Maître D’ Butter Recipe (2024)

Published August 3, 2023.This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This classic easy-to-make Maître D’ Butter Recipe is the perfect finishing touch on all your steak, chicken, fish, pork, and vegetable recipes. You will love the complimenting flavors of this butter on anything you make.

There is nothing like finishing off a perfectly cooked piece of beef or chicken with a sauce or butter like this. If you love big flavors that pair together nicely, try using this Maître D’ Butter on my Reverse Seared Steak or my Grilled Spatchco*ck Chicken.

Maître D’ Butter Recipe (1)

Maître D’ Butter

Maître d’ butter, also known as Maître D’hôtel Butter, is a standard compound butter comprised of whipped softened butter with acid such as lemon juice or vinegar, with finely minced fresh parsley and seasonings. It is commonly served on beef, fish, chicken, pork, or vegetables.

Back several decades in fine dining, the Maître d, or head waiter, would serve a slice of this butter onto your steak, chicken, fish, or pork tableside directly before serving it in Infront of you. This isn’t common practice anymore, but table-side service has begun to make a comeback, especially in France and England.

The hint of acid from the lemon juice and fat from the butter makes it the perfect finishing touch to any of your recipes. It’s always good to finish all your sauces, soups, main courses, etc., with some clean acid and unsalted butter to brighten a dish as well as provide some body and flavor.

Ingredients and Substitutions

Maître D’ Butter Recipe (2)
  • Butter – I always use unsalted butter in all my cooking backing so that I control the sodium content.
  • Parsley – Italian flat-leaf parsley is best to use in this recipe. However, if curly parsley is all you can find, then it will be great to use as well.
  • Lemon – You will need some freshly squeezed lemon juice.
  • Seasonings – coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper is all that was used for this maître d butter.

How to Make Maître D’ Butter from Scratch

Add your softened butter to a stand mixer and whip with the paddle attachment on high speed for 5-7 minutes until it becomes light and fluffy.

Maître D’ Butter Recipe (3)

Next, stop the mixer and add chopped parsley, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

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Turn the mixer onto low speed and mix until everything is incorporated.

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Transfer the butter to 16” x 12” pieces of parchment paper and slightly form it longways, leaving about 3” of parchment paper on either end of the butter.

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Roll the butter up to form a round log.

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Twist the ends of the parchment paper to tighten it up.

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Freeze the butter for 1 hour or until cold and hard.

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Slice it and serve it on to your favorite cooked protein.

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Make-Ahead and Storage

Make-Ahead:You can make this up to 5 days ahead of time.Keep it in the refrigerator or freezer until you are ready to use it.

How to Store:Cover and keep the maître d butter in the refrigerator for 7 days.Cover and freeze for up to 6 months.

Maître D’ Butter Recipe (11)

Chef Notes + Tips

  • You canuse thismaître d butter directly from the freezer in whatever you want to use it in.
  • Feel free to enhance this with finely grated garlic or shallots.
  • You canuse other fresh herbs such as parsley, oregano, basil, thyme, chervil, or rosemary.

More Butter Recipes

  • Clarified Butter
  • Honey Butter
  • Truffle Butter
  • Roasted Garlic Butter
  • Herb and Garlic Butter

Maître D’ Butter Recipe (12)

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Maître D’ Butter Recipe

Maître D’ Butter Recipe (13)

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5 from 1 vote

This classic easy-to-make Maître D’ Butter Recipe is the perfect finishing touch on all your steak, chicken, fish, pork, and vegetable recipes.

Servings: 2 cups

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 sticks softened unsalted butter
  • ¼ cup finely minced fresh parsley
  • Juice of 2 lemons, about ¼ cup
  • 2 teaspoons coarse salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Add the softened butter to a stand mixer and whip with the paddle attachment on high speed for 5-7 minutes until it becomes light and fluffy.

  • Next, stop the mixer and add chopped parsley, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

  • Turn the mixer onto low speed and mix until everything is incorporated.

  • Transfer the butter to 16” x 12” pieces of parchment paper and slightly form it longways, leaving about 3” of parchment paper on either end of the butter.

  • Roll the butter up to form a round log.

  • Twist the ends of the parchment paper to tighten it up.

  • Freeze the butter for 1 hour or until cold and hard.

  • Slice it and serve it on to your favorite cooked protein.

Notes

Make-Ahead:You can make this up to 5 days ahead of time.Keep it in the refrigerator or freezer until you are ready to use it.

How to Store: Cover and keep the maître d butter in the refrigerator for 7 days.Cover and freeze for up to 6 months.

You canuse this maître d butter directly from the freezer in whatever you want to use it in.

Feel free to enhance this with finely grated garlic or shallots.

You canuse other fresh herbs such as parsley, oregano, basil, thyme, chervil, or rosemary.

Nutrition

Calories: 1630kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 2gFat: 184gSaturated Fat: 117gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 48gTrans Fat: 7gCholesterol: 488mgSodium: 2355mgPotassium: 103mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 0.2gVitamin A: 6302IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 68mgIron: 1mg

Course: sauce, Topping

Cuisine: American, english, French

Author: Chef Billy Parisi

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1 comment

    • Terry Goins
    • Maître D’ Butter Recipe (14)

    Takes ribeyes and filets to a whole new level. I like to add some grated garlic to mine. Great recipe that allows for so many variations!

