Compound Butter Alton Brown Recipes

Steps:

• Place the butter in a 2-quart saucepan and set over medium heat. Once the butter has liquefied, decrease the heat to lowest setting then adjust to maintain a low boil. Cook for approximately 45 minutes or until the butter reaches 260 degrees F, is clear, and the foam on top is slightly browned. Strain the clarified butter through 4 layers of cheesecloth set into a hand strainer into a heatproof vessel. Cool completely before refrigerating in an airtight container for up to six months. Can be frozen for up to a year.

Steps:

• Assemble your immersion circulator, setting the water to 140 degrees F (60 degrees C). If you like a slightly softer, less steak-y texture for your fish, try going with 135 degrees F (57 degrees C).
• Melt the butter in a 2-quart saucepan over medium-low heat, 3 to 5 minutes. Continue to cook, stirring frequently with a rubber spatula, until the butter solids turn light brown, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Measure out 2 tablespoons of the browned butter, place in a small bowl, and cool to room temperature. Leave the remaining butter in the saucepan until you're ready to make the sauce.
• Thinly slice one of the lemon halves into 8 slices. Juice three more lemon halves, which should produce 1/4 cup juice. If you're shy on juice, juice another half. Strain the juice and set aside for the sauce.
• Pat the fish dry with paper towels and season with 2 teaspoons of the salt. Divide between two gallon-size vacuum-seal or high-quality freezer zip-top bags. Place 2 lemon slices on the skin side of each fillet and add 1 tablespoon of the browned butter to each bag, being careful to work butter between the fillets to prevent sticking. Seal the bags using a vacuum sealer set to "gentle" or "moist."
• Transfer to the water bath. If using zip-top bags, let the bags sink into the water so that the air will be squeezed out via displacement. When the mouth of the bag is almost at the water line, carefully seal the bags. Cook the halibut in the water bath for 20 minutes. (If one of the bags floats, carefully reopen and try the sink-and-seal method again.)
• Return the remaining butter to medium-low heat and add the almonds. Cook until the butter foams and the foam turns brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and gradually stir in the lemon juice; the butter will bubble dramatically. Stir in the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, cover, and set the butter sauce aside for serving.
• When the halibut is finished, remove it from the water bath. Cut the bags open with scissors, then very carefully remove the fish to a paper towel-lined sheet pan and pat dry with additional paper towels. (The dryer the better.) Brush the skin side lightly with some of the oil.
• Heat a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over high heat for 3 minutes. Add 2 teaspoons of the oil and swirl the pan to coat. When the oil starts to smoke, add two of the halibut fillets, skin-side down, and brush the flesh side lightly with additional oil. Cook until the skin is browned and crisp, about 1 minute. Carefully flip with a narrow metal spatula or "fish turner" and cook on the second side until golden brown, about 30 seconds. Carefully transfer to a serving platter and repeat with the remaining oil and fillets.
• Drizzle the almond and butter sauce over the top of the fish. Garnish with the parsley and serve.

Steps:

• On your counter top lay out a sheet of parchment paper and top it with a layer of plastic wrap.
• Lay out your fillets of salmon, tails away from you.
• Overlap the fillets of flounder about 1-inch over the tails of the salmon.
• Then place the scallops on a metal skewer and set at the end of the flounder furthest from you.
• Sprinkle the herbs over the fish and season with salt and pepper.
• Using the plastic wrap pull the fish towards you so that the plastic begins to pull the flounder over the scallops.
• Be sure not to roll the plastic into the fish roll.
• Use a sheet pan to push the roll tightly as you pull the plastic toward you.
• The roll should be tight and you should be able to remove the sheet of plastic.
• Then roll the fish in the parchment away from you so it is covered and can be place into the refrigerator.
• Refrigerate for 1 hour.
• For Compound Butter: In a large bowl using a wooden spoon mix all ingredients.
• Place the mixture on a piece of parchment and fold the parchment over itself.
• Pull to form a roll and twist the ends.
• Place in the freezer for 10 minutes to set up.
• Preheat your broiler.
• Remove the metal skewer and slice the roulade into 3/4 to 1-inch rounds.
• Place onto a broiler pan remove paper once on pan and brush each round with canola oil.
• Put under the broiler for 3 to 6 minutes depending on how well done you like your fish.
• Serve with 1 slice of compound butter on each fish roll.

Steps:

• Chop the butter into uniform chunks.
• Place the oil into a food processor and add the chives. Process until the chives are finely chopped. Add the remaining herbs and blend until the herbs have colored the oil.
• Using a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, whip the butter at medium speed until it softens and lightens in color, about 5 to 7 minutes.
• Add the herb oil to the butter and beat for another 2 minutes until oil is fully incorporated.
• Remove butter from bowl and spoon onto parchment paper or plastic wrap. Roll into a log.
• Chill for 2 hours before serving.
• ****NB: for nutritional info, serving size is about 1 tablespoon.