book The Healing Garden: Handcrafting and Cultivating Herbal Remedies. Juliet lives with her family in Asheville in North Carolina, in a house overrun by books and houseplants.

MEGHAN GEMMA teaches Chestnut Herbal School of Medicine through written lessons. She is also the primary pollinator for the school's online community, sharing herbal and wild food wisdom to a growing number of herbalists and gardeners.

She has had a long-standing relationship with the Chestnut school since 2010. She was an intern at the Chestnut herb nursery, a student who loved plants "back in those days" when programs were taught on the farm and she later became a member of the professional women's team. Meghan lives just north of Asheville in the Ivy Creek Watershed.

Would you like to become a contributor?

Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine, chestnutherbs.com and its affiliates (c) 2011-2024. It is prohibited to use or copy this material in any way without the express written permission of the author and/or site owner. Excerpts or links may be used as long as full and clear credit and specific directions to the original content are given to Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine, chestnutherbs.com and chestnutherbs.com.

Would you like to learn more about medicinal herbs and their applications?

Our 1,000 hour herbal immersion program is our most comprehensive online herbal course, covering botany and foraging, herb cultivating, medicine making and therapeutics.

img alt="The Chestnut Herbal School online Herbal Immersion program." class="vc_single_image-img attachment-full" decoding="async" height="1400" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 1082px) 100vw, 1082px" src="https://chestnutherbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Herbal-Immersion.jpg" srcset="https://chestnutherbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Herbal-Immersion.jpg 1082w, https://chestnutherbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Herbal-Immersion-232x300.jpg 232w, https://chestnutherbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Herbal-Immersion-768x994.jpg 768w, https://chestnutherbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Herbal-Immersion-791x1024.jpg 791w, https://chestnutherbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Herbal-Immersion-300x388.jpg 300w" title="The Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine online Herbal Immersion Program." width="1082"/>

The post Herbal Compound Butters for Holiday Feasting appeared initially on Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine.

Frequently Asked Questions

What spices assist in recovery?

The use of spices to aid in healing is an ancient practice dating back centuries. Many spices have been used for their medicinal properties, including ginger, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, turmeric, and garlic. Each of these spices has unique benefits that can help with various health issues.

Ginger is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and can help reduce inflammation in the body. It can also be used to soothe an upset stomach or relieve nausea.

Cinnamon has been found to have a wide range of medicinal properties, including antiseptic, antifungal, antimicrobial, and antioxidant agents. It is even believed to help regulate blood sugar levels, making it beneficial in helping prevent diabetes.

Cayenne pepper has been used for centuries as a natural pain reliever and anti-inflammatory agent. It is also thought to increase circulation and metabolism, which can help the body heal more quickly.

Turmeric is an herb that contains curcumin, a powerful antioxidant. Curcumin is beneficial in treating various conditions, from arthritis and neurological disorders to cancer.

Garlic is packed with nutrients and has many health benefits. It can help reduce inflammation, act as antibiotic, lower cholesterol levels, and even boost the immune system.

These spices are all-natural ways to help the body heal and improve overall health. They can all be easily incorporated into food or taken in supplement form for convenience. While spices alone won't cure any ailments, they can play an essential role in aiding healing.

In addition to spices, there are also other natural remedies for healing, such as herbs, essential oils, and homeopathy. Research has shown that many of these remedies can be effective in treating a variety of conditions. If you're looking for an alternative to conventional medicine, consider incorporating some of these natural remedies into your health routine.

Is basil good for kidneys?

The answer is yes. Basil is an excellent food for kidney health. It contains potassium which helps reduce high blood pressure. It also contains vitamin K, which is essential for bone strength. As well as this, it is rich in antioxidants which help protect against heart disease.

Basil is great for digestion too. It contains digestive enzymes that break down protein and carbohydrates. This makes it easier to absorb nutrients from your meals.

Basil is a wonderful addition to any diet. Try sprinkling some over pasta dishes, salads, soups, and sandwiches. Or add little stir-fried vegetables, chicken, fish, meat, and tofu.

It's delicious in pesto sauce and fresh in salad dressings. You'll find many recipes online where you can learn how to cook with basil.

Try making basil oil by adding a few drops of pure olive oil to a jar filled with chopped basil leaves. Let it steep overnight, and then strain out the leaves. Use the oil as a massage oil or rub it onto your skin.

It will leave your skin soft and smooth.

Is it okay to use dried herbs instead of fresh ones?

It is best to pick up fresh herbs whenever possible when using herbs.

Although dried herbs are convenient, they don’t provide the same benefits as fresh herbs.

Fresh herbs contain essential oils that give your food a unique flavor. These oils help preserve the nutrients within the herb.

Dried herbs lose all their flavor after drying, so they cannot replace fresh herbs.

You should only use dried herbs if you absolutely must. Otherwise, you should get your fresh herbs from the market.

What is the mother of all herbs?

The answer may surprise you!

It is a common garden herb known as rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis). Rosemary has long been associated with fertility, longevity, and protection from illness. In some cultures, it was believed that the fragrance of rosemary could ward off evil spirits.

As such, it has been used for centuries in various medicinal, culinary, and spiritual applications. Rosemary has a unique flavor that pairs well with many dishes, making it a popular choice in the kitchen. Its fragrant leaves also add flavor to sauces, herbs, and meats.

