Name: Parmesan Butter
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 1/2 Cup
Ingredients: 2 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted; 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; ¼ cup finely grated fresh Parmesan; A pinch of fresh lemon zest; 1 small garlic cloves, very finely minced; A pinch of salt

Condiments

Parmesan Butter

Author: Mary DiSomma

For me, a good meal has always been about family and friends—everyone getting together, enjoying each other’s company, and some really nourishing food. When I was growing up, my family got together every Sunday at the very least—once you start to factor in holidays and special occasions, you can only guess how much time we spent together! I remember everybody sitting around the dinner table, talking—aunts, uncles, cousins, friends—there were usually at least 15 people, even on a slow day. Whether it was just cake and coffee or if the family matriarchs were making a full-on Sunday pasta dinner, it was all about getting together, catching up, and seeing how everybody was doing.

I love making new memories just like these with my own family and friends, and my family absolutely adores parmesan cheese! We’ve always got some on hand. Of course, we always have butter, too, which makes this simple parmesan butter sauce recipe easy, even in a pinch. You can drizzle this cheesy sauce on top of fish, pasta, toasted bread, or my favorite: My Italian Stuffed Artichokes Recipe with Cheri Oteri.

Parmesan Butter

Really good cheese is well worth the investment, and it can be used for all kinds of delicious meals your whole family will love. Start with this savory butter dipping sauce and see where your appetite takes you next! Toasted bread, perhaps?

Yield: 1/2 Cup
Prep Time: 5 minutes min
Total Time: 5 minutes min

Ingredients

2 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
¼ cup finely grated fresh Parmesan
A pinch of fresh lemon zest
1 small garlic cloves, very finely minced
A pinch of salt

Instructions

In a small saucepan, melt the butter.
Remove from the heat and whisk in the remaining ingredients with a small whisk or a fork.
Transfer to a serving dish. Serve warm.

View Mary's Tips

Ingredient Tips

I highly recommend investing in a high-quality block of authentic Parmesan cheese. Trust me—the flavor is soooo much better. I love taking that extra moment to grate my own Parmesan cheese from the wedge, and it’s a treat for my guests, too. Grating by hand provides a much richer flavor than purchased, pre-grated Parmesan. Fresh cheese takes center stage in this recipe, with a pinch of fresh lemon zest to complement the rich flavors of butter and garlic.

Preparation + Preservation Tips

Really good cheese is well worth the investment, and it can be used for all kinds of delicious meals your whole family will love. A wedge of Parmesan can also be used to make Parmesan curls: Just shave the cheese off the wedge using a vegetable peeler. Here are some more recipe ideas that include Parmesan cheese. Don’t let that Parmesan rind go to waste, either! Trymy St. Joseph’s Day Soup Recipe with Crispy Homemade Olive Oil Croutonsif you have Parmesan rind left once you’re done cooking.

Extra Tips

Roasted Wild Mushroom Crostini Recipe with Easy Garlic Basil Ricotta Spread Recipe→

Luigi’s Italian Tortellini Pasta Salad with Homemade Vinaigrette Recipe→

Marie's Holiday Zucchini Parmesan Squares→

Grilled Sweet Corn Buffet Recipe→

Mary’s Italian Chopped Salad with Homemade Vinaigrette Recipe→

Grilled Artichoke Heart and White Bean Salad Recipe→

Mary’s Italian Chopped Salad with Homemade Vinaigrette Recipe→

Grilled Artichoke Heart and White Bean Salad Recipe→

It's So Good Limoncello Fettuccine Recipe→

A St. Joseph’s Day Pasta Recipe: Bucatini with Sardines and Olive Oil Breadcrumbs Recipe→

I want to encourage people to feel confident to try new things in the kitchen and to be inspired to share more meals with friends and family.

It’s easy to collect recipes and save them for “some day.” I believe recipes are for making. Let's do it together. Join me in exploring the world through food!