Use this Herb Compound Butter in the Herb Butter Roast Turkey recipe. But that is not where the uses stop! Use it in sauteeing, top some grilled or roasted fish when you cook and even top a grilled steak.

Why Season Under The Skin?

Let’s talk about turkey breast meat. The breast meat is relatively low in fat content and flavor when compared to dark meat. There are a few ways to impart flavor into the turkey, brining, injecting and filling the cavity with aromatics.

Brining also helps to add moisture through the diffusion process. As the brine works its magic, the flavors of the brine flavors the meat.

Watch the video in the recipe for Herb Butter Turkey Recipe to see how to separate the skin from the turkey and spread the compound butter on the meat.

Spreading a seasoned compound butter under the skin, does not work the same as brining. As the turkey roasts, the butter melts and bastes the turkey breast. When the turkey is done roasting, the shallots, herbs and seasoning in the compound butter are left behind.

The shallots, herbs and seasoning impart a nice flavor to the breast meat and skin. Baste the turkey skin about a half an hour before it is finished. Turn up the oven to 425° for the remaining cook time and the skin will crisp up nicely.

This compound butter would go well with a grilled or seared fish or steak.

The Shallots and Herbs bring a flavorful bite to the dish.

Using as a spread under the skin of a turkey or chicken makes them delicious.

Give this a try, it is a great alternative to brining to impart flavors to the turkey meat.

Try some different ingredients in the compound butter to get different flavors, such as some lemon and orange zest & some hot honey or stick with traditional holiday flavors of this recipe.

How ever you decide to roast your turkey, in the oven, on the smoker or on a rotisserie I hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy!

Herb Compound Butter

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe

Course: Dinner, Entree, Ingredient, Thanksgiving

Cuisine: American, French

Keyword: Compound Butter, Herb, Saute, Thanksgiving, Topping, Turkey, Veggies

Prep Time: 15

Author: Chef Tony Zentgraf

Spread this Herb Compound Butter under the turkey skin or use to saute veggies, to top fish or grilled steak.

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Equipment

Recipe Multiplier

▢ 1 ea Stick of Butter - Unsalted
▢ ¼ tsp Kosher Salt
▢ ½ tsp Ground Black Pepper
▢ 1 ½ tsp Fresh Thyme - minced
▢ 1 ½ tsp Fresh Sage - minced
▢ 1 ½ tsp Fresh Rosemary - minced
▢ 1 tbsp Shallot - minced
▢ 1 tbsp Parsley - minced

Instructions

Assembling the Compound Butter

Soften the stick of butter to room temperature.
Mince the shallots and herbs.
Place the softened butter into a bowl.
Add the shallots, herbs and salt & pepper.
Using a spatula, mix all the ingredients into the butter.
Once combined, leave at room temperature until ready to use.
If you plan on using the compound butter to spread under the turkey skin, just leave it on the counter until the next day. If you refrigerate the mixed compound butter, it will solidify and will be difficult to spread.
You can prep the turkey a day or two ahead and let it rest in the refrigerator until you are ready to roast the day of.