Quick Garlic Butter Sauce with Lemon and Fresh Parsley
A versatile compound butter sauce featuring minced garlic, bright lemon zest, and fresh parsley in rich clarified butter. Perfect for drizzling over vegetables, seafood, pasta, or bread. The clarified butter base ensures smooth consistency and prevents burning while the garlic gently infuses. Ready in minutes, this aromatic sauce simple dishes with restaurant-quality flavor. Store covered and gently reheat when needed.
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted clarified butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon flat leaf parsley, roughly chopped
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- ¼ teaspoon coarse kosher salt
Instructions
- 1
Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat
- 2
Add the minced garlic, lemon zest, parsley and salt
- 3
Stir to combine and heat for an additional 1-2 minutes
- 4
Remove from heat and set aside
Tips
Reheat gently if butter hardens - it will melt back to perfect consistency
Use clarified butter to prevent burning and achieve silky smooth texture
Good to Know
Refrigerate covered up to 1 week, reheat gently before serving
Can be made up to 3 days ahead, store refrigerated
Serve warm, drizzle over vegetables, seafood, pasta, or bread
Common Mistakes
Keep heat at medium-low to avoid burning the garlic
Don't overheat or the butter will separate
Substitutions
FAQ
Can I use regular butter instead of clarified?
Yes, but watch carefully as regular butter may brown or burn more easily due to milk solids.
How long does this sauce keep?
Store covered in refrigerator up to 1 week. Gently reheat before serving.
Can I freeze garlic butter sauce?
Yes, freeze up to 3 months in ice cube trays for portion control, then transfer to freezer bags.