everything you need to know about brown butter

what is brown butter?

Brown butter, also known as beurre noisette in French, which translates to hazelnut butter. Brown butter is butter that is cooked past its melting point until the water evaporates and the milk solids are toasted. Once the butter is golden you get this glorious nutty smell and flavor that regular melted butter just can’t produce.
Brown butter is commonly used in both sweet and savory dishes to add depth and complexity of flavor. It can be used as a sauce for pasta, drizzled over vegetables, or incorporated into baked goods such as cookies, cakes, and pastries.

Try brown butter in your next cookie recipe or sear some juicy scallops with refreshing herbs you won’t want to go back.

how to make it

Choose the right pan: Use a light-colored skillet or saucepan so you can easily see the color change of the butter as it browns.

Cut the butter: Cut the butter into evenly sized pieces. This will help it melt and brown more evenly.

1. Melt the butter: Place the butter pieces in the skillet or saucepan over medium heat. Allow the butter to melt completely.

2. Keep an eye on the butter: Once the butter has melted, it will begin to foam. Swirl the pan occasionally to ensure even heating.

3. Watch for color change: As the butter cooks, the foam will start to subside, and you'll notice the milk solids at the bottom of the pan beginning to turn golden brown. This process usually takes around 3-5 minutes, depending on the heat level.

4. Remove from heat: Once the butter turns a golden brown color and emits a nutty aroma, immediately remove it from the heat. Be careful not to let it burn, brown butter can go from silky and nutty to pungent and bitter in the blink of an eye. The solids will continue to darken after the heat has been turned off, so its safe to remove the butter from the pan to avoid burning.

5. Transfer to a bowl: Pour the browned butter into a heatproof bowl, leaving behind any dark sediment at the bottom of the pan if desired. Let it cool slightly before using it in your recipe.

6. Use as desired: Brown butter can be used immediately in recipes or stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for later use. It solidifies as it cools but can be melted again when needed.

Remember that the cooking time may vary depending on your stove and the amount of butter you're using, so it's essential to keep a close eye on it to prevent burning.

what to put it on

Pour over French toast, pancakes, oatmeal, even ice cream. Use it in baked sweets, cornbread, and biscuits. Use it for basting steaks and seafood, in pastas and potatoes, etc.

Brown Butter Sage Pasta

This simple yet flavorful pasta dish is made with browned butter infused with sage leaves, tossed with cooked pasta, and finished with Parmesan cheese. It's perfect for a quick and delicious weeknight dinner.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz (225g) pasta of your choice
• 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter
• 8-10 fresh sage leaves
• 1/4 cup (25g) grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt + pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
2. In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Once melted, add the sage leaves and cook, stirring frequently, until the butter turns golden brown and has a nutty aroma, about 3-5 minutes.
3. Remove the skillet from the heat and discard the sage leaves. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the browned butter and toss to coat, adding reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
4. Season the pasta with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese and toss again until everything is well combined.
5. Divide the pasta among serving plates or bowls. Garnish with additional grated Parmesan cheese and fresh sage leaves if desired. Serve immediately.

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