If you've been interested in experimenting with butter and savory spreads, then it's time to enhance the flavor with rich, complex oils. There are many ways to infuse butter with different flavors for a variety of purposes: adding it to soup, spreading it on toast, or adding it to a perfectly cooked steak. If you really want to add more umami to your next complex butter, use fish sauce for a unique, special treat.
In an exclusive interview with Irene Macri, Tasting Table found out why it is one of the most… creative ways to use fish sauce. Macri noted the versatility of the fish sauce-infused compound butter, which can be spread on almost anything, including “steak, fish, baked potatoes, cooked vegetables, or spread on sourdough with fresh radishes on top.” It's as simple as combining freshly softened butter and fish sauce, or adding other optional ingredients like minced garlic, soy sauce and Worcestershire for even more complexity.
Between the bread and the board, a lot can be done with a complex fish sauce-flavored butter. For example, if fish sauce is the secret ingredient in the umami-packed butter noodles.and then using complex butter combines all that great flavor into one light seasoning. With so many different styles of fish sauce, there is plenty of opportunity to experiment with different flavors.
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Tips for making fish sauce with butter
There are a number fish sauces around the world to choose from, but keep in mind that with any of these, a little goes a long way. Plus, these sauces are known to be particularly salty, meaning you won't have to add extra salt to the compound butter. Always taste the fish sauce first and work it slowly, mixing it with the softened butter, keeping in mind that you can easily add more if necessary, but it will be more difficult to remove. Reduce the saltiness with other spices and seasonings, such as dried herbs, garlic powder or hot sauces.
Once the fish sauce infused oil has set, you can use it in almost any way. It makes a great addition to a cardboard board along with a few other compound oils and will be the centerpiece of your next gathering. Set out crusty bread, crackers or other items for guests to sample their favorite flavors.
Although this complex oil is intended for fish, it can be used on beef, chicken, pork, vegetables and more. Try using it as a marinade for roasted or grilled vegetables, such as zucchini and squash, asparagus or Brussels sprouts. You'll be surprised and delighted by the umami punch in these butter packets and wonder why you haven't seasoned everything with a hint of fish sauce all along.
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