There is always something new under the culinary sun. Or, in this case, something old that’s getting a facelift. Cowboy butter, in general, is a blend of butter with acidic ingredients, herbs, and spices like garlic, chili flakes, chives, mustard, and paprika. It becomes its own texture and flavor in any dish. 

Using Cowboy Butter

Because Cowboy Butter is softened for mixing, you can harden it back up and keep it in the refrigerator until you need it. You may even want to make several batches with different flavor profiles because you can use it for so much! Rise and shine with Cowboy Butter on your cornbread or bagel, for example. 

Working with steak? Beef loves the flavor of Cowboy butter. Warm it up as a bread dip, slide it under the skin of a roasting chicken, spread it liberally on fresh grilled corn… heck you can even flavor your popcorn with it!

Italian Cowboy Butter Salmon Ingredients (for the Butter)

• 2 sticks of butter
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 2 tbsp chopped parsley
• 1-2 tbsp chopped basil
• 1 tbsp sundried tomato paste
• 1 tsp Cuso’s Hot Honey Seasoning
• 1 tsp Cuso’s Grass Seasoning
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• Zest of half a lemon

Mix all ingredients together and chill until needed. If you want butter coins, put the mixed butter on a piece of plastic wrap, evenly distributed about 1 inch thick. Roll it up and put it in to chill, becoming a solid log. Slice the butter medallions when serving as thick as you wish. 

This butter is enough for 6-8 8oz pieces of salmon.

For the Salmon

1. Salt and pepper the salmon filet on each side
2. Broil it skin side down for 4 minutes
3. Turn it skin side up to broil another 3-4 minutes (yum, crispy skin!)
4. Serve on a hot bed of rice topped with a dollop of Cowboy Butter. 

PitMaster’s Memo: History of Cowboy Butter

The origin of the term Cowboy Butter seems a bit blurry but for the fact that it’s a type of butter suited for many foods cowboys ate on the trail. Did the trend start in Texas? Do any associated dishes have a history tied to the Old West?

I don’t have an answer. What I can tell you is that Cowboy Butter is the ultimate mashup, perfect for individualizing. You know how you might go to your refrigerator and pull out all the leftovers and make an amazing dish? Cowboy Butter is a bit like that but using herbs and spices. The recipes you get from person to person vary (each of which has a secret ingredient, of course). 

Sides

Broccoli cheese pasta

Lemon Couscous

Roasted tomatoes with feta

Sesame noodles

Snap pea salad with Asian dressing

Desserts

Berry tart

Blackberry scones

Grilled pineapple

Key lime pie

Vanilla bean pudding

From the bar

Belgian Ale

Gin and tonic

Malt whisky

Sauvignon Blanc

Sparkling lemon/limeade