Garlic butter sauce is a versatile and delicious condiment that can be used in a variety of dishes, from pasta to seafood and vegetables. Here’s a basic recipe for making garlic butter sauce:
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 4-6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1-2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- Lemon juice (optional, for brightness)
Instructions:
- Prepare the Garlic: Mince the garlic cloves finely. You can adjust the amount of garlic to suit your taste. More garlic will give you a stronger garlic flavor.
- Melt the Butter: In a saucepan or a skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Allow it to melt completely but not brown. Stir occasionally to prevent it from sticking to the pan.
- Sauté the Garlic: Add the minced garlic to the melted butter. Cook the garlic in the butter for about 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly. Be careful not to brown the garlic, as it can become bitter.
- Season: Season the garlic butter sauce with salt and black pepper to taste. If you like a bit of heat, you can also add a pinch of red pepper flakes at this stage.
- Add Parsley: If you’re using fresh parsley, add it to the sauce and stir. Parsley adds a fresh, herby flavor to the sauce and provides a nice contrast to the richness of the butter and garlic.
- Optional Brightness: For a touch of brightness, you can squeeze some fresh lemon juice into the sauce. Start with about 1-2 tablespoons of lemon juice and adjust to your taste. The lemon juice will cut through the richness of the butter and garlic.
- Serve: Garlic butter sauce is best served immediately. You can drizzle it over pasta, seafood (like shrimp or lobster), grilled vegetables, or use it as a dipping sauce for bread.
- Variations: You can customize your garlic butter sauce by adding other herbs and spices like thyme, rosemary, or basil, depending on the dish you plan to use it with.
Remember that garlic butter sauce is rich, so a little goes a long way. You can always adjust the quantities of garlic, butter, and other seasonings to suit your taste preferences. Enjoy your homemade garlic butter sauce!