The butter technique that will transform your cooking

You’re missing out on a flavour boost.

butter

Brown butter or burnt butter: you’ve probably heard of it before. It’s always a key player in TV cooking competitions, on the menu in the trendiest restaurant in the trendiest neighbourhood, and has taken the internet by storm. 

While it may seem fancy, it’s actually one of the easiest ways to elevate a dish – and doesn’t cost you anything. 

What is brown butter?

The method of browning butter originates from France, where it’s referred to as ‘beurre noisette’ (which literally translates to ‘hazelnut butter’). While no hazelnuts are actually used in brown butter, the name comes from the nutty aroma and taste that occurs when butter is burnt. 

The process is done by simply melting butter until the milk solids sink to the bottom and caramelise. This results in a golden brown-coloured butter that has that signature nutty aroma. It adds depth of flavour and aroma to both sweet and savoury foods.

It works well with pasta dishes, white meats and veggies, but it can also take a baked good from something simple to something showstopping. 

From here on out, I recommend you add brown butter to everything. 

How do I brown butter?

Simply pop unsalted butter into a saucepan (a regular, stainless steel pan is best) and slowly melt it down, stirring occasionally. 

Keep swirling the butter as it starts to foam and make a crackling sound. This is where the browning begins. 

Stir the butter occasionally until the milk solids reach a deep amber colour and your kitchen is filled with a strong nutty aroma. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Along with the liquid, make sure you scrape the burnt milk solids out of the saucepan and into whatever you’re using the butter for – those milk solids are the flavour.  

Done. So easy. 

What can I use brown butter in? 

Basically whatever – we wouldn’t even judge if you just wanted to drink the liquid gold. 

Pasta

Brown butter is fantastic as a pasta sauce, particularly with ravioli and gnocchi that’s been lightly fried. I love adding some fried sage to the brown butter and topping my pasta with it – It’s a winning (and super easy) dinner party dish. 

Gnocchi with burnt butter and walnuts

Baked goods

You can sometimes substitute melted butter in a baking recipe for brown butter. If a recipe specifies a certain amount of melted butter, you will need to use more butter, as browning it removes water from the butter resulting in less volume. For first-timers, I recommend using a recipe that specifies browning butter. 

Burnt butter pumpkin spice cake

If I’m making choc-chip cookies, I swear by browning my butter first – in fact I can’t remember the last time I made cookies and didn’t brown the butter. The nuttiness of brown butter adds depth of flavour that complements the flavours already in a classic choc-chip cookie. 

If you cookie lovers haven’t had a brown butter choc-chip cookie, you haven’t lived. 

Buttercream for cakes

To take plain buttercream icing to the next level, I will sometimes brown my butter, re-solidify it and whip it along with icing sugar and vanilla to make a decadent brown butter icing. 

My favourite brown butter recipes

Ricotta gnudi with brown butter and silverbeet

Gnudi, brown butter, silverbeet – name a better trio. If you’ve never had gnudi, they’re basically gnocchi made with ricotta instead of potato. Ricotta is a great pairing with brown butter and the silverbeet’s earthiness breaks through all the rich flavours, creating a well-rounded dish.

If you’re trying to impress someone at dinner, make this. 

Check out the recipe

Spiced apple cake with brown butter icing

If autumn was a cake, it would be this one. Brown butter’s nuttiness and richness is perfect with the classic apple and cinnamon combo. This is a super simple cake that shows how brown butter takes simple things to the next level.

Also! If you’re not feeling apple cake, this recipe is a great guide for making a fluffy brown butter icing that can be used on any cake. 

Grab the recipe

More brown butter recipes:

• Snapper with butternut pumpkin and orange brown butter sauce
• Burnt butter ice-cream
• Pumpkin mash with sage and thyme burnt butter

Originally published as The butter technique that will transform your cooking