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Chipotle-Garlic Butter with Lime and Cilantro

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on August 21, 2007

Time

25 minutes

Yield

Serves 4 (Makes about 4 tablespoons)

Chipotle-Garlic Butter with Lime and Cilantro

Ingredients

4 tablespoons unsalted butter (½ stick), softened1 chipotle chile en adobo (medium), seeded and minced, with 1 teaspoon adobo sauce1 medium clove garlic, pressed through garlic press or minced to paste (about 1 teaspoon)1 teaspoon honey 1 teaspoon grated lime zest 2 teaspoons minced fresh cilantro leaves ½ teaspoon table salt

Before You Begin

This makes an excellent sauce for fish.

Instructions

  1. Beat butter with fork until light and fluffy; stir in remaining ingredients until thoroughly combined. Dollop a portion of butter over pieces of cooked fish, allowing butter to melt; serve immediately.
Chipotle-Garlic Butter with Lime and Cilantro
Photography by Kevin White. Styling by Ashley Moore.

Chipotle-Garlic Butter with Lime and Cilantro

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

25 minutes

Yield

Serves 4 (Makes about 4 tablespoons)

Ingredients

4 tablespoons unsalted butter (½ stick), softened
1 chipotle chile en adobo (medium), seeded and minced, with 1 teaspoon adobo sauce
1 medium clove garlic, pressed through garlic press or minced to paste (about 1 teaspoon)
1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon grated lime zest
2 teaspoons minced fresh cilantro leaves
½ teaspoon table salt

Ingredients

4 tablespoons unsalted butter (½ stick), softened
1 chipotle chile en adobo (medium), seeded and minced, with 1 teaspoon adobo sauce
1 medium clove garlic, pressed through garlic press or minced to paste (about 1 teaspoon)
1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon grated lime zest
2 teaspoons minced fresh cilantro leaves
½ teaspoon table salt

Ingredients

4 tablespoons unsalted butter (½ stick), softened
1 chipotle chile en adobo (medium), seeded and minced, with 1 teaspoon adobo sauce
1 medium clove garlic, pressed through garlic press or minced to paste (about 1 teaspoon)
1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon grated lime zest
2 teaspoons minced fresh cilantro leaves
½ teaspoon table salt

Why This Recipe Works

We didn't want to make any compromises on either texture or flavor, so we set out to develop a technique for pan-roasting halibut that would produce perfectly cooked, moist, and tender fish. For our best pan-roasted halibut recipe, we used a two-step process to boost flavor and preserve moisture: First, we browned the fish in olive oil on the stovetop in a heavy ovenproof skillet (but on one side only to prevent overcooking), then we put the fish in the oven to finish cooking. To complement the lean fish, we paired the halibut with flavored butter or vinaigrette.

Before You Begin

This makes an excellent sauce for fish.

Instructions

  1. Beat butter with fork until light and fluffy; stir in remaining ingredients until thoroughly combined. Dollop a portion of butter over pieces of cooked fish, allowing butter to melt; serve immediately.

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