    • Reply
Maître D’ Butter Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients for a traditional Maître d Hôtel Butter? ›

Ingredients
  • 5 1/3 oz of unsalted butter, softened.
  • 3/4 oz of parsley, finely chopped.
  • 1 lemon, zested, plus half the juice.
  • 1 tsp flaky sea salt.
  • 1/2 tsp cracked black pepper.
  • 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce, (optional)
  • 1 pinch of cayenne pepper, (optional)

Why is it called Maitre D Hotel Butter? ›

Mâitre d'Hotel butter refers to a compound butter that the head waiter (or “Mâitre d'” in French) would prepare tableside and add to finished dishes in high end hotel restaurants – which is why it's also sometimes called hotel butter.

How do you make butter at home? ›

Pour heavy cream into a food processor or blender. Process on high until butter separates, about 10 minutes. Strain off liquid, then press butter into a small bowl with the back of a spoon to further remove liquid. Season with salt.

What is the name of parsley butter? ›

A classic French compound butter, the Maitre d'Hotel combines fresh parsley, lemon juice, salt, and pepper for a simple but finish to whatever you're cooking. The bright flavor of this green-speckled butter is delicious on any type of fish or vegetables such as asparagus or mushrooms.

What is Gordon Ramsay's compound butter recipe? ›

Compound Butter:
  1. ¾ cup unsalted butter, room temperature.
  2. 2 tablespoons chopped sage.
  3. 2 tablespoons chopped rosemary.
  4. 2 tablespoons chopped thyme.
  5. 2 cloves garlic, finely grated.
  6. Zest of 1 lemon.
  7. ½ teaspoon kosher salt.

How is Maître d'hôtel butter often served? ›

Uses. Beurre maître d'hôtel is usually served cold as sliced disks atop various foods, and sometimes as a side condiment. It is used on grilled meats such as steak and fish, and also on eggs, vegetables, potatoes and breads.

Why do French chefs use so much butter? ›

Butter is a signature ingredient for many recipes, but never has it figured more prominently than in French cuisine. From baked goods to savory items, butter is thought to add depth and dimension, making everything it coats more spectacular. While French food relies on butter, many diets, especially vegan ones, do not.

What is maitre d hotel butter in English? ›

Beurre Maître d'Hôtel, also referred to as Maître d'Hôtel butter, is a type of compound butter (French: "Beurre composé") of French origin, prepared with butter, parsley, lemon juice, salt and pepper.

What do the French call brown butter? ›

Beurre noisette (French pronunciation: [bœʁ nwazɛt], literally: hazelnut butter, loosely: brown butter) is a type of warm sauce used in French cuisine.

What is the best milk to make butter with? ›

The best option would be fresh, raw cream from pastured Jersey cows. Milk from Jersey cows has the highest fat content, which is why they are primarily dairy cattle. In addition, the fat in their milk has larger globules in it which makes it perfect for churning butter.

What is the best cream to make butter with? ›

Heavy cream is 40% butterfat and 60% milk solids and water. The cream from Jersey cows produces the best butter because of its higher fat content milk, plus the fact that their fat is dispersed in larger globules than milk from other types of cows and tends to churn into butter more easily.

Is homemade butter really better? ›

The texture of homemade butter is softer, creamier, and fluffier than regular stick butter. The flavor of the plain butter differs on the type of heavy cream you use.

What is Rue butter? ›

A roux (pronounced 'roo') is the name given to the cooked mixture of butter and plain flour that thickens and forms the base of various sauces, particularly the white sauce (béchamel).

What is lavender butter? ›

In a medium bowl mash together butter and lavender. Pack into a ramekin or custard cup. Smear butter on warm biscuits or scones or on toasted whole grain bread.

Why is it called brown butter? ›

Brown butter, also known as beurre noisette, is made by cooking unsalted butter long enough to turn the milk solids brown while cooking out any water present in the butter. Often described as tasting nutty or toasty, it has a deeper, richer, more intense flavor than melted or clarified butter.

What is French flour butter mixture? ›

Beurre Manié (French for “kneaded butter”) is made by mixing equals parts of softened butter and flour. This dough or paste is used to thicken sauces, soups and stews.

What is French style butter? ›

French butter also has a higher fat content. This is France, after all! While most countries use about 80% butterfat in their butter, French law requires at least 82% butterfat. It might not sound like much, but this 2% difference actually has a a huge impact on texture and taste.

What is compound butter made of? ›

A compound butter ("beurre composé" in French) is simply butter mixed with other ingredients that add sweet or savory flavor, like honey, herbs, or garlic.

What kind of butter do diners use? ›

Many restaurants buy butter with a higher fat content

One way of doing this is using butter with a higher fat content. It may not be good for you, but butter with more fat tastes delicious. It is richer and creamier, and while it doesn't really affect flavor, it is often more yellow in color.

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