Tomato Compound Butter

Tomato Compound Butter

Tomato butter is a flavorful compound butter that brings a burst of rich, concentrated tomato flavor to any dish.

Compound butters are making a resurgence in home kitchens. There’s good reason for this, too; professional kitchens have been using compound butter for years as a flavorful way to finish dishes. Initially found in French kitchens, compound butter is a practical tool for any home cook or professional chef, providing an easy way capture fresh ingredients and flavor their dishes.

This tomato butter is very handy to have on hand, as it can be used in so many ways. I use it to finish dishes like FFG’s Clams in Coconut Tomato Broth, adding an incredible depth of flavor.

Spread it on bread for our tomato-buttered cheese toast, for a deeper flavored open-faced “grilled cheese”. I also use it in pasta dishes, specifically FFG’s Cherry Tomato Strozzapreti Pasta, combined with pasta water to create a velvety tomato sauce. 

Making tomato butter is straightforward and doesn’t require much fuss. A blend of oven-roasted tomatoes, shallots, garlic, tomato paste, and tomato powder is combined with salted butter, creating a smooth and savory spread. The roasting intensifies the natural sweetness and umami of the tomatoes, concentrating summer fresh tomatoes. You can also make the tomato puree and freeze it to make this compound butter later. It’s a great way to inject tomato flavor in the wintertime when they’re not at their best.

Main Ingredients:

Tomatoes: Fresh tomatoes are the star, providing a concentrated, deep flavor after roasting. They offer a natural sweetness and acidity that balances the richness of the butter. If you have a garden, use the tomatoes you are growing. For this recipe, we used fresh san marzano tomatoes.

Shallot & Garlic: These aromatics are here to complement the tomatoes. There’s just a touch to season the tomatoes without flavoring.

Tomato Paste (Triple Concentrate): Intensifies the tomato flavor, adding a robust, savory depth throughout the butter.

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Tomato Compound Butter

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Course: Sauces + Dressings

Yield

2

cups

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking time

45

minutes

Total time

55

minutes

Tomato butter is a flavorful compound butter that brings a burst of rich, concentrated tomato flavor to any dish.

Cook Mode

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Ingredients

• 6 oz tomatoes, sliced 1/8 thick

• 1 tbsp shallot, finely chopped

• 1 clove garlic, thinly sliced

• salt & pepper to taste

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 2 tbsp tomato paste (triple concentrate)

• 1 1/4 tsp tomato powder

• 12 oz salted butter (room temperature)

Method

• Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 260°F (125°C). This low temperature will allow the tomatoes to roast slowly, concentrating their flavor without burning.
• Prepare the Tomatoes: In a bowl, toss the sliced tomatoes with the chopped shallots and olive oil. Ensure they are well coated, then lay the mixture out in a single layer on a parchment paper-lined sheet pan. Pour any remaining oil from the bowl over the tomatoes.
• Season and Roast: Sprinkle the tomatoes with salt and pepper. Place the pan in the preheated oven and roast for 45 minutes. This slow roasting will bring out the sweetness of the tomatoes and meld the flavors.
• Cool and Blend: Allow the tomatoes to cool to room temperature once roasted. Scrape the entire mixture, including any juices and the parchment paper contents, into a food processor. Add the tomato powder and pulse until smooth.
• Combine with Butter: Add the tomato paste and room-temperature salted butter to the processor. Pulse again until all ingredients are thoroughly combined, and the butter is smooth and evenly mixed.
• Store: Transfer the tomato butter to an airtight container and refrigerate until needed. It can be stored for a few weeks or frozen for longer shelf life.

Field Notes

• RELATED RECIPE: Cherry Tomato Strozzapreti Pasta, Clams in Coconut Tomato Broth