Rosemary is a powerful medicinal herb used throughout the centuries to treat various ailments. Rosemary essential oil can treat respiratory tract infections, digestion problems, skin irritation, and inflammation. Its anti-inflammatory properties make it helpful in treating headaches and muscle pain as well. In addition, the oil has been used to improve cognitive function and memory recall. Rosemary can also be taken as a supplement, tea, or tincture for its many benefits.

It's no wonder rosemary is known as the mother of herbs! It truly is a versatile and valued herb.

What are the disadvantages of using herbs?

Herbs are a great way to keep your body healthy because they contain vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, enzymes, amino acids, phytonutrients, polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenes, essential oils, carotenoids, sterols, and sterolins. Some even contain cannabinoids.

But there are also lots of side effects associated with herbal remedies. For example, taking too much herb could cause liver damage or even death. Herbal supplements may interact with prescription drugs, which means that they might affect how well the drug works.

Some herbs can interfere with blood clotting, while others may increase bleeding when taken with anticoagulants (blood thinners).

There are also safety concerns for pregnant women and children.

The bottom line is that herbs aren't safe for everyone. If you're considering trying them out, do your homework. Look up each product's side effects and warnings and read reviews online.

How do you make medicinal herbs?

There are many different methods to make herbs into medicinal products. The most common method is to dry the herbs in a warm, dark location before grinding them into a powder or extracting their essential oils. This can be accomplished by hanging herbs upside down in bunches, laying herbs on a drying screen, or using a food dehydrator.

Once dried and ground, herbs can be stored in airtight containers for future use. Other herbs may require special preparation, such as infusing herbs into oil or vinegar, making tinctures with alcohol, or distilling herbs to create essential oils.

Learning the correct techniques for preparing herbs can help ensure that they retain their medicinal properties and potency for optimal health benefits. Using fresh herbs is usually best, but herbs can also be grown in a pot or garden and harvested when they are mature. Herbs can be purchased at health food stores, online retailers, and specialty shops.

No matter where herbs come from, the preparation techniques remain the same; drying herbs in a warm location followed by grinding or extracting the essential oils. You can make your medicinal herbs with the right herbs and preparation techniques.

When making herbal preparations, it is essential to remember that herbs can vary in potency, so always dilute herbs before use or follow the directions on any product label. Additionally, herbs are best used fresh, as many of their beneficial components degrade over time.

Following safety guidelines and paying attention to the potency of herbs can help ensure that you get the most benefit from your herbs. With a bit of practice and preparation, anyone can make therapeutic herbs with medicinal properties. Remember that herbs should never replace any medical advice or treatments prescribed by a doctor. Always consult a licensed healthcare professional before using herbs medicinally.

What herb heals all wounds?

The answer to this question varies depending on the type and severity of the wound.

The herb comfrey (also known as knitbone) has long been used for its healing properties, particularly for skin injuries such as cuts and bruises.

Studies suggest that comfrey contains allantoin, which helps speed up healing. Other herbs commonly used for healing wounds include calendula, plantain, and yarrow. These herbs help to reduce inflammation, stop bleeding and speed up the skin's healing process.

In addition to herbs, honey has also been found to have powerful antimicrobial properties that can help prevent wound infection.

Herbs for wound care is an age-old practice that continues to be used today. However, herbs should not replace medical treatment, and always consult your doctor before using herbs for healing. With the right herbs, you can give your body the support it needs to heal naturally.

Statistics

• Herbs are among the most popular and widely used medicinal remedies. According to a survey conducted by the National Institutes of Health, herbs were used by over 38% of adults in the United States.
• Studies have shown that cinnamon can lower fasting blood sugars by 10-29% in diabetic patients, which is a significant amount (9Trusted Source10Trusted (healthline.com)

External Links

[TAG22]

• Detoxification and antioxidant effects of curcumin in rats experimentally exposed to mercury - Agarwal - 2010 - Journal of Applied Toxicology - Wiley Online Library

[TAG24]

• Bouquet garni - Wikipedia

[TAG26]

• Efficacy and Adverse Effects of Ginkgo Biloba for Cognitive Impairment and Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis - IOS Press

[TAG28]

• Health Benefits of Culinary Herbs and Spices - PubMed


• Use of echinacea in medicine - PubMed

How To

What to look for in herbs?

Herbs contain natural compounds that may help treat various conditions. In addition, herbal remedies may provide relief when used along with conventional treatments.

Herbal remedies include teas, capsules, tablets, ointments, creams, lotions, oils, and topical applications. Some of these products are meant to be taken internally, while others are applied externally.

The most common uses of herbal remedies include relieving minor aches and pains, treating cold symptoms, reducing fever, controlling coughs and sore throats, easing digestion problems, soothing skin irritations, alleviating menstrual cramps, and providing general health benefits.

When buying herbs, look for the following:

• Freshly picked plants. Avoid dried herbs unless they've been stored in a cool place. If possible, buy herbs directly from farmers' markets.
• Pure extracts. These are made by extracting the active ingredients from herbs using alcohol or water. Look for 100% pure extractions.
• Certified organic herbs. Organic herbs must meet strict standards set forth by the USDA.
• Natural flavors. Many herbs have strong scents that can overwhelm other foods. Adding flavorings such as vanilla, almond, or orange helps mask their smell.
• Potency. The amount of active ingredient per unit weight varies depending on the type of herb.
• Packaging. When purchasing herbs, check the packaging to ensure that it's clean and free of chemicals.

Resources:

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