Vanilla-Shallot Dipping Butter

makes 1/2 cup

This rich dipping butter has warm vanilla undertones, mellow onion/garlic flavor from the shallot, and a bright acid note from the white wine. Recipe inspired by the New York Times.

Ingredients:

1 stick (8 Tbsp) butter
1 shallot, minced (about 1/4 cup)
1/3 cup white wine
1/2 vanilla bean, split
salt
pepper

Serve with Boiled Lobster

Method:

Melt a tab or two of butter over medium heat.

Add shallots and cook. Shallots are incredible. I don’t think I’ve used one in 5 years. Thank goodness this recipe came along, to knock me to my senses!

Once the shallot is soft and translucent, add white wine. Take a sip, if you have some extra.

Simmer for several minutes, until almost all the liquid evaporates.

Then, whisk in the rest of the butter.

And add the scrapings of half a vanilla pod.

Fresh vanilla scrapings take this dipping butter over the edge, into the realm of the divine.

A little salt and pepper seals the deal.

At this point many smart people – like the people at the New York Times – will tell you to strain the butter, carefully pressing the juices out of the shallot.

This makes a clear, elegant dipping sauce.

I must not be very smart or elegant, because I could not bear the thought of throwing out that incredible buttery/shallot goodness. No way.

So I kept it and ate it all. As you can see by the pictures below, that my sauce isn’t remotely clear or elegant.  But it is full of chunky shallot goodness.

Do what works for you, but if you are going to throw out your shallot, send it my way. Thanks!

Serve with Boiled Lobster

P.S. Please help me think of some other uses for this divine sauce.

It’s too good. I can’t hardly stand to only use it for lobster.

Ideas?

Vanilla-Shallot Dipping Butter
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This rich dipping butter has warm vanilla undertones, mellow onion/garlic flavor from the shallot, and a bright acid note from the white wine. Recipe inspired by the New York Times.
Servings
1/2 cup
Servings
1/2 cup
Vanilla-Shallot Dipping Butter
Votes: 0
Rating: 0
You:
Rate this recipe!
Print Recipe
This rich dipping butter has warm vanilla undertones, mellow onion/garlic flavor from the shallot, and a bright acid note from the white wine. Recipe inspired by the New York Times.
Servings
1/2 cup
Servings
1/2 cup
Ingredients
  • 1 stick butter (8 Tbsp)
  • 1 shallot , minced (about 1/4 cup)
  • 1/3 cup white wine
  • 1/2 vanilla bean , split
  • salt
  • pepper
Servings: cup
Units:
Instructions
  1. Melt a tab or two of butter over medium heat, add shallots and cook.
  2. Once the shallot is soft and translucent, add white wine.
  3. Simmer for several minutes until almost all the liquid evaporates, then whisk in the rest of the butter.
  4. Add the scrapings of half a vanilla pod. A sprinkle of salt and pepper to finish. Straining the butter is optional.

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