The 2-Ingredient Butter I Add to All My Dinners

It adds tons of flavor to everything it touches.

My fridge always has at least one kind of store-bought curry paste. They're a smart shortcut and a staple in my pantry for flavoring dishes.

One way I utilize any curry pastes lingering in my fridge that don’t get to see the light of day as frequently as they should is through my two-ingredient curry butter. I love it so much because it adds delicious curry flavor to my meals with almost zero effort.

It is simply curry paste blended with soft whipped butter. The bold flavors in the curry meld into the richness of the fat, making them less overwhelming and pairing nicely with just about anything savory—it is so versatile. Use it to spruce up protein, vegetables, noodles, and more, and give that half-empty container of curry paste new life.

How To Make My 2-Ingredient Curry Butter

To make just over 1/2 cup of curry butter, you’ll need:

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

• 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon curry paste, any kind

• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, optional

• 1/4 teaspoon sugar, optional

In a small bowl, whip the butter with a fork until soft. Add a teaspoon of your favorite curry paste. Stir in the paste until it’s been completely mixed in. After giving it a taste, add more paste if you want more spice or curry flavor. If desired, you can add a little salt and sugar, to taste. If the butter is a bit too spicy, a pinch of sugar helps to balance out the flavors.

Store your curry butter in an airtight, lidded container such as a mason jar or small Tupperware. It will last up to three weeks if it doesn’t get eaten first! To serve as a table condiment, let it sit at room temperature for an hour so it can soften up.

Once you have this flavorful butter as a base, you can add to it to achieve the flavor you’re looking for. I love the idea of adding some lime zest or juice, fresh minced herbs such as cilantro, and even freshly grated ginger. These are flavorful ingredients, so be sure to start with a small amount and taste as you go.

How I Use My Curry Butter

I add this curry butter to all kinds of savory dishes, from noodles and seafood to veggies. Here are some ideas for how to serve it:

• Add curry butter to ramen. Cook your favorite ramen noodles, withhold the seasoning packet, and toss your noodles in curry butter instead.

• Mix it into rice. Add to a fresh, hot batch of rice. The warmth will melt the butter into the rice so every granule has a pop of curry.

• Serve as a table butter. Let come to room temperature and serve for swiping on bread, corn on the cob, and more.

• Add to your favorite seafood for a pop of flavor. Let melt over freshly cooked fish fillets, shrimp, seafood boil, and more.

• Add a rich, flavorful finish to cooked proteins like chicken, pork, and steak.

• Dollop on to veggies for an easy level-up. Whether steamed, roasted, or sautéed, curry butter adds effortless flavor to your favorite vegetables.

• Experiment with adding it to your mac and cheese, grilled cheese, or even an omelet. 
  

Read the original article on Simply Recipes.